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Ms. Nathanson asked if it was feasible to set up a tree planting gift program so that citizens could arrange for <br />commemorative tree plantings. She noted that there was a new neighborhood park being developed in <br />southwest Eugene but there was insufficient money to do everything needed right now. She suggested that a <br />tree gift program could help make up those shortfalls. Ms. Andersen noted that Public Works already had a <br />gift catalog and could add trees to it. <br /> <br />Mr. Farr said that he had been contacted by constituents living along Dewey Street about the degraded <br />condition of the street. He said it had been pointed out to him that the bicycle paths do not have pot holes but <br />people who live on streets have to deal with pot holes. He asked if the City could tap into other funds in a <br />creative way to keep streets to a minimum level of maintenance. He asked for a follow-up response. <br /> <br />Mr. Farr noted that Eugene now had the third highest housing prices in the country. He said that he would <br />like to schedule a work session on the cost of housing in the community and try to determine the reasons <br />housing cost so much. <br /> <br />Mr. Farr said that Eugene received a signed lease for the Wells Fargo Building in the Bethel area for use as a <br />branch library. Mr. Johnson said that he had signed and returned the lease. Mr. Farr thanked Mayor Torrey <br />for his efforts in facilitating the lease and Wells Fargo for agreeing to the lease. <br /> <br />Mr. Lee noted that Eugene had received $1 million for the acquisition and expansion of the railroad station <br />from the Oregon Transportation Commission. He said that amount would not pay for everything but was a <br />good start. He commended staff for its work in securing the funding. <br /> <br />Mr. Johnson indicated that staff would provide a copy of the rules regarding enterprise zones established <br />through Senate Bill 245. <br /> <br />Mr. Johnson read a letter from the General Services Administration (GSA) indicating that $3.5 million was <br />available to purchase a new courthouse site, and the GSA Administrator would support a ten percent increase <br />in that amount. <br /> <br />Mr. Johnson requested head nods in setting up a Voters Pamphlet Committee for the three possible measures <br />the council was considering placing on the May ballot. No objections were voiced. <br /> <br />Mr. Johnson reported that a group of University of Oregon architecture students was working on a design of <br />City Hall without the Police and Fire departments. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey encouraged the council to participate in the Read Across America event on March 2, and to <br />contact him if they were unable to do so. Ms. Taylor indicated she would be out of town. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey said that representatives of Oregon Department of Transportation had met with the Board of <br />County Commissioners and representatives of the small cities in Lane County to discuss the possibility of <br />forming an Area Commission on Transportation. He said that before any decision was made, all elected <br />officials would have a chance to comment, adding there had been little interest expressed at the meeting with <br />ODOT. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey said that it appeared Lane County cities would receive $2.5 million in maintenance funds for <br />roads from Lane County Road Fund in the upcoming year. Mayor Torrey encouraged the council to contact <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 9, 2000 Page 5 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />