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. e e is obvious that our destinies are entwined and it is recognized by the leadership of both cities that by working together our futures will be enhanced. That relationship will continue to grow along with important developing relationships and collaborations with the University of Oregon, Lane Community College, the Eugene and Bethel School Districts, the Eugene Water & Electric Board, Lane County, and others. From these alliances, future efficiencies will come. IIThis year the City of Eugene and 19 other local governments, as an example, will jointly purchase a new phone system. The City of Eugene alone will save over $1 million on that purchase over the next 7 years. III should also not let the day pass without recognizing the very positive work of our legislative delegation from the metropolitan area. The growth in opportunity we will see at the University this next year would not have happened without their efforts. We look forward to their future support and achievements on our behalf. IIAnd, like Cynthia, I would like to recognize the management, the staff leadership, provided by the people who work for you and I. And, at a risk of not being able to speak to everyone of them, I would like to tell you a few stories about some of them. "I recall, early on, of taking off and having to go to New York to speak with Moody's about our bond rating that was about to be reduced which would have increased our interest costs by about $200,000 a year. I went with Mike Gleason, Gary Long, Director of Administrative Services, and Warren Wong, Director of Finance. I recall sitting on about the 80th floor of a building in New York with investment bankers. I recall how well they did. In fact, we were able to convince those people we were a strong and healthy community. That kind of effort goes throughout our City. "Bob Shelby, caught at 14 degrees below, nearly as cold as United Airlines. Hopefully, it has warmed up some. I think about Ev Hall, who one day went to sleep as the Fire Chief and the next day woke up as Director of Public Safety--the challenge he has. I think of Ed Smith, Director of the Hu1t Center, and of Chris Andersen, Director of Public Works. She received a call on Friday afternoon saying the VanDuyn people were going to show up Saturday morning and the streets that led up to the site they were looking at had several months of garbage backed up on it and the grass had not been mowed. By the time the sun set on that Friday night, the garbage was picked up and the grass had been mowed. And when Van Duyns viewed the site the next morning, it looked fresh as a daisy. "I have been around a lot of companies and a lot of institutions. I want to tell you that you are well served. There are many nights I have been caught at City Hall at 6:30 or 7 p.m., and there are still a lot of people there. The meetings I go to--I see City staff there and I know they are without pay. Nobody requires them to be there. They are interested in this city. I want to thank them because it is through their efforts, their organizational efforts, that your and my ideas and ideals will happen. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 6, 1986 Page 13