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<br />Early in the PROS Plan 2005 process, we are tolet a decision was made to develop the <br />plan around a set of relatively arbitrary geographical subdivisions \.vithin the city that <br />meant direct involvement of neighborhood associations in the plan development would <br />be impossible. <br /> <br />We believe that was in and of itself a fatal error. \Vith the aid of now-e',>'ervdav GIS <br />technology, it vvould have been far more appropriate to develop geograpfiicai <br />subdivisions to actually facilitate neighborhood involvement <br /> <br />Notwithstanding the terrible discolli1ect behveen the PROS process and the <br />neighborhoods, some neighborhood associations made strong critiques of the PROS <br />plan priorities for their areas. In the instance of the Santa Clara park and VCB <br />expansion fiasco, the PROS plan was finaUy amended to align with expressed <br />neighborhood goals after direct city council action. In other instances, where <br />neighborhood dissatisfaction '\ivith PROS plan components may be just as strong b,ut has <br />not elevated in process to separate council action, the plan has continued to march <br />forward, regardless of explicit neighborhood input. <br /> <br />It would be most appropriate for the city council to direct staff to use neighborhood <br />friendl y plamring areas in revising the PROS plan prior to adoption. <br /> <br />Wedge versus Consensus <br /> <br />In frank political terms.. the current plan, deterrnined as it was in most aspects by dty <br />staff during the term of a previous mayor.. 1-\forking in consultation with a committee <br />appointed by that previous mayor, is a wedge plan rather than a consensus plan. <br /> <br />At the neighborhood association level, we have witnessed a substantial commitment to <br />city-wide problem solving and priority balancingo This is especially tme in the areas of <br />natural resource protection and meeting the needs of the children in our community. <br />Yet this plan fails to engage that positive potential. <br /> <br />With our city growing rapidly, today we must demand real excellence in parks and <br />open space planning. Only \vith such excellence can find the win-win solutions we need <br />to successfully develop density \vithquality. Please send PROS 2005 back to the <br />drawing board with a dear request for improvement. <br /> <br />Hespedfully.. <br /> <br />Kf.'vin r-",[atthev.,ts <br />President, Frien.ds of Eugene <br />matthews@artifice.com <br />PO Box 1588, Eu.gene; OR 97440 <br />c/ () 541-345-7421 vox <br />c! 0 541 ~3,15-7 438 fax <br /> <br />http:,I ! vvww . FriendsofEugene.org <br /> <br />Friend of Eugene · 12/30;05 <br />