Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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incorporate that area. Ms. Weiss said that land outside the UGB could be purchased and developed as long as the City followed the County’s land use regulations. She said that permitting would be dependent on the type of facilities constructed and expansion of the UGB would not be necessary. Mr. Papé asked if Property C on the potential park sites map would meet the criteria for a community park. Ms. Weiss said it would be a challenging site because of its long, narrow character but the criteria for a park had been broadened because so few sites were still available in the area. She said that the property did present some options. Mayor Piercy said that neighbors in the area asked the City to “look outside the box” and approach assemblage of park land in a different way. Mr. Pryor thanked staff for their efforts to respond to Santa Clara residents. He noted that the conversations around neighborhood and community parks were very distinct and the one of greatest immediacy related to a community park because property suitable for a community park was rapidly disappearing. He agreed that the many challenges of creating a community park in the area required innovative thinking in order to meet the City’s obligation. Mr. Kelly said he was not an advocate of the use of eminent domain but agreed with Mr. Papé and Mr. Pryor’s comments about the need for a community park and the rapidly decreasing availability of land for that project. He preferred a willing seller but the land would be used for a public purpose and urged staff to bring eminent domain to the council if it was deemed necessary to acquire a suitable site. He reminded the public that eminent domain did not mean the City would take the property; a fair market value as determined through an appraisal would be paid. He asked staff to inform the council about the extent to which sites outside the UGB were currently exclusive farm use and not exception land. Ms. Bettman asked if sites outside of the UGB would be outside of the two-mile community park service area, as there would be population only along a portion of the park. Ms. Weiss replied that the park would be on the edge of the service area for Santa Clara. Ms. Bettman encouraged flexibility and looking at a combination of uses such as linear park land and partnership with the school district. She agreed with Mr. Kelly and Mr. Papé about the possibility of using eminent domain while there were still viable options available. She questioned how a community park had grown from a 40- to an 80-acre purchase and felt that only the amount necessary for a park should be acquired, particularly if eminent domain was used. Ms. Ortiz thanked everyone who supported providing a community park for River Road/Santa Clara and said she would support extreme measures for assembling the necessary property. She also agreed that a 40-acre park would fulfill the City’s obligation. Ms. Taylor asked if there was an urban plaza in the community. Ms. Weiss replied that the Park Blocks were good examples and the City would like to provide smaller versions in other areas of the community. Ms. Taylor asked why an urban plaza would be planned for River Road/Santa Clara. Ms. Weiss replied that the Project and Priority Plan called for an urban plaza in the Santa Clara and Bethel/Danebo areas. Ms. Taylor asked if there were other community parks besides Amazon Park in south Eugene. Ms. Weiss clarified that the map illustrated community and metropolitan parks and included the Ridgeline Trail and Hendricks Park. MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 19 Page 8