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th <br />miniums, the groundbreaking of WestTown on 8, and the selection of the Whole Foods and the <br />Kemper project on the old Sears site. <br /> <br />? <br /> McKenzie-Willamette moved forward with locating a full service hospital in Eugene, which will <br />help to ensure healthcare competition and complete choice in services. <br /> <br />? <br /> We responded strongly and swiftly to hate speech and passed a resolution affirming the human <br />rights of immigrants. <br /> <br />? <br /> The City Council held a dialogue with representatives of communities of color and a 15-member <br />Community Committee on Race was established. <br /> <br />? <br /> Library cards became available to the homeless and the council designated special funding in sup- <br />port of homeless services. <br /> <br />? <br /> Eugene’s Human Rights Commission co-sponsored a mental health summit. <br /> <br />? <br /> The Neighborhood Matching Grant Program was reinstated, and new work on opportunity siting <br />and infill standards was begun. <br /> <br />? <br /> Exciting plans were made for Eugene’s hosting of the 2008 Track and Field Olympic Trials. <br /> <br />? <br /> The Mayor’s Cultural Policy Review Committee took the first intensive look at the arts in 20 years. <br /> <br />? <br /> Congress approved the land swap to facilitate the development of the Eugene Wetlands Environ- <br />mental Education Center. <br /> <br />What about the goals for 2007? <br /> <br /> <br />A lot of them will be about completing the work already underway. Here are the top 10 that fit this <br />category: <br /> <br />? <br /> The Sustainability Office and the Sustainability Commission will be up and running, moving for- <br />ward the 20 other SBI recommendations and our vision of being a center of sustainability. <br />? <br /> The Eugene Wetlands Education Center will break ground. <br />? <br /> I will focus even more strongly on Eugene’s Downtown development as a major piece of the com- <br />munity’s livability, seeing the projects underway to completion and the successful development of <br />new ones. We will need the help of everyone in this community. Downtown belongs in a very real <br />sense to each of us. I understand the challenges, but remain convinced that we can overcome <br />them. Just as I will support property owners and good development opportunities, I also believe the <br />property owners have a responsibility for good maintenance and sidewalk appearance and we have <br />the responsibility to keep it safe for people of all ages. If we want people to live businesses locat- <br />ing downtown. It will always be a combination of local and national interests that will make down- <br />town work. <br />? <br /> Arts have rightfully been identified as an essential part of the character of this community. Recom- <br />mendations for new initiatives in culture and the arts will come from the Mayor’s Cultural Policy <br />Review Committee this next year. It's time for the next evolution. The arts are also important to <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council January 4, 2007 Page 6 <br /> State of the City <br /> <br />