Item A: Comprehensive Plan for Bringing Properties into City

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SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS 15 Beginning April 2010, the Joint Strategy Team (JuST) approved by Santa Clara and River Road Community Organizations began work on the Goals and Strategies of the 2006 Transition Report approved by the City of Eugene. The Transition Report identified several priority areas in the outreach section. JUST selected these top four priorities: Land Use; Governance; Parks and Recreation; and Transportation. The first step was to conduct a statistically valid survey of Santa Clara and River Road residents. Concern was expressed that such a survey would not be valid unless preceded by a public outreach and education program. The Santa Clara -River Road Outreach and Learning project was launched in February 2011. What was learned by this effort? The residents living in Santa Clara and River Road do core about their communities and want a say in how their communities develop in the future. They enjoy the look and feel of their neighborhoods and want it protected. They are concerned about traffic congestion and would like a more integrate d transportation system. Security is a concern and increased police protection is desired. Agriculture and a rural lifestyle are important to Santa Clara residents, and they want assurance that agricultural land, waterways, wildlife habitats and open space in and surrounding the neighborhood are protected. Santa Clara is lacking in recreational services and would like to see amenities developed such as community centers, ball fields, recreational classes and so on. Other issues supported by both communities include: • Public Safety • Library Services • Promote connections between neighbors • Increase community events in Santa Clara • Sort out confusion between city and county • More commercial businesses and services • Increase public transportation, including bus access • Increase access to the Willamette River As the SCRROL project finishes its task it is important that the progress made and the momentum gathered be nurtured and continued. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Protect and strengthen neighborhood assets and solve key problems through pro -active and creative collaboration between SCCO and RRCO see #9 below for specific ideas. 2. Prioritize common goals of River Road and Santa Clara, including the service district providers, to develop an implementation plan. Collaboration maximizes volunteer time and energy, brings many voices to the table, builds a strong base for advocacy and improves communication. 3. Communicate with elected officials about SCRROL results and implementation plans. 4. Host summits with service providers and neighborhood leaders to share common goals, gather ideas for implementation, and identify next steps. 5. Initiate follow -up conversations with City of Eugene staff on the following topics: area Refinement Plan pre -work; financial options, both pro and con for annexation; street standards options; increased policing; expansion of parks and recreation services especially in Santa Clara; increased access to the Willamette River; protection for agricultural land; and so on. 6. Engage neighbors in conversations about potential next steps and continue to build public support for collaborative and realistic solutions. 7. Continue to gather opinions of community members who are not well represented at public events. Work toward balanced geographic and socio- economic representation in SCCO and RCCO. 8. In the future, consider a statistically valid survey to identify community support for specific implementation measures 9. Form a new advocacy group named "The Santa Clara -River Road Implementation Planning Team" ( SCRRIPT). This task force would be composed of River Road and Santa Clara representatives to work on common goals. SCRRIPT would function similar to SCRROL, but would be more pro -active in advocating for specific solutions and implementing the goals identified by SCRROL. 10. SCRROL recommends that SCCO and RRCO develop action plans to strengthen neighborhood assets and solve key problems through pro -active and creative collaboration.