Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

Home Browse Search

Mr. Kelly asked if there were any new hotel projects planned. Ms. Westlund responded that there had been some new hotel projects announced, including a Holiday Inn in the Gateway area. There were rumors of other projects that would provide rooms not included in the bid process. She did not anticipate housing would be a problem because many of the seats would be filled by local residents. There were also rooms available in neighboring communities. Eugene would work with those communities to make sure that visitors had easy access to the event. Mr. Kelly suggested the event could be an educational opportunity about track and field and said perhaps the committee could provide guidebooks about track and field for distribution in the schools and to residents like himself who knew nothing about track and field before arriving in Eugene. Mr. Masback said that a curriculum that crossed many subject matters could be developed. There was also cultural history attached to track and field. He thought there was an educational component that would serve to promote the event. He said that there had been progress in getting fans to understand what was going on, including internal event broadcasts and brochures. He said The Register-Guard traditionally did a good job in covering the Prefontaine Classic and thought it would do a good job with the trials as well. Mr. Papé also thanked those involved in bringing the event to Eugene. Mr. Papé determined from Ms. Westlund that a new Holiday Inn would be constructed on the site of the former Quality Inn, for a net addition of about 40 rooms. Those rooms were accounted for in the bid. Ms. Westlund confirmed that athletes would be housed at the Hilton Hotel and the media would be primarily housed at Gateway. She noted that the bid requirements called for a minimum of two 350-room hotels. Eugene’s largest hotel had 272 rooms. The hospitality industry had been very cooperative in helping the bid committee meet the requirements. Ms. Westlund acknowledged another large hotel would be useful. Responding to a question from Mr. Papé, Mr. Masback said USA Track and Field was a not-for-profit organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana, and was a product of the Amateur Sports Act, passed in 1978. The organization had about 100,000 members across the country. It created the rules for track and field. The organization certified records and sanctioned 5,000 races and events each year. It collaborated with the U.S. Olympic Committee and had responsibility for putting on the trials, working with local organizing committees to actually stage the event. USA Track and Field received no government funding. Revenues were from memberships, sanctions, merchandise sales, and corporate sponsorships. Mr. Papé suggested that, although it was not an Olympic event, the trials include a twilight mile race for “old time’s sake.” Responding to a question from Ms. Taylor, Ms. Kousky said that the UO would set aside rooms to be used by athletes and spectators. The new Living Learning Center would be used to house athletes. Ms. Taylor asked how the event could be made more environmentally friendly. Mr. Masback invited suggestions. He said that the event in Helsinki included recyclable serving items and a stand at the athletes dining hall with information about environmental issues. He thought a good blue print existed from that event. Ms. Taylor suggested that the event could highlight locally grown organic foods. Mr. Masback believed that was a suggestion appropriately directed at the UO, but indicated he would support it. Ms. Taylor liked the emphasis the organization placed on education about health. She determined from Mr. Masback that the event would include the Olympic qualifier for the 20 kilometer walk for men and women. That event took place on public streets and was accessible to the community. Mr. Masback pledged to bring the athletes who would participate in the games to town on a regular basis to visit the schools through the “Be a Champion” program. MINUTES—Eugene City Council February 8, 2006 Page 3 Work Session