CC Minutes - 04/25/11 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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preservation of the stadium and a new home for the YMCA. She suggested Fred Meyer could consider the current YMCA location for a store and apartments. Tom Halferty, 4510 Manzanita Street, discussed how the SCS proposal meshed with the Seven Pillars of Envision Eugene with emphasis on the pillar related to economic opportunities for all community members. He tied increased tourism opportunities to the "pod" of fields that would be created by the SCS proposal. Tom Brandt, 37056 Boiler Creek Road, Springfield, discussed his success with past efforts that were at first opposed but later turned out to be successful, such as Saturday Market. He expressed support for the SCS proposal as a life apprenticeship learning center. Earl Erb, 981 West 8 Avenue, spoke on behalf of the Professional Developmental Football League, which hoped to expand to Oregon and wanted to play games at a redeveloped Civic Stadium. He described the scope of the league, which planned an expansion team in Eugene next year. He said the stadium would provide affordable opportunities for families to view football games as well as job opportunities for local college football players who had not been drafted by other pro leagues. Yodin Bocahaliv, 4989 Hunters View Drive, was present to represent the local soccer community, particularly youth. He emphasized the need for sports fields to accommodate soccer teams and spoke of the difficulty of finding fields. He believed that Civic Stadium could fill some of that demand. He said his club and Kidsports would love to rent the facility and he believed it could accommodate tournaments and high school sports events. Kevin Matthews, PO Box 1588, Eugene, advocated for the City to partner with SCS to preserve Civic Stadium. He feared that the Fred Meyer proposal would damage the small businesses in south Eugene. He believed the site could accommodate both the stadium and the YMCA. Carlis Nixon, 1556 Wilson Court, expressed support for the SCS proposal because it would make the facility available to all citizens for recreational activities. She opposed the Fred Meyer proposal because the area had sufficient shopping and "we don't need or want" a business indistinguishable from others. She believed whatever occurred on the site should have a "unique Eugene" flavor. Ms. Nixon found the area "charmingly authentic" and called on the council to assist in its preservation. Sheryl Engerbert- Scott, 1065 East 22 Avenue, did not want to lose Civic Stadium in order to get a new YMCA. Eugene needed recreational facilities. She believed the City had neglected recreational sports. Her children struggled for playing fields. Eugene had doubled in size since she was a child but had not kept up with the demand for organized sports. Ms. Engerbert-Scott said the stadium had the potential for other uses. She suggested it could be place for young people to meet safely; for example, the stadium could house an outdoor evening theater where children could go. Beverly Smith, 2150 Onyx Street, executive director of Kidsports, said there were many local children looking for places to practice and play safely. She asked the council to help preserve open space for recreational use, particularly given the budget cuts facing the school districts and limiting their ability to provide after - school activities for youth. A centrally located indoor sports facility would do wonders to help her organization meet the needs of local youth and their families. Brandon Spencer - Hartle, 795 Willamette Street, #203, representing the Historic Preservation League of Oregon, noted that the stadium was nominated for recognition on his organization's "Most Endangered MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 14 Regular Meeting