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Ms. Bettman encouraged flexibility and looking at a combination of uses such as linear park land <br />and partnership with the school district. She agreed with Mr. Kelly and Mr. Papé about the <br />possibility of using eminent domain while there were still viable options available. She <br />questioned how a community park had grown from a 40- to an 80-acre purchase and felt that only <br />the amount necessary for a park should be acquired, particularly if eminent domain was used. <br /> <br />Ms. Ortiz thanked everyone who supported providing a community park for River Road/Santa <br />Clara and said she would support extreme measures for assembling the necessary property. She <br />also agreed that a 40-acre park would fulfill the City’s obligation. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor asked if there was an urban plaza in the community. Ms. Weiss replied that the Park <br />Blocks were good examples and the City would like to provide smaller versions in other areas of <br />the community. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor asked why an urban plaza would be planned for River Road/Santa Clara. Ms. Weiss <br />replied that the Project and Priority Plan called for an urban plaza in the Santa Clara and <br />Bethel/Danebo areas. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor asked if there were other community parks besides Amazon Park in south Eugene. <br />Ms. Weiss clarified that the map illustrated community and metropolitan parks and included the <br />Ridgeline Trail and Hendricks Park. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor said she was not certain about eminent domain and would not support it to acquire <br />farmland. <br /> <br />Mr. Papé noted that Churchill High School and Sheldon High School represented two successful <br />examples of community/metropolitan parks. He asked if the school district had been contacted <br />about partnering on a community park in the area. Ms. Weiss said there had been conversations <br />with 4J School District and more were scheduled. She said one option being discussed was <br />Madison Middle School. <br /> <br />City Manager Taylor summarized that staff’s priority was to obtain a 40-acre community park <br />and be more aggressive in conversations with property owners, continue the dialogue with <br />neighbors on park specifics, consider how connections along the riparian corridor might influence <br />community park decisions and work with the school district, particularly on opportunities related <br />to Madison Middle School. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly added that staff should also consider that a community park, instead of one large <br />property, might be two smaller parcels that collectively provided the same services. <br /> <br />The meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. <br /> <br />Respectively submitted, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Dennis M. Taylor <br /> <br /> <br />(Recorded by Lynn Taylor) <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 19 Page <br />9 <br />