Item 5: Parks and Open Space in River Road/Santa Clara

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ATTACHMENT D c Public Works Parks and Open Space Division MEMORANDUM City of Eugene 1820 Roosevelt Boulevard Eugene, Oregon 97402 (541 ) 682-4800 (541 ) 682-4882 FAX INININ. ci. eugene. or. us/parks Date: October 6, 2006 To: Mayor Piercy and City Council From: Johnny Medlin, Parks and Open Space Director Subject: Santa Clara Community Park Acquisition Update The following summary has been prepared in response to Councilor Pape's request for updated information on efforts to acquire a community park site in the Santa Clara area. PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION AND ACQUISITION EFFORTS At a December 1,2005 Council work session staff provided information regarding the general status of parks in the Santa Clara area, and specifically regarding the acquisition of a community park site. Staff reported that several meetings with representatives of the community group Santa Clara Citizens for Sensible Parks and Open Space (SCCSPOS) had been held. As a result of these discussions, the park acquisition criteria being used to prioritize parcels for potential acquisition had been significantly revised. Using the new criteria a number of properties were identified for potential acquisition. This new list contained properties staff had previously identified as well as some new additions. Staff reported that letters of interest were mailed to owners of 11 top-ranking properties meeting the acquisition criteria. On March 9, 2006 staffmade a presentation of information regarding acquisition efforts at a special meeting with interested Santa Clara community members, several elected officials, and other interested parties. Mayor Piercy and Councilor Pryor attended this meeting. At an April 19, 2006 Council work session staff provided an additional update. Staff reported that following the December work session, staff contacted the property owners verbally to determine each owner's willingness to sell. Unfortunately, there were no willing sellers. Phone contact information was unavailable for two property owners, and no response was received from these owners to the initial letter of interest or a follow-up letter specifically requesting verbal contact. (See attached map "Santa Clara Community Park - Acquisition Update"). While no action was taken at this meeting, several councilors discussed the possibility that eminent domain may become a necessary tool to accomplish this goal. Staff met again with neighborhood and SCCSPOS representatives on May 22, 2006 to discuss next steps and strategies for expanding the property search. Assistance was offered by the community members in contacting the two remaining, unresponsive property owners. An additional result from these discussions was an expanded search focused on 13 smaller properties on the east side of Santa Clara near Madison Middle School. (See attached map "SCCP Phase II Options). The hope was that acquisition of several smaller properties together or with some of the original properties identified would potentially make an