Item 1: Ordinance on Transplan and Metro Plan Amendments

Home Browse Search

had been in place since 2000 but not successfully implemented. Mr. Kinnison was not aware of how school district boundaries were drawn. Mr. Duncan wanted to move forward to develop a process for addressing very large neighborhood associations, such as Cal Young Neighborhood Association and Active Bethel Citizens. The Cal Young group tended to gather by issues that varied by individual neighborhoods within the association which covered a large geographic area. Ms. Kneeland thanked Mr. Kinnison for the important work of the Neighborhood Program and the growing trust it was achieving. The hands off approach had encouraged strong proposals from a strong neighborhood voice for recent projects. Such a process would foster an environment where the City and the neighborhood groups could work together and respect each other both when there was agreement and disagreement. Mr. Lawless stated that when implementing Recommendation #9, Implement neighborhood-based planning, it would be important to educate, link and empower the grass roots efforts that happened for neighborhood planning to the guiding principles of the State land use goals and the City’s Growth Management Policies (GMP). For neighborhood based planning to be useful, the participants needed to be held accountable to manage the decisions and investigations under the land use goals and GMP. Ms. Beierle asked that clarification of the distinction between neighborhoods and neighborhood associations be pursued early in the process. She noted while attending the Neighborhoods, USA Conference people were speaking about neighborhoods rather than neighborhood associations. Thinking about neighborhoods may better help balance relationships. She asked how well the Neighborhood Empowerment Initiative (NEI) was functioning and if it was time to turn it into something new. She encouraged the Planning Commission to establish a more enduring connection with the neighborhood groups and develop a formal reporting structure. Mr. Kinnison responded discussions were underway regarding what the NEI has done and whether it was as effective as it could be. Mr. Carroll said the Planning Commission had its scope of responsibilities and saw the neighborhoods through that window. He asked if there were other standing City boards, commissions and committees staff worked with for which there were standing neighborhood liaisons. Mr. Kinnison opined the relationships were getting closer. He had been invited to serve on the Diversity Advisory Board which was looking at implementing the Diversity and Equity Strategic Plan (DESP). He added Lorna Flormoe had been working with the SNAPS project to develop an outreach training for neighborhoods targeting unrepresented groups to broaden their participation and staff were working more closely with sustainability staff. Mr. Kinnison said a recommendation had been made to move the Neighborhood Program to the City Manager’s Office. IV. FINAL ACTION: TRANSPLAN AND METRO PLAN TEXT Mr. Inerfeld offered the staff report and a reviewed the status of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Eugene/Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan) revisions as outlined in the Agenda Item Summary (AIS). He asserted the City Council was a decision maker in the MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission June 29, 2009 Page 5