Item 2A - Approval of Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Poling advocated for allowing the division to complete its comprehensive plan prior to placement of a bond measure on the ballot. He opined that it was important to identify and save some of the land in the community for park space. Mayor Torrey felt there was a tremendous opportunity to pass a bond measure in November. He listed five "pet" projects he would hope to see completed, should it be approved: · Development of fields in the Sheldon area, as school closures were causing soccer fields to be taken out. He supported replacing lost fields with new fields near those owned by the 4J School District. He thought it possible to forge a long-term agreement to partner in the main- tenance of the fields; · The Echo Hollow Pool; · The Wetland Education Center represented a "tremendous" opportunity to construct a build- ing for the education program; · An urban downtown park; · The purchase of open spaces, which cost little in operations and management and were disap- pearing quickly. Mayor Torrey declared he would not support the bond measure in the event of a tie. He stressed the importance of a decisive vote when sending a bond issue to the voters. Mr. Kelly felt the public was "rolling" with this and represented an opportunity to be seized. He asked for staff and committee reaction to council input and to the "straw man" list of projects. Ms. Nathanson suggested that staff develop a proposal on what a bond measure would include. She was uncertain the public would be as supportive of a bond measure that only acquired open space. Ms. Nathanson conveyed the committee's emphasis on the provision of access to parks so that all people could easily get to them and easily traverse them. Ms. Nathanson expressed uncertainty regarding the development of an expensive urban park in the downtown area. Ms. Taylor said the mayor had raised an important issue. She also felt the loss of school fields was an impetus for lands acquisition. She also agreed that Echo Hollow Pool should be upgraded. She supported the purchase of the "butterfly" parking lot on 8tl~ Avenue and Oak Streets. Mr. Pap~ asked if systems development charges (SDCs) would be used to develop the Willakenzie School site. Ms. Riner replied that the division had the money to buy the property and then would have to do some prioritization. She noted that the bond measure included acquisition of 12 neighborhood park sites. In response to another question from Mr. Pap6, Ms. Riner said the division would continue to work on the projects from the last bond measure for the next two years. Mr. Meisner agreed the council should act from a plan and not from opportunism. He hoped the committee, in developing a master plan, would also prioritize activities and acquisitions. Mr. Meisner approved of the use of the northwest Park Block as an urban park. MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 14, 2004 Page 7 Work Session