CC Minutes - 01/05/06 State of the City

Home Browse Search

is right and what keeps our economy healthy. In short, we can make Eugene a place with an unparalleled quality of life - the most desirable city in the northwest. Not "Anywhere, USA,” but beautiful, clean, and prosperous Eugene, where rivers flow under clean skies, businesses grow, children thrive, and where people know their voices count. This is an exciting opportunity! Now let’s talk about the future The Eugene City Council and I have some accomplishments under our belts but many are just beginnings. In order to really address many of last year’s priorities, we will have to make them this year’s priorities as well. To the extent we can, we should ensure that our budget reflects those priorities. • We will get the Police Civilian Review Board up and going and hire an outside auditor. We will strengthen our public safety capacity through community policing, address property crimes, and en- sure our downtown is safe and enjoyable. • We will complete the city hall public engagement process and determine the structure that best suits our community needs. It is an opportunity to build something worthy for generations to come. • Eugene will have a full-service hospital underway. • Through the implementation of community strategies, we will measure successful steps in address- ing racial issues and homelessness. We will commit to making Eugene a welcoming, inclusive community across race, ethnicity, gender, age, class (and even the river). • We will treat our youth as a community asset and engage them in our policy-making. • We will enact a neighborhood initiative that will strengthen and support neighborhood associations and their participation in our city planning processes. • We will work to see that our downtown is fully occupied with local and new stores, non-profits, galleries, clubs, restaurants, greenspace and housing - a place that draws our community together all year long. We will continue to foster our downtown as the cultural epicenter of the world’s greatest city for art and the outdoors. We will even address concerns about parking. And more. . . • Plans for the 2008 Olympic Trials will strengthen our tourist capacity, support our economy, and provide opportunities for our community members, young and old. It will enhance the collaborative work of our city and our university. • We will be successful in gaining congressional support for the development of an environmental education center in the wetlands. This project has been on the drawing board for a few years and offers opportunities for students, community members and conferences/tourism. • We will strengthen our relationship with regional partners, respecting our differences while fostering opportunities for working together. MINUTES—Eugene City Council January 5, 2006 Page 7 State of the City