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the community's vision and goals. <br />• LTD has gained national notice with its very successful EmX and the key transportation it <br />provides to our most vulnerable citizens. LTD is at the top of the list in reducing carbon <br />emissions and vehicle miles traveled. <br />• EWEB has provided clean and increasingly diverse energy, helped many in need, and has been an <br />essential part of our community response to climate change. This year, I had the honor of <br />addressing the National Public Utilities Conference about how we work together to keep Eugene <br />a national leader in sustainability. <br />• Bethel and V continued to prepare our children for success and we partnered on many <br />recreational and cultural opportunities, safe schools, new playing fields and the green schools <br />program. <br />• Our two largest post - secondary educational institutions, the University of Oregon and Lane <br />Community College, have national reputations as leaders on many fronts. The University of <br />Oregon is a significant economic engine with new buildings going up for education, science, <br />housing, and sports. LCC plans a new presence in our downtown, adding to its reinvigoration. <br />Both institutions have outstanding and nationally recognized leaders and both are out in front on <br />addressing climate change and sustainability. It seems very appropriate tonight to recognize the <br />years of leadership Dave Frohnmayer has given to the University of Oregon and our community, <br />to thank him and wish him well. <br />• Lane County and neighboring cities are partners in the economy of our region. We share the <br />water, air, and resources of this beautiful area as well as the opportunities that are before us as <br />we look to the upcoming year. This is a crucial time for us all to work even more effectively <br />together. We embarked on a number of land use and transportation planning projects, including <br />participation in the West Eugene Collaborative, that will define the future of our region, and we <br />in Eugene look forward to working with them to ensure the best for all our families. <br />These are just a sampling of the partnerships we benefit from every day. The individuals, organizations, <br />clubs, and programs we partner with are too numerous to name this evening – but your dedication and <br />limitless enthusiasm is deeply appreciated by all of us. <br />Did everything go perfectly in 2008? City life is inherently complex and we routinely faced challenges, <br />but no one could have predicted the intensity of our national economic crisis. No matter the effort, some <br />things just don't go as we would wish. <br />• Controversy plagued the Independent Police Review /CRB process and the pilot taser program <br />caused major community concern. Progress was made with the oversight process and the <br />ordinance amendment committee began meeting this week with the goal of completing its work in <br />March. We continue to be committed to the full implementation of the oversight system. <br />• Despite efforts, Eugene didn't secure a full service hospital in Eugene this year. We celebrated <br />the opening of the new regional RiverBend Hospital and Peace Health's continued commitment to <br />redevelop their downtown campus here in Eugene. We are grateful to the group of physicians who <br />opened the Urgent Care facility on 13th to offer crucial services in the core of our city. <br />• The council did not move forward with a new city hall because of budgetary constraints and <br />emerging priorities. While this issue is temporarily on hold, it remains a problem that the current <br />facility does not meet seismic standards and has limited space capacity. We must also recognize <br />the very real safety concerns for those who work in the building - an important issue for the <br />council to address. <br />• Even with new housing and development prospects, too much of our downtown <br />MINUTES —City Council January 7, 2009 Page 5 <br />