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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/20/1985 Meeting \ M I NUT E S ~.- e Joint Meeting of Eugene City Council and Oregon State Board of Higher Education University of Oregon--Gerlinger Lounge December 20, 1985 7 a.m. PRESENT: Eugene Mayor Brian Obie; Chancellor William Davis; University President Paul Olum; Cynthia Wooten, Richard Hansen, Emily Schue, Freeman Holmer, Ruth Bascom, Roger Rutan, Councilors; Alvin Batiste, Robert Adams, John Alltucker, Gene Chao, Terrence Clark, David Crowell, Richard Hensley, Mildred Schwab, Board of Higher Education members; Southern Willamette Research Corridor Chairman Steve Burkett; Eugene City Manager Micheal Gleason; University Vice President Dan Williams; Executive Vice Chancellor William Lemmon; University Provost Richard Hill; Eugene Public Works Director Christine Andersen; Eugene Administrative Services Director Gary Long; Eugene Development Director Abe Farkas; Deputy Eugene Develop- ment Director Cathy Briner. I. WELCOME -- University of Oregon President Paul Olum welcomed the Eugene city councilors and Board of Higher Education members to the campus. He said the local governments and the University of Oregon share many common interests and a fine relationship now exists among the local governments and the State System of Higher Education. Examples of the good cooperation that exists are the priority given funding for higher education by the local governments during the recent legislative session and University of Oregon participation in the Metropolitan Partnership, the Riverfront Research Park, the Southern Willamette Research Corridor, and the local chambers of commerce. II. INTRODUCTION Eugene Mayor Obie introduced the city councilors and staff members present and Higher Education Board President Alvin Batiste introduced the board members present. Mayor Obie briefly reviewed the founding of the University of Oregon over 100 years ago and discussed the importance of community participation. Mr. Batiste said a committee of the board is studying research centers and board members expect to be able to respond to the organization of the Riverfront Research Park quickly. 1_ MINUTES--Eugene City Council and State Board of Higher Education December 20, 1985 Page 1 -- III. RIVERFRONT RESEARCH PARK . Mayor Obie said the initiation of the Riverfront Research Park project indi- cated a realization by members of the City Council that the City and the universities could play an important role in changing the agricultural and wood products based economy of the Eugene/Springfield area. The cluster of new science buildings to be constructed with State and Federal funds is an important factor in the diversification. It will increase the city's attrac- tiveness to new industries. It illustrates the vision that will change the economy. Councilor Wooten discussed the cooperation between University and City repre- sentatives which resulted in the design of the Riverfront Research Park. She said an intergovernmental commission is being formed to oversee the park. It will be the first such organization in the state. She reviewed the advantages of the tax increment district which will fund the public improvements in the Riverfront Research Park. She said a $17 million investment in the park is forecast. IV. SOUTHERN WILLAMETTE RESEARCH CORRIDOR Springfield City Manager Steve Burkett, chair of the Southern Willamette Research Corridor, discussed the founding of the Research Corridor three years ago in response to community concerns about the economy. The steering commit- tee includes representatives from Eugene, Springfield, Corvallis, Albany, -_- Junction City, the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, private businesses, the Metropolitan Partnership, the public/private partnership in the Albany area, and community colleges. Mr. Burkett said Research Corridor representatives would like the Board of Higher Education members to consider the Corridor a resource. He sai d corri- dor representatives want to be cheerleaders for the state's higher education because many people, even some residents of the Willamette Valley, do not realize the value of the institutions of higher education. He said Corridor representatives have found a great deal of interest in the universities, the Research Corridor, and the Riverfront Research Park during trips to the Far East. Mr. Burkett reiterated the value of cooperation among the municipalities and the University of Oregon. He said an example of that cooperation is the study of the Georgia-Pacific property in Springfield completed by University archi- tectural students two years ago. The aO-acre property was recently donated to the City of Springfield. V. COMMENTS Chancellor Davis said a powerful alliance of representatives of businesses, institutions of higher education, and local governments is being created. He said the institutions of higher education have received support from Governor -" - MINUTES--Eugene City Council and State Board of Higher Education December 20, 1985 Page 2 . , Atiyeh and many state-wide organizations. He said the health of the Oregon '.... econo~ and the institutions of higher education are dependent on each other. ,---' -- The institutions of higher education can help Oregon move from an economy based on agriculture and forestry to a diversified economy which includes high tech, other engineering industries, and the biological research industries. Mr. Davis said the Research Corridor and the Advanced Science and Technology Institute are examples of a change in attitude which emphasizes cooperation. He said University of Oregon faculty members in liberal arts disciplines such as biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics give the area one of the largest per capita concentrations of scientists. Scientists at the Oregon State University augment the concentration. He said the dream of a diversi- fied econo~ can come true. It will change and enhance Eugene and enrich the lives of Oregonians. , Mayor Obie thanked the councilors and board members who came to the historic meeting. The meeting was adjourned about 8:15 a.m. ~#~ Micheal Gl eason -. Ci ty Manager (Recorded by Betty Lou Rarick) 1924C "'- :~". MINUTES--Eugene City Council and State Board of Higher Education December 20, 1985 Page 3 -