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Mayor Torrey presented Employee Recognition Awards to Jon Carson of the Central Services Department; Jennifer Curry of the Eugene Police Department; and Scott Olmos of Fire & Emergency Medical Services. Mayor Torrey presented Youth Leadership Awards to Maria Montes of Willamette High School and Quinn Wilhelmi of South Eugene High School. V. STATE OF THE CITY Mayor Torrey reviewed milestones for the year 2002. He noted the opening of the new library and acknowledged Mr. Meisner's contributions to realizing that goal. He reported that Broadway was reopened. He reported that the East Bank Bike Path was completed and acknowledged the contribution of former Mayor Ruth Bascom to the City's bicycle system, noting the path would be named for Ms. Bascom. Mayor Torrey noted the opening of the Bethel Skateboard Park; the approval of funding for the downtown fire station and property acquisition; and the fact the funding for the Police Property Control and Crime Lab facility was secured and property for the facility purchased. Mayor Torrey noted efforts currently underway, including a business climate survey and follow-up focus groups, and acknowledged Mr. Kelly's contribution to that effort. He also noted the completion of the Courthouse District Concept Plan and the work of councilors Nathanson, Meisner, and Bettman on the plan. He anticipated further work on southeast and southwest hospital coverage, specifically, an emergency room south of the river; further work on the City's parks and open space planning efforts and completion of the 1998 levy and the City's commitment to provide a major North Eugene area Park. Mayor Torrey reported that the West Eugene Parkway was going through the planning process, and noted the contribution of Mr. Farr to that effort. He said that work was progressing on Delta Ponds, and acknowledged Mr. PapS's work to make that area a park. Mayor Torrey called for keeping Mac Court in Eugene and in downtown. Mayor Torrey said that confronting today's challenges will require the City to find new ways to meet the challenges of government at all levels. He pointed out that 4,000 children attending school in Eugene could not check out a book from the new library or either of the two branch libraries because they live outside the city limits. He reminded those in attendance the City faced the same issue with Measure 20-37, the after-school levy, and last year's 20-67 school levy. In both cases voters agreed to underwrite the costs of out-of-town students but he believed the basic issue of fairness to the Eugene taxpayer could not be ignored any longer. He said the City must deal with the question of who will pay for this service. It was time to face up to this situation and do something about it. Mayor Torrey asked the City Council to join him in asking the City Manager and his staff to return with creative solutions that will allow the City to make its library system available to all children as well as to others who could not afford the annual $80 non- resident fee. Mayor Torrey complimented the Lane Library League for its efforts to find ways of providing library services throughout all of Lane County and called on City staff to assist that effort. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 9, 2002 Page 2 State of the City