08/09/1989 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. V. NEIGHBORHOOD BOUNDARY REVIEW Christine Donahue, Neighborhood Liaison, introduced several neighborhood leaders and members of the Neighborhood Boundary Review Advisory Committee (NBRAC). She said a review of the neighborhood organization boundaries was initiated at the recommendation of the Citizen Participation Review Team, a task team that made a series of recommendations to the City Council in 1986 on citizen involvement and public information. In January 1988, volunteers from the Neighborhood Leaders Association and the Citizen Involvement Committee formed NBRAC. The committee developed a list of goals that included the following: include all Eugene residences within the boundaries of a recognized neighborhood; include public buildings within their boundaries, such as community centers and schools; coordinate with elected officials within their boundaries; facilitate citizen/government relationships; and represent the parochial interests within the neighborhood regions. Ms. Donahue said NBRAC considered information from a variety of sources as it studied the boundaries, including: the history of the various neighborhoods, geography, commercial patterns, transportation patterns, established planning districts, ward boundaries, and information about how residents interact with one another and with local government units. Ms. Donahue said NBRAC proposed that seven neighborhood regions be formed, incorporating all residences within the city limits. NBRAC proposed that residences in the various regions determine how their region would e operate--they could operate as a large neighborhood area or as a series of small areas, for example. Ms. Donahue said the Neighborhood Leaders Association ultimately voted not to accept the regional proposal. Concer.ns expressed by the leaders included disagreement with some of the actual geographic boundaries and concerns about the organizational structure of neighborhood regions. Mr. Holmer said he would like the neighborhood boundaries to be more consistent with ward boundaries. Mayor Miller suggested that the council revisit this issue after completion of the 1990 census. Ms. Ehrman agreed with this suggestion. Ms. Bascom said the Neighborhood Leaders Association did not favor the regional approach to neighborhoods; she felt the council should support this decision and not address this issue further. Mr. Bennett questioned the representativeness of neighborhood groups; he said very few people attend most neighborhood meetings. He said he would like a very broad-based neighborhood organization to be created. Mr. Bennett stated that changes can be made to strengthen the neighborhood organization. He did not feel the council should drop the idea of realigning neighborhood boundaries if realignment would strengthen the program. . MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 9, 1989 Page 7