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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 04/10/06 Meeting M I N U T E S Eugene City Council City Council Meeting Council Chamber—Eugene City Hall April 10, 2006 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Jennifer Solomon, Andrea Ortiz, David Kelly, Gary Papé, George Poling, Chris Pryor, Bonny Bettman, Betty Taylor. Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the meeting of the Eugene City Council to order and welcomed everyone to the meeting. 1. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Piercy reviewed the rules of the Public Forum. She noted that 24 people had signed up to speak and requested a motion to extend the time for the Public Forum. Councilor Kelly, seconded by Councilor Papé, moved to allow two minutes per speaker. Roll call vote; the motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Anthony Losco , 350 Pearl Street, suggested that the former Sears site be transformed into a European- style plaza or square. He stated that every town in Europe had a piazza. He noted that Portland had such a square. Using Japan as an example, he shared his vision for a themed plaza with everything in the area such as food and retail items relating to that theme during a specified period of time. He thought local small businesses would recognize a benefit by participating as thematic elements. He also suggested that the piazza should be combined with the theater so that when people came, they would have an all-day event to attend. He averred that in looking through history, the piazza had been the most successful business measure ever undertaken. He submitted his testimony in writing. Charles Warren , 86260 Lorane Highway, urged the council to include money in the bond dedicated to all- weather fields in partnership with School District 4J. He thought the four current fields were the best investment the City had ever made in athletic fields. He said the 1998 Parks and Open Space Bond Measure was a success, with a 67 percent approval rating, the highest approval rating of any bond measure in the state that year. He averred that the reason it had been so successful was that there was something in it for everyone. He recommended that the council structure the upcoming bond measure in the same way in order to garner the largest amount of support. He agreed that the acquisition of land for future parks was a worthy goal, but it was also very important to meet the other needs of the community as well. Patti Hansen , 3943 Cornell Way, Board President for the Leadership Education Adventure Direction (LEAD) group, believed LEAD’s mission filled a niche in the community that was critically important. She stated that LEAD intervened with teens in a way that addressed key risk factors for juvenile delin- quency: academic achievement, substance abuse, peer association, and use of time. She said LEAD provided teens with a second family and a place where they were supported and accepted unconditionally. She averred that LEAD gave teens a reason to go to school and to not use drugs, to envision a positive MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 1 Regular Meeting future for themselves and motivation to work toward that future. She stated that many of the young people she encountered in the juvenile justice system had gotten into trouble because they had no guidance or because they were bored. She said the proposed teen center would meet a critical need in the community. She underscored that the at-risk and low-income teens in the city were asking for the City’s help to be safe, healthy, and productive individuals. She believed that LEAD could make the teen center happen because they were a dedicated and highly organized group of young people and staff. She felt that LEAD would develop a cadre of young community leaders in the process. She respectfully requested the City’s support for the Nuestro Lugar/Our Place Teen Center. Councilor Bettman, seconded by Councilor Papé, moved to allow 45 minutes for the Pub- lic Forum and to place a two-minute limit on testimony. Roll call vote; the motion passed, 6:2; councilors Taylor and Solomon voting in opposition. Marilyn Kalstad , 263 Sunshine Acres Drive, a founding board member for LEAD, recalled that LEAD started as a partnership between the City of Eugene Outdoor Program, Lane County Juvenile Services, and the Housing Authority in service to low-income young people. She said its success was based on strengthening and expanding those partnerships to include the schools, Centro LatinoAmericano, and other youth-focused organizations. She related that LEAD had been searching for the appropriate housing for its teen center for a long time. LEAD members were excited about the possibility of accessing former Fire Station #1 for use as a teen center. She declared that Eugene needed a safe and chemical-free facility where teens had access to services and social activities that they themselves determined were important. She felt it was important that the teens in the community take ownership of the project and were sharehold- ers in its success. She related that current studies showed a strong relationship between having poor grades and exhibiting problem behavior. She said statistics also showed that students involved in co-curricular activities had higher grade point averages, better rates of attendance in school and fewer disciplinary problems. She added that no one would dispute that parents were the foremost influence on kids, but it was important to remember that the formula for raising healthy teens was the responsibility of the whole community. She also supported the proposed canoe canal restoration and the whitewater recreation development. Maya Rios , 882 Almaden Street, co-coordinator for Nuestro Lugar/Our Place Teen Center, a teen center LEAD was working toward creating in the downtown area, wished to provide an update on the center’s progress. She reported that Dr. Dan Close, director of the University of Oregon Family and Human Services program, introduced a business plan to the group. She said they were working to have the business plan completed by spring. She related that LEAD also formed a partnership with the Youth Action Board. She stated that LEAD members met with downtown business owner John Brown and Downtown Eugene Incorporated (DEI) director Russ Brink, and that they participated on a youth activist panel for the Lane County Social Forum. She said they attended Downtown Safety Council meetings. LEAD teens also applied for a $5,000 grant from the McKenzie River Gathering (MRG). She reported that LEAD representatives attended the annual Northwest Human Services Association conference and was awarded the Outstanding Human Services Agency of the Year award. She said LEAD was looking forward to meeting with City staff on April 28. She added that the Lane County Positive Youth Develop- ment asked LEAD to do a training on facilitation. She thanked the council for its support. Teresa Montes , 501 Sandstone Way, spoke on behalf of Juventud FACETA. She said Juventud FACETA was working in partnership with LEAD to provide an alternative and safe space for youth, where they could develop culture, family and social values in a “solidarity environment.” She explained that FACETA was an acronym standing for Familia, Amistad, Communidad, Enthusiasmos, Triumph, Apendizaje; MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 2 Regular Meeting translated: family, friendship, community, enthusiasm, triumph, and learning. She shared the principles behind Javentud FACETA: to create youth leadership, strong families, to promote social changes, a strong community, and maintain Latino cultures and traditions. She listed the values that the members brought to the group which included love, respect, honesty, friendship, among others. She said the group undertook various activities and had just undergone the Northwest Immigration Training. Danny Lemmon , 1687 Kelly Boulevard, vice president of the LEAD Board, indicated that he had been involved with LEAD for five years. He said working with teens was a great experience and allowed him to show them what it was like to be disabled. He taught the teens to be responsible and not to use drugs and/or alcohol. He supported the opening of the teen center because it would provide a safe environment for teens to have a great time and make friends. He felt LEAD helped teens learn to respect each other’s differences. Skye Rios , 882 Almaden Street, reiterated that a teen center would provide a safe place for teens to ground themselves and work through issues they might be having at school or in family life. He related that since joining LEAD, his grade point average jumped from 1.9 to 4.0. He said it was remarkable to him how rapidly young people who were used to putting other people down for fear of being put down themselves would transform when confronted by a group of peers who treat each other like family as LEAD members do. He stated that a teen center would provide a place for teens to play ping pong, pool, to gain access to a computer lab, to learn to cook, as well as to provide counseling services. He said it would also provide teen-to-teen and adult-to-teen mentoring and a place to escape negative peer pressure. He asked “on behalf of approximately 12,000 teens who lived in this city” for the opportunity to use the former fire station at City Hall as a teen center. He averred that this center could be maintained at little or no cost to taxpayers. He thought if approved this would put to use a public asset that would most likely not be used otherwise. Ruth Duemler , 1745 Fircrest Drive, supported maintaining the way the priorities were currently listed in the parks project list. She felt the land must be acquired now because it would not be available in ten years. Additionally, Ms. Duemler opined that a police auditor should be able to choose who would work under him or her. She underscored that the citizens voted to keep it separate from the City organization. Janet Marshall , 85 North Madison Street, reminded the council of her previous visits regarding the need for a quiet zone on the west side of Eugene. She reported that the Federal Railroad Administration recently increased the allowable volume of train whistles to 110 decibels. She noted that prior readings were 85 to 90 decibels. She said this presented area residents with issues of community livability and that documented research existed supporting health concerns associated with increased decibel levels. She wished to forward to the council a letter she wrote requesting that rail traffic consultants undertake a feasibility study. She felt such a study would “get this conversation off the floor and onto the table.” She added that the bid proposal was under $50,000 to initiate such a study. Ronald Bryant , 295 Maple Street, said the State of California installed call boxes for emergency uses along its freeways. He said he would like to see such boxes installed along the bicycle trails of Eugene. Mr. Bryant stated that he was a chess instructor at Emerald Park. He explained that tables with chess board insets were scattered along the bicycle trail and they could only be used two at a time because they wished to keep the chess-playing group together. He proposed a centralized cluster of tables with chess boards so that larger groups of people could meet and play. He further suggested that tables be placed in MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 3 Regular Meeting the Park Blocks or at Alton Baker Park. He noted that New York City had a large area with chess tables, as did a cabana on the Waikiki Beach. He declared that the city of Eugene was a “powerhouse” in the game of chess and many of the State champions at many different levels were local residents. Mary Monette , 3261 Richard Avenue, co-chair of Friends of Golden Gardens Park, explained that the group had been founded one month earlier at a meeting of the Active Bethel Citizens (ABC). She related that three mothers whose boys drowned in the northeast pond spoke to ABC about the unsafe conditions at the park and their determination to prevent more deaths. She previously assumed that the boys were not supervised or could not swim, but learned that because of the inaccessibility of the park it was not frequented by many adults and was an unregulated haven for kids. She stated that the Friends of Golden Gardens Park made progress and had as a goal the prevention of even one more drowning in those ponds as well as to make the park into a site both the Bethel area and the City could be proud of. She reported that the group met with Johnny Medlin, director of the Parks and Open Spaces Division. She said the inaccessibility of the park for rescuers and adults was a huge factor in the previous drownings. She noted that the one-lane bridge was slated to be rebuilt by the end of the summer. Because one of the main goals being sought is to increase adult traffic Mr. Medlin agreed to have a temporary foot bridge built over the canal and to install picnic tables and garbage cans. She related that with the help of parks and recreation staff, Councilor Solomon, City firefighters, and neighborhood organizers, the group developed a strong plan including funding for a feasibility study, purchase of significant acreage in order to slope the banks of the ponds to enhance safety, and a public education campaign to increase awareness of the ponds and their dangers. She urged the council to move the development of the park to a much higher priority on the project list. She stated that the group was willing to help with the work. Copies of the plan were provided to the council. Diane Shock , 5509 Barger Drive, echoed Ms. Monette’s request. She averred that making the park more attractive would help eliminate unsupervised activities. She said that to attract more citizens to the park, more access and positive recreational opportunities were needed. She related that the Friends of Golden Gardens Park envisioned the park to include recreation, both individual and organized group activities such as fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing, jogging, and other activities compatible with the quiet, natural setting. She stated that swimming would be discouraged and redirected to supervised facilities such as the Echo Hollow Pool. The group also envisioned educational opportunities at the park, such as environmental awareness, stewardship, and an appreciation for wildlife. She thought individual and family participation would be encouraged in addition to its use in programs by organizations such as the West Eugene Wetlands Education Center. She said Shasta Middle School and Clear Lake Elementary School were within walking distance of the ponds and would enhance the ability to plan and execute field trips. She remarked that the park was uniquely 90 percent water and water movement in and out of the ponds provided fresh water habitat and year-round water levels necessary for encouraging the reproduction and sustenance of fish and significant aquatic insects. She stressed that the Active Bethel Citizens believed that safety comes first and that the park needed to be developed for increased use by area citizens. Carrol Dower , 1000 Welcome Way, commented that the Golden Gardens Park area was known locally as “The Pits.” She stated that the neighborhood had lost a total of five teenage boys to drowning at this site, all in the same pond. She said all of the boys were responsible adolescent boys who knew how to swim. She reported that the park was almost exclusively frequented by teens for fishing, swimming, and riding dirt bikes. She noted that the community was growing and a large portion of the population in that area was comprised of adolescents and children, 6,000 of whom were enrolled in Bethel area schools. She stressed the importance of the development of the park to the community. She said the rescue effort in June 2005 was greatly hampered by the lack of a bridge to access the pond. She related that the Emergency MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 4 Regular Meeting Medical Services (EMS) personnel had to leave their vehicles and run on foot with heavy gear in order to reach the boys in trouble. She conveyed the neighborhood’s gratitude to Mr. Medlin for helping to move the construction of the access bridge to completion. She reiterated the group’s request for the City to undertake a feasibility study. She urged the City to put up signs advising of the danger and signs delineating the geography. She asked that the ponds be named and that an access bridge over the slough to the ponds be constructed, noting that the latter was forthcoming. She stressed the importance of providing EMS personnel with a key to the gate, as well as at neighboring houses, and personal flotation devices. Brenda Hansen , 979 Laurelhurst Drive, spoke as a member of the Friends of Golden Gardens Park and as a grieving family member. She related that she had gone to the ponds for the first time in the past week and she could now see why the area was so attractive to kids. She said looks could be deceiving as the ponds had been and continued to be very dangerous. She stated that the ponds were originally dug as gravel pits and claimed four young lives in 12 years. She said Lane County owned the ponds until 1974 at which time they were deeded to the City of Eugene; nothing had been done since then. She averred that the pits had been left for decades to fill with water and for nature to reclaim. She cited Eugene Code Chapter 6 Section 6.010, Item B(4), which defined an attractive nuisance as “an open pit, quarry, cistern, or other excavation without safeguards or barriers to prevent such places from being use by children.” She felt the ponds fit into that category and, as such, the City of Eugene was violating its own ordinance. She thought the park- like setting could become a park that the Bethel community could enjoy and be proud of. th Anthony Johnson Jr. , 1291 Delores Court, said he was an 8 grader at Prairie Mountain School. He related that one of his best friends drowned in the pond at Golden Gardens Park. He asked the City to do what it takes to make the area safe. He stated that the parks were currently filled with trash, high vegetation, and “nasty, disgusting water.” He felt it was important to make the area safe because days, months, and years were going by and more lives could and would ultimately be taken. He declared the ponds to be a threat to the community. Shauna Davis , 2350 North Terry Street, #11, shared the story of the loss of her son and nephew. She pleaded with the council to put an end to the range of safety hazards at Golden Gardens Park. She related that the kids originally went to the pond to go fishing and had decided to take a swim to cool off. The vegetation and debris in the water overtook the boys. She said their brothers had run to a nearby fisherman in hopes that he had a cell phone. The EMS personnel lacked the ability to reach the boys because of the failure of access into and around the park. She related that it took Lane County Search and Rescue nearly eight hours to recover the boys’ bodies from the murky water. She told the stories of the two boys who drowned in the ponds in 1994 and 2000. Their rescues were also hampered by access issues. She stressed that nothing had been done in the park after 12 years and the loss of four young lives. She asked the City to address the conditions there, fund the repairs needed, and make the park safe and accessible. She urged the council to make this a priority on the City’s agenda. She noted that the group sent emails with their request to councilors. Zachary Vishanoff , Patterson Street, objected to the two-minute limit placed on Public Forum testimony. He felt the Region 2050 group should hold a public hearing. He thought this was why the parking garage project was approved. He wanted to know more about the associated costs. Mr. Vishanoff expressed concern regarding nine trees that might be cut down. He thought there might be a legal need for a public hearing regarding the trees. He suggested that the new courthouse was having a negative impact on the area. MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 5 Regular Meeting Mr. Vishanoff reiterated his desire for a public hearing on the University of Oregon’s plan to build a new basketball arena. He asked the Mayor to “recommit” to having a discussion on the siting of the arena and whether the community needed it. st Tom Halferty , 1120 East 41 Avenue, supported the expenditure of $18.5 million for parks acquisition and $1.5 million for matching grants. He felt the acquisition money was needed as parks land would be bought up for development. He said more land was the key element in development of parks. Additionally, he wished to voice his support for increased safety measures at the Golden Gardens Park. Bob Chandler , 2467 University Street, advocated for the development of a covered skateboard park at the Washington/Jefferson Street Park, calling it one of the most underused local park assets and felt the proposed project was the most appropriate to include in a bond measure. He noted that the final Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) plan listed providing a centrally located skate park as a level one priority for the City’s central sub-area. He stressed that the decision was arrived at with a great deal of input and support from the community. Mr. Chandler asserted that the Washington/Jefferson Street Park corridor area was perfectly situated to support a large covered skate park. He averred that skateboarding was “huge” in its popularity, with participation estimated at 11 million nationally, roughly the same level as baseball. He said preliminary research indicated a need to budget at least $400,000 to build the park “right.” He stated that he, along with other skateboard enthusiasts, formed a 501(c)(3) non-profit called the Eugene Skate Parks Fund that was committed to helping Eugene and resident skateboarders get the park they deserved. David Hinkley , 1350 Lawrence Street, #1, supported “front-loading” land acquisition in the bond issue as it “made great fiscal sense,” but pointed out that if the bond measure did not pass, the City would not get anything. He recommended finding out through polling how much the public was willing to spend on parks. He thought the City might end up with a 60:40 or a 70:30 split between acquisition and other projects. He said people needed to realize a benefit from their tax dollars in a more immediate way than land acquisition alone would provide. He was worried that the measure would fail otherwise. Lisa Warnes , 5020 Nectar Way, asserted that “special interest groups” were lobbying for their own projects. She asked the council to stand by its original motion for the proposed PROS bond measure. She averred that it was the last chance to acquire land. She alleged that the Home Builders Association would “have us believe” that the land inventory was being robbed by the bond measure. She felt this would likely be the only opportunity to pass a bond that embraced acquisition alone as land was “disappearing quickly with development.” She said the community owed it to itself to create a livable, attractive, and safe city. She thought there might be grants available for the projects that some people proposed if the projects were not included in the bond. She submitted her testimony in writing. Mike Dials , 2395 Palmer Avenue, owner of a bicycle shop and an avid bicyclist, said most of the different aspects of cycling were represented in Eugene. He wanted to include a project to build a mountain bike trail system, hopefully somewhere close to the City. He said it would be similar to a BMX bicycling park or a skateboard park. He hoped to see the presence of mountain biking grow in the city of Eugene. Anthony Beck , 309 Clark Street, thanked the Mayor for providing an opening speech at the inaugural meeting of the Bike Summit, which sought to make Oregon the state “bicyclists dream of.” He opined that Eugene was a gateway city to the Pacific Northwest, further asserting that Eugene’s geographic location was well-suited for attracting visitors, as it was located approximately 10 hours from the California Bay Area. He said that every year thousands of mountain bikers pass through Eugene on their way to British MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 6 Regular Meeting Columbia to cycle in Whistler’s Bike Park. He felt the park was largely responsible for the boom in bike tourism that British Columbia experienced over the last decade. He thought if Eugene had such a trail network it would bring some of that tourism to the area. He declared that the concept would support the Mayor’s vision of Eugene as the ‘World’s Greatest City for the Arts and Outdoors,’ noting that mountain biking was a great way to get local youth into the outdoors. He added that the local mountain bikers were a volunteer resource pool who were highly motivated and had a proven track record in trail development and maintenance. Chris Murray , 1958 Potter Street, said he coached soccer for the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) and he also worked as a bicycle mechanic. He stated that the next generation needed to be provided opportunities to be pulled away from their X-Boxes and Play Station 2s and into the outdoors. He felt that the improvement of all-season fields was a necessity, and related that currently, many fields were “mud pits.’ He said with implementation of trail networks, people would have more stewardship over the land. He commented that if one was not “in it and active in it,” one would not know the parks existed and while acquisition was nice, if the acquired land was not used, it defeated the point. He believed a more connected trail network was needed. Scott A. Taylor , 1689 Charnelton Street, stated that he was the recipient of a national volunteer service award from the United States Forest Service (USFS) in 2003 from Youth and Volunteer Services, presented at the Middle Fork Ranger District in Oakridge. He created the Cascade Creampuff 100 mountain bike race held in Oakridge and the event drew people from all over the nation. He noted that th 2006 was the 11 year of the race, which was a boon to the local economy of Oakridge. He supported the bond measure to acquire new land, but he hoped to see money earmarked for a continuation of the trail network for mountain bike use as well as hikers, dog walkers, and other people. He thought an extended mountain bike trail network would be an economic benefit to the community at large. He commented that it seemed to be a low priority issue in comparison of safety issues at other parks. He added that the Oregon Bike Summit had been held at the Hilton Hotel on April 6 and was attended by 140 people, and that every dollar spent promoting cycling brought in nine additional dollars to the community. nd Matthew Patton , 63 West 22 Avenue, supported inclusion of a centrally located covered skate park, noting that he thought it might help pass the proposed bond measure. He said skateboarding featured diverse support and was financially accessible to all kids. He commented that the only limit to the athletic progress an individual could make was how much time and effort he or she wished to put into it. He stated that many towns in Oregon recognized the benefits of building a well-designed large skate park, even in fiscally constrained times. He said cities such as Lincoln City, Newberg, Medford, and Redmond made the commitment to support their youth and built large skate parks that were in constant use. He believed that it was time for Eugene to build a large, flagship skate park as well, and that Washington/Jefferson Park would be a perfect location. He asked that it be a Level 1 priority for the bond measure. Mayor Piercy closed the Public Forum and asked for comments from the council. Councilor Pryor thanked everyone for coming. He said his heart went out to the families of the drowning victims in the Golden Gardens Park area. He stated that the City “absolutely, positively” had to do something immediate about the situation. He felt that if a feasibility study would help, it should be undertaken, along with any other actions that were needed in order to ensure safety. He emphasized his “prejudice” for kids. He said if it had to do with kids, he was supportive of it. He wanted to find balance in what the council sought to do and find something that would be passable. He thought the kinds of proposals that would be beneficial for kids were what the community supported. MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 7 Regular Meeting Councilor Ortiz echoed Councilor Pryor’s comments. She wished to thank the families from the Golden Gardens Park area for sharing their stories with the council. Councilor Papé concurred with the preceding comments, indicating that he had not been aware of the particularly dangerous nature of the area at Golden Gardens Park. He said the council obviously needed to address the situation. Councilor Papé asked City Manager Taylor for further information regarding the railroad and quiet zones. City Manager Taylor recalled that the council asked staff to come back with what it would cost to create different kinds of barriers that were required in order to have a quiet zone. He said as part of the budget process, staff intended to present a study about two different types of barriers and those choices would be part of the budget presented. Councilor Papé said he heard that the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) potentially had grants to help in the area of railroad quiet zones. He asked staff to look into this and get back to council in a memorandum as to what might be available through such grants. He also wondered if a feasibility study could be part of the budget. Additionally, Councilor Papé conveyed his support for the LEAD teens. He applauded the young man who raised his grade point average from 1.9 to 4.0. Councilor Solomon thanked the Friends of Golden Gardens Park for coming to the council meeting and sharing with the councilors their tragic stories and the safety hazards at the ponds. She stated that the council would be hearing more from the group. She conveyed her intention to bring a request for $50,000 to conduct a feasibility study forward through the budget process. She believed that Ms. Hansen had a point about the City owning an “attractive nuisance.” She wondered if the City was also in violation of a 1971 State statute regarding mining reclamation. She asked staff to look into this and provide her with a memorandum. Councilor Kelly thanked everyone for taking the time to attend the meeting and testify. He asked for a memorandum from the Parks staff on how to work on the Golden Gardens Park situation. Councilor Bettman echoed councilors’ appreciation for the Friends of Golden Gardens Park for alerting the council to the safety issues at the park. She asked why the park had to wait for a feasibility study from the budget process. She wanted a memorandum on how the money could be channeled to move forward with the project. Councilor Bettman commented that she was very impressed by the LEAD teens. Mayor Piercy thanked everyone for the “high quality” Public Forum. MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 8 Regular Meeting 2. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of City Council Minutes - February 8, 2006, Work Session - February 13, 2006, City Council Meeting - February 15, 2006, Work Session - February 22, 2006, Work Session - February 27, 2006, Work Session - February 27, 2006, City Council Meeting - March 8, 2006, Workshop - March 13, 2006, Work Session - March 15, 2006, Work Session B. Approval of Tentative Working Agenda C. Adoption of Resolution 4866 Calling a City Election on November 7, 2006, for the Purpose of Referring to the Legal Electors of the City of Eugene a Measure Authorizing the Issuance of a Maximum of $20,410,000 of General Obligation Bonds for Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Projects D. Adoption of Resolution 4867 Approving a Low-Income Rental Housing Property Tax th Exemption for the Property Located at 951 West 7 Avenue, Eugene, Oregon (Assessor’s Property Account Number 0266211) (St. Vincent DePaul Society of Lane County, Inc.) E. Adoption of Resolution 4864 Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of Electric Utility System Revenue and Refunding Bonds in the Aggregate Principal Amount of Not to Exceed Twenty- Six Million Three Hundred Fifty-Four Thousand Two Hundred Eighty Dollars ($26,354,280) for the Purposes of Financing and Refinancing Capital Improvements to the Electric Utility System and Providing for Related Matters Councilor Ortiz asked the Mayor to share some news. Mayor Piercy announced that Eugene was selected by The Green Guide as the #1 city of its top ten cities for green living. Councilor Solomon, seconded by Councilor Ortiz, moved to adopt the Consent Calendar. Councilor Kelly stated that he had submitted corrections to the minutes electronically. Mayor Piercy deemed them, without objection, approved. Councilor Poling pulled Item C. Councilor Taylor pulled Item E. Councilor Papé indicated that he intended to pull both of the previously mentioned items. Councilor Bettman said she had previously submitted minutes corrections. Mayor Piercy deemed them, without objections, approved. Roll call vote; the motion to approve the Consent Calendar with the exception of Items C and E passed unanimously, 8:0. MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 9 Regular Meeting Councilor Poling, seconded by Councilor Solomon, moved to amend Item C, a resolution placing the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space bond measure on the November 2006, bal- lot, by: 1) Adding a new recital D to read: “Development of artificial playing fields in con- junction with the school districts also presents another opportunity to partner with other public entities. This opportunity is one that may not exist in the future;” 2) Re-letter “D” to “E” in the recitals; 3) Amend Section 1 to change “$20,410,000” to “25,490,000” and to change “parks projects” to “parks, recreation, and open space projects,” and 4) Amend the title of the resolution by changing $20,410,000 to $25,490,000. Councilor Poling proposed that this be included in the bond measure for the purpose of adding synthetic playing surfaces to five schools: Cal Young Middle School, Madison Middle School, Jefferson Middle School, either Roosevelt or Spencer Butte Middle School, and Willamette High School, the only high school that does not have a synthetic playing field. He stressed the importance of the synthetic fields in this area as they were the only fields that could be used in any weather and for multiple games. He related that the organizations that used the fields included AYSO, KidSports, the schools themselves, lacrosse leagues, and City leagues. He said scheduling was arranged by a users committee, with the School District 4J reserving its fields during school hours and the hours immediately after school and the City reserved the fields the rest of the time. He stated that fees for using the fields were paid to offset the operational costs, with some of the money being sent to booster programs at the schools. Maintenance, though conducted by a school employee, was paid for in a 50/50 arrangement with the school district. He added that it was difficult to charge a non-resident user fee to people living outside of the city limits, given that the school districts had students who were from outside of the city. Councilor Kelly conveyed his concern with the form of the resolution. He felt it did not hold a guarantee that the money would be used for buying synthetic fields. He wished to place the list of sites that such fields would be installed at into the resolution language. City Attorney Jerry Lidz said the kind of change Councilor Kelly was proposing would require the City to consult with bond counsel. He suggested that one approach would be to take Councilor Poling’s amendment first and then direct the City Manager to go to the bond counsel to change the language to include athletic fields in the project list with some specificity. Councilor Papé appreciated Councilor Poling’s amendment but he thought it was premature. He commented that one of the things that helped the bond measure of 1998 to pass was the informational piece sent to the voters that specified what the money would be spent on. He understood some of the fields needed to be rebuilt. City Manager Taylor clarified that the fields needed some repair and maintenance but he was not aware of a need to rebuild. He offered to get a specific estimate about the work that was needed and the associated costs. Councilor Papé said the City should be sure it was maintaining the existing fields. He favored tabling the amendment and coming back for more discussion on this item. He asked how long the council had before it would jeopardize the timeline for the ballot. City Manager Taylor replied that from a legal perspective, the council had the opportunity to wait until the last meeting before the council break scheduled in August. MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 10 Regular Meeting From a practical sense, he said one of the reasons this had been considered early on was to allow the people who wished to advocate for the bond to organize to do some of the work it would take to pass the bond measure. Councilor Papé believed the City should do more than conduct land acquisition for parks in order to gain broad support for the bond measure. Councilor Bettman asked if Councilor Poling’s answers to her questions were his own answers or if they had come from staff. Councilor Poling responded that staff had advised him. He related that he made some phone calls to garner additional information to the information he already had. Councilor Bettman wanted some formal answers because taxpayers were paying for the field. She wondered who was going to have the highest priority for using those fields and how the financing was broken down. She also had some security issues. She said the other piece she needed “to get to yes” was a more specific list of soccer field projects. She expressed concern that without specifically tying the fields to school district property “one could turn up at Alton Baker Park.” She indicated she would support the installation of synthetic soccer fields to support the amendment. Councilor Pryor supported an increase in athletic fields, but he was leaning toward tabling the item for further discussion. He said the total amount of money in the bond should be kept small and the council should not keep adding to it for little projects. He indicated he would vote against the amendment at this point in the interest of tabling. He advocated for a conversation in terms of what would be the best balance of acquisition and recreation, open space, and parks projects. Councilor Kelly did not doubt there were needs for a wide variety of facilities, as indicated in the Public Forum testimony. He thought this conversation would be part of the project list. He was concerned that the council would stray from its original intention of focusing the bond measure on acquisition and would end up with a large omnibus measure that was too big to pass or it would end up with no measure at all. If the bond measure became too big, he would vote against placing it on the ballot. Councilor Taylor called the need for land acquisition urgent, as the land would not wait. She was willing to consider adding to the bond but would not consider reducing the amount dedicated for acquisition. She asked if there was anything to prevent the council from discussing additions to the bond at a later date. City Manager Taylor responded that he did not believe there would be anything wrong with the council indicating its desire to conclude with a list of a certain size. He said the decision would not address what would be placed on the ballot. He thought that all that was necessary to further the bond measure could be done and the motion could be tabled at the present meeting. Councilor Taylor asked if the council could add to a more specific list of projects later in the process. Mr. Lidz replied that it would not present a legal problem until the public information campaign had been begun. Councilor Taylor indicated she would oppose the amendment. Councilor Bettman agreed with Councilor Kelly. She offered a friendly amendment to include specific direction on the number of fields involved and that the synthetic fields would be constructed on school district property only. Councilor Poling accepted the friendly amendment. MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 11 Regular Meeting Councilor Pryor voiced his support for the amendment with the changes that had been agreed upon. He called it the best way to accomplish what the council was seeking to do. Councilor Papé commented that it was known that more parks of all kinds were needed and that more land should be acquired but, he said, what was needed more was to get the bond measure passed. He did not believe that the measure could pass at this time. Councilor Papé, seconded by Councilor Solomon, moved to table the motion to a date cer- tain two weeks prior to the council break. Councilor Ortiz said she would not support tabling the motion. She supported Councilor Poling’s amendment. She thought the inclusion of playing fields would increase the support for the bond measure, which would further the potential for land acquisition. She commented that natural fields were often too wet to use and synthetic fields allowed players continuous access. Councilor Kelly voiced his support for Councilor Poling’s amendment as changed by Councilor Bettman’s friendly amendment. He opposed tabling the motion. Councilor Bettman concurred. She supported pursuing an opportunity to partner with the school districts. Roll call vote; the motion to table failed, 6:2; councilors Papé and Pryor voting in favor. Councilor Papé wished to offer a friendly amendment to include some money to resurface the four existing fields. This friendly amendment was not addressed by Councilor Poling. City Manager Taylor reported, based on a letter to the council from School District 4J Superintendent George Russell, and a conversation with Parks and Open Space Director Johnny Medlin, that the two middle school fields would be put in on the current School District 4J budget and a portion of the $5 million in the resolution as amended could be used to resurface those fields. Mr. Medlin, stated that $5 million did not include School District 4J participation in this project. He believed that passing that amount of money for five new fields would allow sufficient money to resurface the synthetic fields. Councilor Papé asked how that would pass through the bond counsel. Mr. Lidz replied that this question would have to be taken to the bond counsel. Councilor Taylor asked if passing the motion would delay the placement of the bond on the ballot. City Manager Taylor affirmed that it would. Councilor Taylor said she did not wish to wait. Roll call vote; the motion to amend passed unanimously, 8:0. Roll call vote; the motion as amended passed unanimously, 8:0. Mayor Piercy called for discussion on Item E. MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 12 Regular Meeting Councilor Taylor wondered if Item E could be split so that the part for refinancing could be passed but the part for financing the capital improvements could be put to a vote. She felt the reason the City Council was passing the bond was so that the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) did not have to ask for a vote of the citizens of Eugene. City Manager Taylor asked Financial Analysis Manager for the Central Services Department Finance Division Sue Cutsogeorge to respond to the question. Ms. Cutsogeorge explained that if the council was interested in splitting the item into two parts, one that would be for $8 million related to planning and design for the new facility in west Eugene and the other for the refunding and electric system improvements, it could not do so at the present meeting. She said the resolution was “very well combined” and would require a return to EWEB’s bond counsel in order to turn it into two resolutions. Councilor Taylor asked if the refinancing portion of the resolution was time-sensitive. Ms. Cutsogeorge affirmed that it was, given the importance of capturing a favorable interest rate environment. She underscored that the longer it was delayed, the greater the uncertainty there would be in terms of whether EWEB would be able to capture those refunding savings or not. Councilor Taylor expressed concern that this was being done without a vote of the people. Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Papé, moved to postpone the item until the reso- lution could be split as described above. Councilor Papé expressed concern that the resolution was mixing “apples with oranges.” He said the City was on the same charter as EWEB but the last time the two bodies convened a joint meeting was during Councilor Solomon’s predecessor’s tenure on the council, prior to 2002. He thought it was an item of some magnitude and that it had been rushed to the Consent Calendar. He agreed that the resolution should be split. Councilor Bettman expressed some shock that it would cost $8 million to plan and design a building. She also wondered why the word ‘surplus’ had been stricken from before the words ‘EWEB property located at the downtown Riverfront Site’ in the resolution. She wondered if this would affect how the property could be treated or sold. Treasurer and Finance Director for EWEB Jim Origliosso clarified that ‘surplus’ had been removed from the resolution because the board was not prepared to declare the property surplus at this point. He said the commissioners were reserving that decision for a later point at which the property would actually be put up for sale. Councilor Bettman asked what rationale lay behind not wanting to declare the land to be surplus. Mr. Origliosso replied that it was not surplus at this moment and would not be surplus until the new West Eugene site was completed and the operations facilities had been moved to that location. Councilor Bettman asked what was involved in $8 million of planning and design. Mr. Origliosso responded that the board wrestled with these issues and held similar concerns in terms of how to go forward with this project and how to approach the voters with it. He recalled that EWEB had come before the council the previous year asking for approval to move forward with the land purchase and time had been of the essence in that purchase. He said EWEB was successful in its acquisition and a general design process had been completed. He related that the commissioners also wrestled with whether to bring the bond before MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 13 Regular Meeting the voters and determined that they needed more answers first. He stated that the $8 million sought through the Uniform Revenue Bond Act (URBA) process would fund the planning project intended to provide the board with the information needed to approach the City Council about the larger project, roughly estimated at $85 million. In response to a follow-up question from Councilor Bettman, Mr. Origliosso explained that the URBA process provided an option in State law that allowed for bonds to be issued with the option for voters to call for an election within 60 days. Councilor Kelly commented that he was “leaning towards support” for the postponement. He called the relationship with EWEB “unusual” in that it had an elected board, yet that board did not have the power to do certain things without City Council approval. He thought EWEB presented a resolution that the EWEB Commissioners wrestled with “in great detail,” but the council had not had the opportunity to review it. He was hesitant to take a significant funding step with a rate impact. He wanted to understand the resolution better. Roll call vote; the motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Mayor Piercy called for a break at 9:32 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 9:38 p.m. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT: Police Auditor Candidate Profile This item was postponed due to time constraints. 4. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Concerning Stormwater Provisions; Amending Sections 9.0500, 9.6420, 9.8030, 9.8055. 9.8090, 9.8100, 9.8215, 9.8220, 9.8320, 9.8325, 9.8440, 9.8445, 9.8515, and 9.8520 of the Eugene Code, 1971; Repealing Section 9.6520 of that Code; Adding Sections 9.6790, 9.6791, 9.6792, 9.6793, 9.6794, 9.6795, and 9.6796 to that Code; and Providing an Effective Date This item was postponed due to time constraints. 5. PUBLIC HEARING: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Project and Priority Plan City Manager Taylor asked Parks Planning Manager Carolyn Weiss to introduce the project and plan. Ms. Weiss stated that the project and priority plan contained specific project information related to Eugene’s parks, recreation, and open space for the next 20 years. She said it included specific projects, timeframes for implementation, cost information, and associated maps showing existing and proposed resources. She stressed that the plan was a direct outgrowth of the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Comprehensive Plan, which was passed by the City Council in February 2006. She said the list was intended to be a living document and it would likely be modified in the future. She reiterated that the plan and project had come as a direct result of the input from thousands of Eugene residents. MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 14 Regular Meeting Mayor Piercy opened the public hearing. Bruce Mulligan , 3056 Hendricks Hill Drive, vice president of the Hendricks Hill Homeowners Associa- tion, supported acquisition of the 120-acre McDougal parcel, also known as the Ridgeline section, which would connect Moon Mountain with the back side of the Laurelwood Golf Course. He passed out a copy of the resolution unanimously approved by the Hendricks Hill Homeowners Association that supported the acquisition, passed in 2005. He said they believed the acquisition of this parcel was critical as it was a very time-sensitive parcel and contained prime riparian habitat. He urged the council to include the parcel on the list for acquisition. Joel Andersen , 1327 Andersen Lane, coach and regional co-coordinator for AYSO, explained that AYSO was an all volunteer-driven organization that provided soccer for anyone between the ages of 5 and 19, regardless of skill or ability to pay. He related that four years ago, 400 kids were registered, but over the past two seasons over 1,400 kids registered for AYSO soccer. He stressed that AYSO was the only soccer organization that had no paid personnel. He stated that AYSO was one of three Class 1 youth sports clubs that the City had directed to provide after-school sports through 4J schools. Though AYSO received no funding from the City or the schools, it was still held responsible for helping to provide these programs. He said this was a mandate that AYSO readily and willingly accepted. He reported that it was becoming more difficult to find adequate soccer fields that were in good repair and not a danger to young soccer players. He urged the council to add funding to the PROS project list to upgrade athletic fields throughout Eugene. He stressed that no acquisition was being requested. David Monk , 3720 Emerald Street, spoke on behalf of the South Eugene Neighbors. He conveyed their long-standing support for acquisition for open space. While he acknowledged the importance of seeking balance in the project list, he asked that the council not add too many special projects. He called land acquisition critical as the cost of land was increasing drastically. He noted that he played soccer, adding that many adult soccer players prefer to play on natural grass. He asked that the council ensure that School District 4J come up with its share of money for resurfacing. Ed Fredette , 2635 Moon Mountain Drive, asked that the Alton Baker Park canoe canal renovation include a whitewater park in addition to the aquatic habitat restoration. He said the canoe canal had originally been constructed for canoe and kayak recreation and concrete weirs were put into place that cut it off from the main river channel. He noted that prior to the turn of the century it was part of the river channel. He stated that the intake structure for the canoe canal was unsafe as it posed a threat to young people who chose to swim near it. He explained that water was sucked in and then transported 300 feet underground to the canoe canal. He said the main weir in the Willamette River no longer diverted water into the Millrace and it posed a serious hazard to river travelers. Every summer, search and rescue staff was called out to rescue people who were caught in the hydraulics created by the weir. He thought it would be possible to create water features in a whitewater park that would meet the needs of a broad spectrum of participants. He averred that such a project could garner funding from a number of sources, including the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the department that was responsible for stocking the area with fish. David Sonnichsen , 2435 Skyline Boulevard, chair of the Citizens Planning Committee for the Whilamut Natural Area of Alton Baker Park, indicated his support for a whitewater park, especially the habitat features of it. He noted that the canoe canal was shared by Eugene and Springfield and he thought it would make a good shared project. He said that part of the proposal involved daylighting some of the canoe canal MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 15 Regular Meeting that was now underground in the Springfield portion of the park. He was concerned about one notion that would involve the conversion of the concrete weir to a “standing wave.” He pointed out that the weir was actually on the Springfield side of the freeway and under the jurisdiction of the Willamalane Recreation District. He did not know of any jurisdiction that would be willing to take on the potential liability of luring people into the middle of the river to surf into waves. He felt it was dangerous. Anna Houpt , 32496 Camas Swale Road, Creswell, said she visited a whitewater park in Kernville, California, that had been in existence for 30 years. She explained that kayakers and canoeists wear helmets and flotation devices. She stated that she was 51 and had been kayaking for 25 years. She hoped the council would support building a whitewater park as it provided a family activity in which people of all ages could participate. Scott Bridgham , 2221 Bristol Street, professor at the University of Oregon College of Environmental Science, spoke in favor of the restoration of the Alton Baker Park canal and the whitewater recreation facilities. He felt the restoration and whitewater projects a lot of “win-win” potential, such as addressing safety issues. He said he had jumped off the intake for the canal and he agreed that it was an extremely dangerous feature. He witnessed young children jumping off the intake facility. He was amazed that there had been no fatalities to date. He observed that the canal was in horrible shape and could be improved immensely, both in terms of habitat and the elimination of concrete structures that inhibit the ability of fish to swim upstream. He also enjoyed whitewater recreation. He said he had lived in South Bend, Indiana, and a whitewater park was located in the downtown area there. He thought such a park would put Eugene “on the map” and benefit it economically. Roxie Cuellar , 2053 Laura Street, Springfield, Home Builders Association (HBA), requested that the record be held open for seven days. She explained that the HBA was interested in one column on the project list and that was the growth allocation column. She said one type of project was neighborhood acquisition. The HBA opposed the requirement for new homes to pay 100 percent of the cost of acquiring the land for neighborhood parks. She attributed this to the use of a level-of-service approach. She had Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) prepare a map and she had drawn circles where the proposed neighborhood acquisitions would be. She determined that the sites were located in existing neighborhoods. She said if there was an existing deficiency, home builders should not have to pay 100 percent of the cost. Charles Biggs , 540 Antelope Way, asked the City Council to direct staff to get more public input on the revised PROS project list and plan because it had only been posted on the internet since April 6. He asserted that the general public had not had a chance to comprehend the design or the changes made since the City Council’s decision to adopt the plan. He advocated for an allocation of $1.8 million for riverfront land acquisition in the Willakenzie area to complete the 1970s Willamette Greenway Plan which sought to provide safe bicycle access to Armitage State Park and the future hospital. He observed that most of the land acquisition was directed at the establishment of neighborhood parks and did not provide interconnected habitat. He noted that one Priority 1 land acquisition was the Gillespie Butte access and natural area. He did not believe that this was needed as it was called out in the Willakenzie Area Refinement Plan. He also requested that Stryker Field Sports Complex in the Willakenzie area be removed from the list as he did not believe the project was supported by the data received during public comments on the draft PROS plan. He alleged that staff was able to redesignate a neighborhood park to a community park without due public process and registered his disapproval. He thought the Stryker Field facility would add to traffic difficulties in that area. He submitted his testimony in writing. MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 16 Regular Meeting th Rob McKenzie , 4998 West 44 Avenue, president of the Whitewater Club at South Eugene High School (SEHS), averred that river sports were a great interest for kids. He stated that the Riverhouse was offering kayaking lessons for young people. He related that the Whitewater Club collected 114 signatures in favor of the creation of a whitewater park and canal restoration. He presented the petition to the council. Scott Taylor , 1689 Charnelton Street, voiced his support for the acquisition of park lands. He wanted the Ridgeline Trail to be extended. He supported the development of a mountain bike skills park. He felt that most park needs were being met, but this one was not. He said the City was “missing the boat” on this issue. Mike Dials , 2395 Palmer Avenue, spoke in support of the acquisition of land for mountain bike trails. He noted BMX biking and skateboarding started with little public acceptance and now was widespread. He said mountain bikers should have their “place to play.” He underscored that they were a viable part of the community. Anthony Beck , 309 Clark Street, commented that British Columbia was the “Mecca” and birthplace of the Free Ride mountain bike movement. He said some of the school systems in the Vancouver area had mountain biking as part of their curriculum. He listed two areas in Oregon that offered the opportunity to participate in this type of sport. He averred that the creators of those areas modeled cooperation with land managers and worked to understand liability issues and how to build structures properly so that the work would result in trails that were environmentally sustainable. He related that he and others presented a proposal to do this type of work to the Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Division a week earlier. He reiterated that there were “plenty of mountain bikers” who were willing to help with the design and building of such a facility. He noted that two years earlier, a Free Ride competition had been held at the Lane County Fair and it drew over 100 riders representing a wide range of ages and abilities and from both the local area and other places, including Washington and California. Diane Shock , 5509 Barger Drive, thanked the City Council for acknowledging the need to make the Golden Gardens Park safe and for considering an allocation of money toward that end. She urged the council to include in the bond measure acquisition of additional land around the ponds to allow the ponds edges to be sloped. She said additional acreage needed to be secured while the surrounding land was undeveloped and still available. She asked that an emergency call box be installed there. She stressed the importance of moving the project to a Priority 1 and of fast-tracking the process. She added that the development of Golden Gardens Park would also offer a “delightful mix” of the high priority attributes that fit within the Rivers to Ridges study principles of recreation, education, habitat and wetlands, as well as matching the objectives of the PROS plan for the expansion of outdoor activities, the promotion of environmental awareness, and education and stewardship. She said it would encourage exercise as well. Julia Pommert , 2740 Almaden Street, supported adding more recreation into the PROS measure. She recognized that the original focus was on acquiring open space, but she felt in talking to people in the community they indicated concern that the space would be purchased and not developed. She averred that if people felt there was something in the bond measure for them, they were more likely to support it. David Hinkley , 1340 Lawrence Street, #1, supported development of the Jefferson Area Greenway south of the Amazon Canal into a park. He said thanks to the assistance and support of the Lane County Fairgrounds, the neighborhood, fairgrounds, and a number of other stakeholders had come up with a conceptual plan for the park. He related that the plan had been pitched to the City five years earlier but the City, minority property owner in that area, wanted to go through a prioritization process and had no MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 17 Regular Meeting funding at the time. He was happy that it was on the priority list, but unhappy that it was listed as a Priority 3. He felt opportunities for funding were being lost, given that it was not likely to be developed for 10 to 15 years. He observed that it was an atypical park as it was a joint operation between Lane County and the City. He asked that the project be moved up to Priority 1, or if not, that it be split into two pieces: the planning piece as a Priority 1 project, and the development piece as a project with a lower priority. Azra Khalidi , 4023-K Donald Street, averred that the City of Eugene had not had strong enough land use laws when it annexed south Eugene in the 1960s and 1970s. She noted that the construction business had become a booming industry. She was afraid that the Amazon Headwaters would be lost along with surrounding riparian areas and trees if it was not protected. She strongly recommended that the existing Amazon Headwaters land and its environs be designated as park land. She thought this should be achieved by working with Lane County. She urged the council to think regionally and act locally. Debbie Jeffries , 3800 North Delta Highway, asserted that the existing inventory the project list was based upon did not include private sector park land and also did not include land owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). She said the latter totaled 1,500 acres. She had not thought to participate in the process, given that her property was under the County’s jurisdiction. She related that in her case, as well as Eugene Sand & Gravel, there had been no participation and she had been assured that the comprehensive plan did not include her property. She said the linear park total was referenced with partner funded acres on page 5 of the memorandum, but the people who owned the property along the McKenzie and Willamette rivers were all County residents and none of them had participated. She indicated that she did not know who of the property owners intended to partner with funding as no one she had spoken to had agreed to this. She asked that the council take a hard look at the overall comprehensive plan and list and remove the people who were under County jurisdiction. Nancy Pollard , 4671 Spring Meadow, Principal of Madison Middle School, stated that the School District 4J greatly valued partnering with the City. She reiterated that the synthetic surfaces added hours of service to athletic fields. She stated that Madison Middle School just opened a new building and had been without a field for a number of years. She hoped that field development would begin this spring. She thanked the council for supporting the community’s young people. Mary Monette , 3261 Richard Avenue, co-chair of the Friends of Golden Gardens Park, stated that the group developed a 50-point proposal for step-by-step improvement of the park. She stressed the necessity of moving the park up from a Priority 5 to a Priority 1. She expressed appreciation for the council’s willingness to undertake the feasibility study. She related that the group wished to work with Eugene Fire and Emergency Medical Services immediately to develop safety measures for the park before the summer. She reiterated that the group wanted to purchase the land around the ponds in order to slope the sides. She said the first rough cost estimate they had was $400,000. She commented that the purchase of another 100 acres around the Golden Gardens Park could be used for more ball parks. She felt the location was the perfect setting for a wonderful park. She conveyed her appreciation for all of the help the group received from staff and the council. th Jon Belcher , 1240 West 15 Avenue, #4, on behalf of the Jefferson Greenway Committee, wanted to keep alive the Jefferson Amazon Greenway. He related that in 1998, a group of Jefferson/Westside neighbors developed a vision to naturalize the Amazon Canal along the Fairgrounds and maintain the passive uses of the south side of the Fairgrounds, including the City park plan that was once the Jefferson Pool site. The neighborhood group worked with the Fair Board to develop a conceptual plan (copies of which were provided to the council) that met the Fairgrounds’ needs and the vision of the neighbors who approved the MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 18 Regular Meeting plan. He said they then took the plan to the City, but had been told to wait through the PROS process to be put into the “pipeline.” Initially, the plan had been made a Priority 1, and then moved to a Priority 2, but now with the shifting of acquisition before development, it had dropped to Priority 3. Meanwhile, the group worked with the Eugene Stream Team to complete plantings along the north bank for the past three years. He stated that the BLM was moving toward planning the area for stream enhancement. He thought the process might take as long as five years. He asked the City to reprioritize the project to “capture the synergy” of the BLM and act before the neighborhood advocates had “all become senile.” Mayor Piercy closed the public hearing. She called for council questions and comments. Councilor Pryor, seconded by Councilor Solomon, moved to keep the record open for seven days. Roll call vote; the motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Pryor thanked everyone for staying for the hearing. He commented that the process needed to be deliberate. He noted that there were some jurisdictional issues to work through, but it was important to continue working on projects. He related that the Lane Board of County Commissioners adopted a resolution asking the City Council to slow down and work more actively with them. He thought the council should take that into consideration. He said his support for the PROS Plan list would be dependent on getting through some of the collaborative aspects of it. Councilor Kelly thanked everyone for their testimony. He noted that explicit language was added to the PROS plan that pointed out that the City of Eugene did not have jurisdiction outside of city limits. He asked staff for a response regarding the proposed split of the Jefferson Amazon Greenway into two phases. He also wanted a better understanding of testimony regarding the Willakenzie acquisition and the McDougal parcel. Councilor Kelly asked that explicit language be included at the beginning of the PROS plan explaining the priorities and acknowledging that challenges and opportunities would arise down the line and the council would have the ability to alter priorities and add or delete projects as circumstances warrant. Councilor Poling asked staff to provide information at a later time regarding whether there were, as one person alleged, no existing deficiencies in land for neighborhood parks. He noted that the project list on the Web site from April 4 contained three new columns, one of which was labeled preliminary growth share and preliminary growth costs. He wanted to know what that meant. He asked which list the council would be expected to adopt. Additionally, he wished to know if systems development charges (SDCs) were being charged outside of the City limits and whether this was legal or permissible. He asked if the City was charging SDCs for land being acquired to complete additional legs of the Ridgeline Trail. Councilor Bettman averred that the neighborhood park deficiencies were not on a block-by-block basis. She said staff addressed alleged deficiencies on page 228. She did not think that there was much to work out and she favored moving forward. Councilor Papé expressed appreciation for the comments from the people who spoke in support of a whitewater park. He asked if the City could remove the weir in the Willamette River. Mr. Lidz clarified that the City lacked jurisdiction over the middle of the river. Councilor Bettman thought it was possible to place an emergency call box at Golden Gardens Park in the interim as a safety measure. MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 19 Regular Meeting In response to a question from Councilor Bettman, Mr. Medlin explained that at the time the quarry was closed, the County had only acquired that portion that was not being farmed. He said the only that had been transferred to the City, it only received what was owned and the portion on the west side and north side of the pond was very close to the edge of the pond. Councilor Bettman noted that the Friendly Park Plan had been in the Capital Improvement Program five years earlier and it never had been implemented, though it had money allocated to it. Ms. Weiss clarified that Phase 1 of the park would be implemented in the upcoming summer with funds from the 1998 bond measure. She said the money allocated was not going to be enough and it appeared that there would be a Phase 2 in that park. Councilor Bettman asked staff to provide her with information on how much would be spent to implement the plan and to document for her how much had been allocated to the plan and what the funding sources were in the old CIP. She wanted a memorandum on how the money for the feasibility study and emergency safety improvements like an emergency phone, could be funded from the fiscal year 2006 department under-spending or other end of year funds. Mayor Piercy thanked everyone for staying. The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Dennis M. Taylor City Manager (Recorded by Ruth Atcherson) MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 20 Regular Meeting