01/26/1981 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e and uses could be expanded. He is not, however, recommending that the City pay the asking price. Areas like this are a gift and this is why people live in Eugene. He would hope this area can be saved as open space before it is developed and gone. Catherine Barnes, 1378 Hammock, stated that she lives at the north foot of Gillespie Butte. The names in the adjoining cemetery are names of streets now and are the names of those people who worked farms in the area in the past. The residents in the area protect the cemetery from vandalism, but the City could police it. e Ken Tollenaar, 1522 Russett Drive, stated that he agreed with the previous two speakers. He showed a slide presentation. Mr. Tollenaar stated that as Mr. Drapela had indicated, the Cal Young Neighborhood Association went on record in April 1980 in favor of transfer of Gillespie Butte from EWEB, which they consider part of the City of Eugene organization, to the Parks and Recreation Department. They oppose development of this property for any other use than that of a park. They have heard opposition only recently and it seems to center on vandalism. This is a concern, but there is no data to indicate that vandalism would increase if the jurisdiction were changed from EWEB to the City. Giving it park status could in fact reduce the current vandalism rate. Trail bikes, littering, and other forms of undesirable behav- ior have occurred in that area. This is vacant property and does not produce tax revenue according to those against the acquisition, but this is not entirely true because EWEB pays money in lieu of taxes to the City. A long-range perspec- tive is needed to make this decision. This property could be developed to a very high density rate soon if action is not taken. Jack Desmond, 1253 Ferry Street, #6, stated that he is chairperson of the Many Rivers Sierra Club, which has 450 members in Lane County. They had a hike to Gillespie Butte last Sunday and people came so they could see it. On January 7, 1981, their executive committee met and discussed this situation and passed a resolution to support acquisition of Gillespie Butte as a city park. There is an increasing need for urban parks as gasoline resources decrease. Some parks help define local communities and Gillespie Butte does this as does Skinner Butte. The addition of this park would add to the inventory of city parks and open space. Karen Lansdowne, 10 Donovan Drive, stated that she has lived here since 1950. Glen Mason provided histor1C 1nformation to her and she thinks this area is worthy of historic designation. The Gillespie family is intertwined with other Lane County pioneers such as the Gilhams, the Goodpastures, the Corums, and Cal Young. She has been involved in neighborhood associations and thinks they are great. She thinks, however, the council has discriminated, through no fault of its own, against some neighborhoods because of the block grant pref- erences being given to low-income areas. A major portion of the $1.3 million has gone to the W~iteaker and West University neighborhoods. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 26, 1981 Page 5