Item 4D: Resolution Acknowledging Receipt of FY07 CAFR

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Plan that includes specific information about timing, level of consolidation, financing, property acquisition, and project delivery methods. Facilitate the Development of a Full-service Hospital in Eugene – TheCity Council has taken several actions designed to encourage a hospital to locate in the City’s central core. McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center initially indicated interest in locating on the EWEB site, which would have been within the incentive zone for hospital development. Subsequently, McKenzie-Willamette signed a purchase agreement for the Delta Ridge site. Since that time, opposition to the Delta Ridge site emerged in the community and a legal challenge to the Delta Ridge site was not resolved in FY07. Strengthen and Promote Community Arts and Outdoors Assets – Eugene's arts and outdoor resources are unique assets of our city and major contributors to the community's overall quality of life. Strengthening and promoting these vital assets has two significant benefits: 1) improved sustainable economic activity through increased tourism and commerce and, 2) enhanced community livability with expanded access to arts and outdoor amenities for area residents. A $27.5 million bond measure for Parks, Athletic Fields and Preservation of Open Space was approved by voters in the November 2006 election. This provides funding to begin implementation of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan that was approved by the City Council in February 2006. This plan will guide the City for the next several decades in the acquisition and development of parks, recreation, and open space projects. In addition, Eugene has been selected to host the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, and the FY07 budget allocated $150,000 for the City’s contribution to this event. Enhance Understanding of Race Issues and Improve Community Relationships – The council priority on race outlines a plan that the Council as a body, and the Mayor and councilors as individuals, can use to build a better understanding of race issues among themselves, and improve race relations in the community. In FY07, the plan focused on community input and Mayor and council education on issues of race as a background for action. City Council and staff have continued to make a significant effort to develop community conversations on race-related issues, and staff training continued to be provided to ensure that community diversity is recognized, welcomed, and addressed in delivery of services. Develop a Strategy to Help the Homeless in Eugene – Because homelessness has the potential to touch every resident within the City, the scope of this goal was expanded to include community members who are “at risk” of becoming homeless because they cannot afford food and shelter. The FY07 budget allocated $150,000 to fund this initiative. These funds were used for homeless prevention, transportation, and day services for homeless people. On February 8, 2007, over 1,000 homeless people took advantage of the free food, clothing, services, and other resources provided at the first annual Project Homeless Connect event. The Mayor, with the approval of the City Council, appointed a committee of representatives from non-profit and public organizations serving the homeless. The committee began an examination of the local impact of homelessness, with the goals of identifying strategies and making recommendations to the council on new funding and finance options to address homelessness. New items added to the Council Goals in FY07: Sustainability Initiative – The Sustainable Business Initiative report was presented to City Council on October 23, 2006. The report recommended development of an Office of Sustainability and a Sustainability Commission that supports broad sustainable practices. The commission’s charge is to create tools and processes needed to support businesses that produce sustainable products or provide or utilize sustainable practices. The FY07 budget allocated $100,000 to begin carrying out this recommendation. Downtown Initiative – This goal shows how the City Council and the community as a whole is growing more focused on revitalization of our downtown core. FY07 saw the WestTown on 8th affordable housing project get underway. This will provide 102 rental units for those earning less than 60% of the median income, and nine market-rate units. Discussions with EWEB about new uses for their waterfront property were ongoing, and transportation projects connecting the new Courthouse District with downtown were under construction. Significant ê