Item C: Envision Eugene - Project Approach

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representation) as a working group to make recommendations that will form the basis of a draft future growth scenario. This approach will also have a thorough public engagement component that keeps the general public informed while providing opportunities to have a voice in the process. The primary components of this approach include: 1.Community Consensus Since the beginning of 2010, staff has listened to over 300 community members in all corners of the city about their views on planning and future growth. This effort recently culminated in a three-day workshop that included participants with a wide variety of views on the issue of growth. One example from this workshop included two participants who identified themselves as coming from different ends of the political spectrum. After several days of listening to one another and finding common purpose, the two sat down to talk about their hopes for the future and found that 80% of them were held in common. It is this type of relationship-building and problem-solving that can lead to a community consensus decision. Attachment B is a collective statement of the best possible outcomes of the three day workshop in the words of the participants. 2.Strategic Technical Analysis and Information Time and money can be saved by strategically focusing data and information needs. Rather than spend lots of time and money on upfront technical analysis from which a growth scenario is selected, this approach utilizes a “just in time” analysis that is specifically tied to desired outcomes of the community. There is a tremendous amount of knowledge and local expertise within the Eugene community. This approach relies on this local expertise. As a future vision for Eugene begins to take shape and specific information needs become apparent, staff and consultants will work to provide this information in a more defined and strategic manner. 3.“Jaws of Uncertainty” The concept of the “jaws of uncertainty” has been brought up as a way to deal with the inherent difficulties of forecasting the future. There is an understandable level of discomfort with locking Eugene into a future growth scenario which may or may not be relevant over the next 20 years. Staff continues to explore options with the state that can allow for flexibility and responsiveness to changing conditions throughout the 20-year planning period. One of the options that is being explored is a recurring “land needs analysis check-in,” that examines whether past assumptions have held true and accounts for any unexpected variations in the land supply. A future growth scenario that results from a community-backed process can lead to an expedited legal adoption process. State and regional partners will be invited to be at the table as the future growth scenario is developed. The traditional process for urban growth boundary decisions is cumbersome, rigid, and overly-complex. This is an opportunity to redefine the City’s working relationship with the state, the county, and Eugene’s citizens while reaching an outcome that is more satisfying to more people. This is a new approach and, as such, there is not a clear map to use for guidance. If for some reason, this process proves to be unsuccessful, a more traditional approach can be taken without much loss of time. The work that will be undertaken as part of the new approach is the same work that needs to be done as part of a traditional approach. Z:\CMO\2010 Council Agendas\M100614\S100614C.doc