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<br />City of Eugene City Hall Complex Master Plan <br />Community Forum #1-Summary Report <br /> <br />. Thanks for the public forums. I'm wondering how or whether you are contacting those who <br />ordinarily don't come to such forums. What a revolutionary idea to go to youth centers and <br />homeless shelters to listen and learn. White Bird, St. Vincent de Paul's, Looking Glass, New <br />Roads, Centro Latino, and Sponsors are places that immediately come to mind. <br /> <br />. Civic Campus Concept <br /> <br />After attending the public forum on the City Hall last week, I was struck by the concept of a <br />"Civic Campus". I do not believe that all city functions must reside in a single building. <br />However, the civic campus concept allows for proximity of city services in an attractive <br />downtown setting. <br /> <br />A "Civic Campus" would consist of adjacent buildings with a park-like "courtyard" <br />separating them. The campus could be composed of existing buildings and buildings yet to <br />be constructed. Moreover, the campus could accommodate a number of concerns raised at <br />the forum. <br /> <br />Eugene is the proud home of a plethora of non-profit agencies that provide a wide variety of <br />services, education, arts programming, recreation and advocacy. Some such as the Lane <br />Independent Living Alliance or LILA are due to be displaced by East Broadway re- <br />development. Affordable, accessible space could be made for some of these organizations in <br />a civic campus. Inclusion of non-profit organizations offers municipal and community <br />acknowledgement of their importance. <br /> <br />The courtyard of the campus would also offer a home for the Farmers' Market, a concern <br />raised by two speakers at the Forum. An open courtyard would also provide a venue for any <br />number of community cultural and political activities. <br /> <br />Putting a "human face" on city business was also mentioned. An information service could <br />be positioned at street level near the courtyard. Citizens could receive direction to specific <br />city services. Personnel who worked in the information desk should be fully aware of city <br />government and its workings. Ideally, the information desk could be the repository of <br />community-wide information to be provided to inquiring citizens and visitors. <br /> <br />A small percentage of ground-floor space could be made available for commercial <br />endeavors. For example, a small cafeteria like those operated by clients of the Oregon <br />Commission for the Blind, would be appropriate. <br /> <br />Design of the civic campus should also include features reflective of Eugene's four sister <br />cities. Artistic and cultural elements of Kakagowa, Chinjou, erkutzk and Kathmandu could <br />be incorporated in the structural design, artwork and landscape of the Civic Campus. <br /> <br />In surveying the space needs of city government, a "Civic Campus" would address the <br />concerns of municipal workers and city residents. As we plan for the next 25 - 50 years we <br />ought to look at re-defining Eugene's downtown and its city services. A well-defined civic <br />campus offers an opportunity to address city government needs and citizens' concerns. <br /> <br />Next Steps <br /> <br />KC Cooper discussed the project next steps and how the participants' feedback would inform the <br />City Council. A summary report of the forum will be presented at the City Council's next <br />session. Project updates, newsletters, project questionnaire, and materials from the forum can be <br /> <br />The JD White Company, Inc. <br /> <br />Page 21 <br /> <br />April 2006 <br />