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In regard to Ms. Solomon's suggestion that the City give up properties, Mr. Poling agreed that the north and <br />west were under-parked and the City had acquired properties in those areas with promises to develop them <br />as parks. He cited the former Willakenzie School site as an example. He could not see the City giving up <br />those properties for development. He recommended staff proceed and attempt to work out an agreement <br />with the property owner and encourage a public-private partnership. <br /> <br />Ms. Ortiz said she was learning from the process that the council needed to let the community define what it <br />needed, rather than telling residents what they were gong to get. She said the residents were telling the City <br />what they wanted in regard to the parks. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy said parks and open spaces served different functions. Some open space was for walking and <br />exercising, and other open spaces were more necessary for the health of the community because of their <br />other functions, such as stormwater retention. Mayor Piercy was unsure how to separate those functions, <br />saying that when placed in the %ame pile" they competed against each other. Mr. Medlin believed that <br />parks and open spaces had different functions but were also very similar. He pointed out that their <br />relationships to recreation, quality of life, and the experience of living in Eugene. Those who used the City's <br />active parks for programmed activities also enjoyed the experience of using an open space not impacted by <br />development. Open spaces were managed for their ecological functions, such as habitat and stormwater, as <br />well as their recreation functions. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy agreed with Mr. Medlin's remarks, saying she was concerned that a discussion focused on the <br />allocation of parks acreage alone missed the other values that came from having open spaces in the <br />community. City Manager Taylor observed that in the case of the property in question, the issues of the <br />ridgeline trail and stream corridor access came together. He believed that with the neighbors' interest in the <br />property and the willingness of the property owner to continue discussions, it was possible the City could <br />acquire the property successfully and within its means. He assured the council and neighborhood that City <br />staff was committed to continuing the discussion with the property owner. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy called for a second round of questions and comments. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor agreed with Mayor Piercy that both open spaces and park lands were needed. She commended <br />the foresight shown by previous Eugene leaders in purchasing park land for the future of the community. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor noted the presence of Pileated woodpeckers on the Dillard property. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor spoke of the potential of the pollution that could be created by development in this area of the <br />community. She said that evidence had been provided to the council that the sewer system was in danger of <br />failure. The development of the land would put more strain on that system and on the Amazon Creek. Ms. <br />Taylor did not think the property should be developed at all. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman suggested the council consider the issue as an opportunity to target high-density residential <br />development throughout the community and "preserve livability," rather than attempt to spread high- density <br />development across all neighborhoods in a %ookie-cutter form." She said the Parks and Open Space <br />Division and the Planning Division could work with the property owner and developer to site a high-density <br />housing development on the property while preserving the site's natural amenities and enhancing access to <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 8, 2005 Page 4 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />