CC Minutes - 06/16/99 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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truly accessible to neighborhoods. Mr. Meisner endorsed the partnership between the school district and the City, although he noted his agreement with Mr. Fart's remarks about the need to serve other interest groups. He said that those who were involved in sports may not be involved in organized sports, and expressed the hope those individuals would not be forgotten. Ms. Andersen said that the council would receive a quarterly update in mid-July, and would receive at that time a list of the other development sites in the program. Mr. Pap~ noted his past involvement in the Field of Dreams Committee, which was focused on getting as many well-maintained fields as possible for youth of the community for all sports. He said that it was beyond his wildest dreams that the council would be looking at a proposal for four all-weather sports complexes. Responding to Mr. Meisner's remarks, Mr. Pap~ said that the school district had committed to the community's use of the fields into the future. He believed that the user committee was key to the success of the concept. That committee would exist in perpetuity. Mr. Meisner said that his remarks were also intended to address Mr. Kelly's concerns about the motion. He was interested in ensuring the terms of the agreement were clear, and that the agreement included the guarantee of community use. Responding to a question from Mr. Pap~, Ms. Andersen confirmed that the City intended to make some irrigation and drainage improvements to the sites identified. She added that the intergovernmental agreement will address long-term maintenance issues and jurisdictional responsibility. Ms. Andersen reiterated that the community's access to the youth sports complexes would be not only to the artificial turf field, but to the other facilities owned by the school district at those locations, including the programmable facilities. Responding to Ms. Taylor's concerns, Mr. Pap~ said that as he raised money to help pass the measure, he had committed to supporters that there would be at least two youth sports parks. He was convinced the proposal before the council met that commitment. Mr. Pap~ noted that the measure also provided at least $750,000 for improvements to neighborhood park ballfields. Mr. Lee asked if liability would be discussed in the intergovernmental agreement. Mr. Johnson said yes. Mr. Lee asked how liability would be handled. Mr. Johnson said that it would be handled in a manner similar to how it was addressed in the joint use agreements the City currently had with the district. Mr. Lee supported the youth sports complex concept. He also supported the collaboration with the school district. He said that it was an attempt to enhance what he termed an intergenerational partnership between community youth and the community at large. He was excited about the artificial turf fields. Mr. Lee thanked Mr. Piercy and Mr. Hurst for working with City staff on the proposal. Mr. Torrey pointed out the area between Cai Young Middle School, the Beltline, the Willamette River, and I-5, and said it would have a population the size of Florence in five years but there was not one park in the area. He said that the proposed park improvements in that area would be an immense benefit to the people living north of the Beltline. Mr. Torrey acknowledged that the proposed facility at Sheldon High School was opposed by the neighbors because of the parking situation, but he believed the same would be true no matter its location given the City's history in attempting to site sports facilities. MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 16, 1999 Page 7 5:30 p.m.