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our downtown success and our economy. We have a growing number of gallery and performance <br />opportunities. Please, everyone, come to the First Friday Art Walks and when you think of pur- <br />chasing art for your homes or businesses, think of Eugene artists first. We should fill our streets <br />with art and performances as often as possible, with a year-round calendar that appeals to all ages. <br />Invite your friends and relatives. <br />? <br /> Another key part of our downtown is our city hall. We will continue planning for our new city hall <br />as an important seat of democracy and governance in our community. It should be connected to our <br />park blocks and farmer’s market, provide a great community meeting place and be an energizing <br />visible expression of how much we honor our cultural and social diversity. We should get excited <br />about this opportunity. Many of you talk about the need for architecturally appealing buildings. <br />Just think of this one as a beautiful connector of our arts and outdoors and a symbol of us, this <br />wonderful community. This is something you build for future generations, for Eugeneans far into <br />the future. <br />? <br /> It’s also about how we live together. The Civilian Review Board will be in place as the next step in <br />rebuilding confidence in public safety. In addition, we will work to have the best police responses <br />possible to individuals experiencing mental health crises and the Police Commission will be bringing <br />forward recommendations for council consideration. We will continue to work with the HRC to re- <br />duce the stigma attached to mental health conditions. <br />? <br /> The Community Committee on Race will bring recommendations to the council for next steps to <br />better ensure that everyone feels welcome in Eugene. We aren’t the community that we want to be <br />until we achieve this. <br />? <br /> We will work with community partners to sponsor Project Homeless Connect in February and I will <br />name a Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Homelessness. <br />? <br /> We will have a Neighborhood Summit to continue work on our Neighborhood Initiative, improving <br />our usage of our neighborhood associations in key decision-making in Eugene. I hope you each par- <br />ticipate in some way in your own neighborhood association. <br />? <br /> Finally, our road infrastructure is important. As promised, work is underway with local, regional <br />and national partners to address West Eugene transportation needs in a way that will improve the <br />livability of that area of our community. <br /> <br />In addition to the substantial list of ongoing efforts, I propose five new goals for the year 2007: <br /> <br />? <br /> I would like to see a City Youth Advisory Committee put in place. Our young people have worked <br />hard to have an increased voice in our community. They participated in the Sustainable Business <br />Initiative, lobbied successfully for a LEADS meeting space, and led a huge free speech effort. <br />? <br /> I will issue a Mayor’s Neighborhood Climate Change Challenge for a 20 percent reduction in <br />carbon emissions. Everyone wants to do his or her part. <br />? <br /> I will invite regional mayors to meet for discussion of mutual infrastructure issues. Working to- <br />gether, we can better ensure the success of each community. <br />? <br /> I will call for a downtown planning meeting with the Board of County Commissioners. Eugene and <br />Lane County each have goals for new and revitalized buildings and we could help each other in <br />reaching those goals. <br />? <br /> In addition to my ongoing Mayor One-on Ones, I will meet with 100 businesses and non-profits to <br />th <br />assess any ways the city can be of assistance. Those in the West 11 corridor are of particular in- <br />terest. <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council January 4, 2007 Page 7 <br /> State of the City <br /> <br />