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much for a park that was well-used. She felt fortunate to live in Eugene, adding that nice parks add <br />economic value to the city. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy closed the public forum and invited comments and questions from councilors. <br /> <br />Councilor Ortiz thanked everyone for their testimony. She asked for a copy of the rules and regulations <br />governing the community gardens for council review. City Manager Dennis Taylor agreed to provide a copy <br />of the rules and also information on where the program was and where it was heading. <br /> <br />Councilor Pryor was also interested in how the community garden program was being administered in terms <br />of garden spaces. <br /> <br />Councilor Bettman expressed appreciation for the people who testified. She thought it was good news that a <br />lot of people wanted to grow their own food. She asked that the response from the City Manager include <br />how many acres were currently in the program, how much acreage had been added since the advent of the <br />program, and whether there were potential sites that would be appropriate for garden spaces. <br /> <br />Regarding the Charnel-Mulligan Park, Councilor Bettman thought the parks maintenance issue was <br />addressed in a “squeaky wheel … way.” She asked if there was an actual maintenance program so that <br />when play structures started to age they were being addressed. <br /> <br />Councilor Zelenka did not understand why people would be allowed multiple garden plots if there were 126 <br />people on a waiting list. It seemed to him if there were such a large number of people being turned away, it <br />would be prudent to add to the available garden land and expand the program. <br /> <br />Councilor Clark also thanked everyone who testified. He supported expansion of the community gardens. <br />He noted that a couple of the teachers at North Eugene High School had a program in mind to create a <br />community garden at the high school and integrate it with some school programs. They had given a <br />presentation to the Santa Clara Community Organization. He thought the City could look into partnering <br />with the school districts to do this type of thing, among options. <br /> <br />Councilor Taylor thanked everyone who testified. She wished to especially thank Mr. Bryant and Mr. <br />Brown for contributing to the downtown “rather than contributing to blight.” As for community gardens, <br />she suggested that some dirt be dumped into the “Sears pit” to make it into a “sunken garden.” <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy expressed interest in furthering the community gardens program. She also requested that Mr. <br />Brown submit his comments in writing given that his time expired before he was done speaking. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy acknowledged the interest in upgrading Charnel-Mulligan Park and indicated her support for <br />it. <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council July 23, 2007 Page 3 <br /> Regular Meeting <br /> <br />