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that was now underground in the Springfield portion of the park. He was concerned about one notion that <br />would involve the conversion of the concrete weir to a “standing wave.” He pointed out that the weir was <br />actually on the Springfield side of the freeway and under the jurisdiction of the Willamalane Recreation <br />District. He did not know of any jurisdiction that would be willing to take on the potential liability of <br />luring people into the middle of the river to surf into waves. He felt it was dangerous. <br /> <br />Anna Houpt <br />, 32496 Camas Swale Road, Creswell, said she visited a whitewater park in Kernville, <br />California, that had been in existence for 30 years. She explained that kayakers and canoeists wear helmets <br />and flotation devices. She stated that she was 51 and had been kayaking for 25 years. She hoped the <br />council would support building a whitewater park as it provided a family activity in which people of all <br />ages could participate. <br /> <br />Scott Bridgham <br />, 2221 Bristol Street, professor at the University of Oregon College of Environmental <br />Science, spoke in favor of the restoration of the Alton Baker Park canal and the whitewater recreation <br />facilities. He felt the restoration and whitewater projects a lot of “win-win” potential, such as addressing <br />safety issues. He said he had jumped off the intake for the canal and he agreed that it was an extremely <br />dangerous feature. He witnessed young children jumping off the intake facility. He was amazed that there <br />had been no fatalities to date. He observed that the canal was in horrible shape and could be improved <br />immensely, both in terms of habitat and the elimination of concrete structures that inhibit the ability of fish <br />to swim upstream. He also enjoyed whitewater recreation. He said he had lived in South Bend, Indiana, <br />and a whitewater park was located in the downtown area there. He thought such a park would put Eugene <br />“on the map” and benefit it economically. <br /> <br />Roxie Cuellar <br />, 2053 Laura Street, Springfield, Home Builders Association (HBA), requested that the <br />record be held open for seven days. She explained that the HBA was interested in one column on the <br />project list and that was the growth allocation column. She said one type of project was neighborhood <br />acquisition. The HBA opposed the requirement for new homes to pay 100 percent of the cost of acquiring <br />the land for neighborhood parks. She attributed this to the use of a level-of-service approach. She had <br />Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) prepare a map and she had drawn circles where the proposed <br />neighborhood acquisitions would be. She determined that the sites were located in existing neighborhoods. <br />She said if there was an existing deficiency, home builders should not have to pay 100 percent of the cost. <br /> <br />Charles Biggs <br />, 540 Antelope Way, asked the City Council to direct staff to get more public input on the <br />revised PROS project list and plan because it had only been posted on the internet since April 6. He <br />asserted that the general public had not had a chance to comprehend the design or the changes made since <br />the City Council’s decision to adopt the plan. He advocated for an allocation of $1.8 million for riverfront <br />land acquisition in the Willakenzie area to complete the 1970s Willamette Greenway Plan which sought to <br />provide safe bicycle access to Armitage State Park and the future hospital. He observed that most of the <br />land acquisition was directed at the establishment of neighborhood parks and did not provide interconnected <br />habitat. He noted that one Priority 1 land acquisition was the Gillespie Butte access and natural area. He <br />did not believe that this was needed as it was called out in the Willakenzie Area Refinement Plan. He also <br />requested that Stryker Field Sports Complex in the Willakenzie area be removed from the list as he did not <br />believe the project was supported by the data received during public comments on the draft PROS plan. <br />He alleged that staff was able to redesignate a neighborhood park to a community park without due public <br />process and registered his disapproval. He thought the Stryker Field facility would add to traffic <br />difficulties in that area. He submitted his testimony in writing. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 16 <br /> Regular Meeting <br /> <br />