08/31/1992 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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-.- e C. Parks Services Ms. Bellamy said that the council seems to want to reduce the level of maintenance in Parks Services but not go to the minimum level. She said the chosen strategies, however, reflect a minimum level of maintenance. The one flagged by staff has to do with landscaping in parks in the first category, such as Hendricks Park. She explained that the strategy eliminates maintenance of neighborhood parks, including irrigation. Ms. Bellamy said staff felt this was a more severe reduction than the council intended. Adding back that component costs $65,000. Mr. Boles said that the consequence of not irrigating neighborhood parks is brown grass in the summer months. Mr. Gleason said brown grass in neighborhood parks may generate complaints and also may require renovation of the turf later. He added that the 4J School District uses this strategy, but it does not try to grow turf as the City does. Responding to a question from Mr. Green, Mr. Gleason said that the minimum cost strategy may include contracting. He further explained that within the confines of maintaining an irrigation system and a mowing schedule that supports that, staff would minimize costs if that is the council's pleasure. He added that brown grass in Kid Sports' ball fields raises the liability issue which has to be examined. In response to a question from Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Gleason said there is no data to support the idea that this is a liability e problem. The City would need to experience the scenario. Ms. Ehrman moved, seconded by Mr. Robinette, to add back $65,000 to fund maintenance of neighborhood parks. Mr. Rutan said this is an example of the hard decisions the council must make in light of Eugene Decisions. He expressed concern that the council may back away from other hard decisions it has to make. Several councilors agreed. Mr. Boles said that the discussion is useful because it pinpoints setting different standards for different parts of the parks system. He said there are showcase parks that are used by all members of the community and those used mostly by the local neighborhood. He said the council needs to change some of the standards, deciding against those it cannot afford. Mr. Nicholson added that the council must try different standards, otherwise it will never make any fundamental changes. Mr. MacDonald stated he preferred to reduce the level of maintaining turf and ground in order to irrigate and mow neighborhood parks. The motion failed, 2:6; Ms. Ehrman and Mr. MacDonald in favor. Mr. Boles said that public concern about the City's mowing schedule was expressed in a recent newspaper article. Some people assume that the City e MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 31, 1992 Page 4 5:30 p.m.