CC Minutes - 06/08/98 Work Session

Home Browse Search

IV. WORK SESSION/ACTION: PARK AND OPEN SPACE MEASURE Ms. Nathanson noted that the public information tabloid/survey had been released since the last council discussion on the topic and responses have started to come in. She said the committee will meet two more times in the next two weeks to finish its work: review the public input and council comments and formulate a recommendation. Ms. Nathanson acknowledged changes since the committee was appointed, including defeat of Ballot Measure 53 and a sense of what measures will be on the next ballot. Given these changes, she said, the committee needs council direction now; and that may be given in the following four ways, if it chooses to do so: 1) the maximum amount of money for the whole project; 2) the maximum impact on the taxpayer; 3) a proposal for placing a measure with two choices on the ballot, e.g., parks and facilities and another version for that plus a certain amount for land banking; and 4) development of a list of projects, with the council setting a cut-off point for the proposal. Ms. Nathanson said the council may wish to set criteria for projects to be included in the list. Mayor Torrey mentioned the following measures that would most likely be placed on the ballot: a public safety measure that at minimum would add $1 per thousand per property; a 4J School District capital program and also something to address its football field situation; and a library measure, with a local operating levy. He added that the realities of Ballot Measure 53 made it more difficult to succeed at the poll. He asked the committee to be "strategically realistic" about the ability to win, keeping in mind that there will not be another chance to go out with a measure for parks for another two years. Ms. Taylor said she favored going out for "something big," with development postponed if necessary. In response to her question, Library, Recreation and Cultural Services Acting Director Terry Smith referred to pages 35 and 36 of the council packet, saying the public was surveyed at three levels: $40/$30/$20 million on a five-year levy and the response was mixed. He added that page 34 included a prioritized list of the public's desire about what they would like in the way of new parks. Ms. Nathanson pointed out that even the maximum figure will not meet projected need given the area's growth. Ms. Taylor said the 20-year plan made more sense and would include park users not yet here, spreading the cost more equitably. Mr. Farr said he supported land banking for parks and favored a mix of land acquisition and development later. He drew the correlation between parks and homelessness, noting that State zoning law allows camping only on public land, and asked the committee to discuss the potential use of park- designated at least on a temporary basis for camping in Eugene. Addressing a question from Ms. Nathanson, Mr. Fart said this would also disperse camping throughout the city and he had considered the question of camp(ing) supervision. Ms. Swanson Gribskov asked the committee to consider phases, e.g., take options on key parcels of land. She said she was leaning toward a longer-range (20-year), which should help address the cost issue for voters. She expressed concern with maintaining existing and future parks. Addressing a question from Ms. Swanson Gribskov, Mr. Smith said 700 surveys/questionnaires were returned, and of those 75 percent were supportive. Mr. Tollenaar said he was weary of rank ordering specific projects because it would put both the committee and the council in difficult positions, adding he was most interested in the A and A- plus options for the ballot. He suggested the lower level should be set at $15 million on a bond Minutes--Eugene City Council June 8, 1998 Page 5 5:30 p.m.