Laserfiche WebLink
district, which hoped to sell the property, but also hoped to satisfy the community's desires and sought <br />some convergence of the two. <br />Mr. Brown said he was horrified and heartsick at the idea of Civic Stadium being torn down, particularly <br />because the community had already lost so much of its architectural heritage. He reported that the <br />Friendly Area Neighbors had voted, with one abstention, to direct the City to purchase the property and <br />lease it to the Save Civic Stadium and perhaps the YMCA. The residents in the neighborhood around the <br />stadium overwhelmingly desired its preservation. <br />Mr. Brown said he had reviewed park acreage for each ward and found that Ward 1 had the lowest <br />amount of park space by a significant factor. He believed that Civic Stadium could make up that lack. <br />Mr. Clark also supported the preservation of Civic Stadium. He said the issue was not just about money <br />but about community as well. However, he believed that challenging economic times meant the council <br />needed to consider cost. He asked Mr. Brown what would happen after the committee proposed in his <br />suggested motion was formed. He posited that the outcome could be a plan that required City finding. <br />Mr. Clark pointed out that the council had referred a ballot measure establishing an income tax for <br />schools to the voters, and he feared they would perceive the income tax as a means to buy the stadium. <br />Ms. Ortiz honored Civic Stadium for what it was but questioned "what dogs we have in the fight" since <br />the City lacked the money to purchase it or maintain it. She said the school district needed the money that <br />the property would realize and she did not want to stand in the way of that. <br />Speaking to Mr. Brown's remarks about parkland, Ms. Ortiz said it would be interesting to see how <br />parkland acreage could be made equitable across wards. <br />Responding to a question from May Piercy, City Attorney Glenn Klein said the City did not have the <br />right of first refusal for Civic Stadium. <br />Mr. Poling observed that when one deducted metropolitan parks from the total, that left only 68 acres of <br />parks in Ward 4. <br />Mr. Poling agreed with Mr. Clark and Ms. Ortiz. He thought that City interference in the district's <br />business at this point would be counter - productive. He suggested that any subcommittee formed should <br />include representatives of all respondents to the RFP. He thought all three responses represented good <br />proposals and the board would make the best decision, taking into account factors other than money. <br />Mr. Zelenka suggested the issue was about the City's heritage and history. He believed Civic Stadium <br />was valuable to the community and he did not like any of the options that eliminated the stadium. He <br />preferred that the City buy the site using public funds and donations and invite the YMCA and Save Civic <br />Stadium to collaborate on a redevelopment plan. He supported Mr. Brown's proposed motion, pointing <br />out that it did not commit the City to anything. <br />Mr. Farr believed the council needed to consider the future and what it left behind. He did not want to see <br />Civic Stadium demolished. He did not think the City was interfering unduly because the Envision <br />Eugene process encompassed issues such as transportation and zoning. He determined from Assistant <br />City Manager Medary that the stadium property was zoned Public Land and was not included in the <br />City's inventory of commercial lands. Mr. Farr thought it incumbent for the City Council to weigh in on <br />the disposition of the property and ensure that whatever happened fit into the vision represented by <br />Envision Eugene. <br />MINUTES— Eugene City Council March 16, 2011 Page 4 <br />Work Session <br />