Item B: City Council Priority Issue - Strengthen and Promote Community's Arts and Outdoors Assets

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The next major step is to convene the steering committee consisting of representatives of key community partners. The steering committee will consider funding options, direction for branding efforts and strategies for building alliances. The first meeting of this group is anticipated by the end of this calendar year. Meanwhile, use of the “World’s Greatest City” slogan has been incorporated into the City’s website and is increasingly used in collateral promotional materials. This branding process was the subject of a panel discussion in which Mayor Piercy participated at the League of Oregon Cities conference in September; the DVD produced for that occasion will be presented at the Council work session on November 8. ELEMENT IV – Opportunity Identification The Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Comprehensive Plan and the Cultural Policy Review (CPR) process have been the main mechanisms for identifying gaps and opportunities related to meeting arts and outdoors economic development objectives, as called for in the action plan. Additional analysis is needed regarding gaps and opportunities in facilities and community development programs. Associated identification of potential funding for arts and outdoors efforts will be necessary in order to implement prioritized programs and projects. Meanwhile opportunities are utilized as they arise, a significant one being the 2008 Olympic Track and Field Trials. ? Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Comprehensive Plan In May, the City Council approved the PROS project and priority plan and adopted a resolution to place a bond measure on the November 2006 ballot for up to $27.5 million for park land and natural area acquisition, development of all-season athletic fields in partnership with school districts, and partial funds for the West Eugene Wetlands Environmental Education Center and development of Golden Gardens Park. The outcome of that election will be known by the work session on November 8. ? Cultural Policy Review In April, Mayor Piercy announced the 21 members of the Mayor’s Cultural Policy Review (CPR) Committee, including Chair Tina Rinaldi and Vice-Chair David Kelly. An arts consultant team, Wolf, Keens & Company, was hired to support the CPR, the City’s first arts planning process in more than 20 years. More than 300 constituents participated in six open Arts and Culture Dialogue sessions held in September. The consultants produced their first Situation Paper, based on two dozen individual interviews with community members, as background for discussions in the sessions. Work on a facilities survey and an attendance survey has begun. The next consultant visit and public forum is scheduled for November. The CPR web page - www.eugene- or.gov/CulturalPolicyReview - and email are used for ongoing communication with constituents and key partner organizations.