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As the local economy has diversified away from dependence on resource-based manufacturing, the Eugene- <br />Springfield area has become an increasingly important center for health services in Western Oregon. Between <br />2001 and 2009, employment in the health care services sector grew by 24%. <br />Some of the local job losses have been offset by large construction projects including the University of Oregon’s <br />new 405,000 square foot, 12,500 seat Mathew Knight Arena. This $200.0 million project was completed in <br />February, 2011. The University of Oregon campus is also the site for another large project that is underway, a <br />100,000 square-foot science building valued at $65.0 million. This building will house brain research, cognitive <br />science, neuroscience, green materials science, nanotechnology research, and solar technology research. The <br />East Campus Residence Hall is a $71.5 million project that broke ground in July 2010 and is expected to provide <br />housing for 450 students and academic amenities by the fall of 2012. <br />Several public and private construction projects are in progress in downtown Eugene. These include a new $55 <br />million downtown campus for Lane Community College, located across from the Downtown Library. This project <br />will incorporate five floors of student housing along with a 90,000 square foot education building, and is expected <br />to be completed by November 2012. In addition, a major reconstruction project is the Broadway Commerce <br />Center at Broadway and Willamette Streets, and ground has been broken by Bennett Development for a new five- <br />story commercial building on an adjacent site. All of these projects have benefited from partnerships with the City <br />of Eugene and the Urban Renewal Agency. New downtown hotel accommodations will be provided by the Inn at <br />5th Street Market, which is currently under construction. These projects will continue to partially offset decreased <br />demand for residential and commercial construction due to a weakening real estate market and will provide new <br />permanent employment opportunities when completed. <br />Rail and air connections through Eugene also continue to benefit from new investments. In 2010, the main <br />runway at the Eugene Airport was repaved. Also, the Airport has received a $500,000 federal grant to help start <br />daily nonstop flights to San Jose, California. The Union Pacific Railroad will spend about $33.5 million to improve <br />75 miles of its rail line from Oakridge through Eugene and on to Harrisburg, as well as its rail yard in Eugene. The <br />U.S. Department of Transportation will provide a $13.5 million grant to complete repairs to the Coos Bay rail line, <br />which provides freight services between the City of Coos Bay and Eugene. <br />Long-term Financial Planning <br />The City of Eugene recognizes the importance of strategic long-term financial planning. Each year, forecasts are <br />prepared to estimate the financial health of each major fund over the next six years. The City also utilizes three <br />additional important planning documents: the Capital Improvement Program, the Multi-Year Financial Plan and <br />theDebt Affordability Study. <br />In February of 2011, the City Council approved the Capital Improvement Program for FY12 to FY17. The Capital <br />Improvement Program (CIP) forecasts the City’s capital needs over a six-year period based on various long-range <br />plans, goals, and policies. The underlying strategy of the CIP is to plan for land acquisition, construction, and <br />major maintenance of public facilities necessary for the safe and efficient management of City assets. A critical <br />element of a balanced CIP is the provision of funds to preserve or enhance existing facilities and provide new <br />assets which will help the City respond to changing service needs and community growth. The program serves as <br />the basis for the capital budget and is updated every two years. The FY12-17 CIP totals about $152.3 million in <br />projects with funding secured or identified from a variety of sources. <br />Transportation is the largest CIP category with a total allocation of $46.9 million, of which $41.6 million is <br />dedicated towards pavement preservation, and another $5.3 million for other transportation projects. Airport <br />capital improvements, including new airport fire rescue station, terminal building expansion and preservation and <br />$25.5 million for public buildings will primarily be <br />maintenance projects, will account for $46.8 million. About <br />invested in preservation and capital maintenance of existing City facilities. Improvements to preserve and <br />rehabilitate the City’s wastewater system will be funded with $13.1 million. Under the City’s stormwater program, <br />drywell decommissioning, stream corridor acquisition, bank stabilization and stream restoration, and system <br />upgrades and capacity enhancements are to be funded at $13.5 million. Approximately $6.6 million in anticipated <br />capital spending will be for parks and open space projects. <br />In April 2011, the City’s Executive Team reviewed and approved the Multi-Year Financial Plan (MYFP) for FY12 <br />to FY17. The MYFP was subsequently presented to the Mayor and the City’s Budget Committee. The Multi-Year <br />Financial Plan is an annual compilation of significant but unfunded challenges and opportunities that are likely to <br />4 <br />