01/12/1981 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e "That kind of long-range planning is going to be important as the City grows. We've passed the 100,000 population mark. The 1980 Census tells us that we have 104,672 residents who are residing in 44,500 households. Our updated Metro Plan projects that 194,600 people will call Eugene home by the year 2000. Planning issues will become increasingly important if we hope to maintain a "town-size" livability as we reach urban proportions. liAs we move into a new year, the City of Eugene is facing some major projects. These include smoothing the way for development of downtown housing, updating the City's Zoning Ordinance, and implementing a City-wide energy conservation program. Energy conservation legislation appears to be necessary to ensure a healthy energy and economic future, and the council's task will be to find ways to lessen the burden of such policies by making financing available for all Eugene citizens. Councilors Obie and Miller have taken leadership roles in developing conservation plans for Eugene, and now we are all going to have to devote our efforts toward building a workable program and educating our citizens about why it's important. "Through its projects in the last year, the City Council set a tone of unity among themselves, especially in selecting a new City Manager and in developing the Eugene Plan. I believe the spirit of cooperation will be an invaluable tool in tackling the projects that face us. e liAs the urban area grows and we have more problems in common with Springfield and the surrounding communities, it will be increasingly important to work coopera- tively with these other jurisdictions. We've got to commit ourselves to an effort in that direction--for the good of ~ of our citizens. "Last year at this time, I said that Eugene, along with the rest of the nation, had problems to solve, but that Eugene had a head start on the '80's. This year, I am pleased to report that 1980 was a year in which we made progress. Through the efforts of the council, the staff, and countless concerned citizens, we have worked our way forward toward success with our goals. "There's not much time to rest and pat ourselves on the back, though. We just about have to "hit the deck running" to keep up with the day-to-day and long- range challenges 1980 and the years beyond hold for us. I believe these moments of reflection are worthwhile, however. For the new year, we've rearranged the council meetings schedule somewhat to give us time to do our homework and to think about the material that comes before us. "By stopping every once in a while, we can keep our perspectives sharp and realize that we are not alone in the decisions we face. Throughout Oregon and throughout the nation, cities and citizens are concerned about money, housing, energy, and just plain getting along with one another. "Looking at Eugene from that perspective, it is easier to realize that we've taken the plunge into a modern, metropolitan future, and unlike some cities that are drowning, we're swimming very nicely. It's hard going sometimes, and sometimes it's easy to get discouraged because progress seems to be so slow, but I believe Eugene is making strong, steady, deliberate progress amidst an endless current of changing times and ever-present problems. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 12, 1981 Page 5