Laserfiche WebLink
Mayor Piercy said the opening for the Maude Kerns Teen Art Show was scheduled for September 10. <br />Mayor Piercy noted the upcoming anniversary of the events of September 11, 2010, and said the Veterans <br />Memorial at Skinner Butte Park had been enhanced and a rededication ceremony would occur on <br />September 12 at 10 a.m. The dedication of the Delta Ponds Bridge would occur the same day at 11 a.m. <br />Mr. Poling noted the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new fire station at the Eugene Airport scheduled for <br />September 10 at 10:30 a.m. <br />Mayor Piercy recognized Mr. Poling. <br />Mr. Poling reported that the Veterans Administration was still considering a Eugene property and he <br />recalled the council's willingness to invest in such a project downtown. He said the council now had the <br />opportunity to voice support for locating the project in Eugene in Crescent Village. He supported the <br />project because it would put 200 people to work immediately. He also believed local veterans would need <br />and deserved the support provided by such a facility. <br />Mr. Poling, seconded by Mr. Clark, moved to direct the City Manager to work with Arlie <br />& Company in support of bringing the Veterans Administration Clinic to north Eugene. <br />Responding to a question from Mr. Brown about how he interpreted the motion, City Manager Ruiz <br />envisioned that City staff would meet with Arlie & Company to learn more about the project. Any <br />financial decisions would have to be made by the council. <br />Ms. Ortiz supported the motion and was glad to hear the City was still under consideration as a location <br />for the clinic. <br />Ms. Taylor asked why the developer needed the City to do the project. City Manager Ruiz did not know if <br />the developer needed the City. He suggested that a statement of support from the council sent a message <br />of encouragement to the Veterans Administration. <br />Mr. Pryor supported the motion. He said the Veterans Administration wanted to locate someplace that <br />was supportive of such a facility and he thought the council's vote of support was needed to demonstrate <br />community support. He suggested the council would do the same for any other desirable development. <br />Mr. Clark said that the project would provide both construction jobs as well as support for local veterans. <br />He thought it was critically important the council help people who had helped defend the country. <br />Mayor Piercy said the motion allowed the council to do its part to help returning veterans and also <br />reflected the council's desire to have the Veterans Administration facility in the community. <br />Mr. Poling shared an anecdote about a person who had approached him for $12 to reach the VA hospital <br />in Roseburg, and said Eugene should not have to send its veterans to Roseburg and needed to do what it <br />could to locate the hospital in Eugene. He commended the location in question and recommended the <br />council send a statement to the Veterans Administration and community that it was prepared to support <br />veterans. <br />The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. <br />MINUTES— Eugene City Council September 8, 2010 Page 4 <br />Work Session <br />