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ECC DR
UGENE ITY OUNCIL
AIS
GENDA TEM UMMARY
Adoption of Resolution 4957 Renaming the “Wayne L. Morse Ranch” as
the “Wayne Morse Family Farm”
Meeting Date: October 13, 2008 Agenda Item Number: 2E
Department: Public Works Staff Contact: Johnny Medlin
www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: [682-4930]
ISSUE STATEMENT
This session is for the City Council to take action regarding a request to change the name of a City park
from “Wayne L. Morse Ranch” to “Wayne Morse Family Farm.” A resolution authorizing this change
is included as Attachment A.
BACKGROUND
Staff sent a memo to the council on this topic on September 25, 2008.
In 1975, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2368 supporting the "concept of acquisition by the
State of Oregon of the Wayne L. Morse Ranch in Eugene for preservation as an historic park and
monument to Wayne L. Morse." Through adoption of this resolution, the City Council officially named
the park the "Wayne L. Morse Ranch" (if it had not done so previously). Because there is no delegation
of authority regarding the renaming of the Wayne L. Morse Ranch, only the City Council has the
authority to change the name.
The Wayne Morse Historical Park Corporation (WMHPC) is requesting the council to rename Wayne L.
Morse Ranch Park. They feel renaming the park to “Wayne Morse Family Farm” Park would be a more
accurate historical representation and better fit the wishes of the Morse family. A letter from Alison
Moss, co-chair of the WMHPC, explaining their request, is included as Attachment B.
In discussions earlier this year with WMHPC, City staff found no basis to oppose the proposal but
suggested they solicit support from the neighborhood association and the dog off-leash users group
which is very active within the park. They have followed this suggestion and their letter states they have
received favorable reactions to their proposal from both groups. They have provided documentation
supporting the requested change from representatives of the Morse family, the Crest Drive Citizen’s
Association, Museums of Springfield/Eugene (Muse), and users of the dog off-leash area at the park.
This documentation is provided in Attachment C.
RELATED CITY POLICIES
No policies were found relating to this proposed action.
Z:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M081013\S0810132E.doc
COUNCIL OPTIONS
A.Adopt the resolution
B. Decline to adopt the resolution
C. Take other action, as directed by the council
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends that the council adopt the proposed resolution.
SUGGESTED MOTION
Move to adopt Resolution 4957 renaming the “Wayne L. Morse Ranch” as the “Wayne Morse Family
Farm.”
ATTACHMENTS
A.Proposed Resolution
B.Letter from Alison Moss, Co-Chair WMHPC explaining request
C.Documentation supporting the requested change from representatives of the Morse family, the Crest
Drive Citizen’s Association, Museums of Springfield/Eugene (Muse), and users of the dog off-leash
area at the park
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Johnny Medlin
Telephone: 682-4930
Staff E-Mail: johnny.r.medlin@ci.eugene.or.us
Z:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M081013\S0810132E.doc
ATTACHMENT A
RESOLUTION NO. _______
A RESOLUTION RENAMING THE “WAYNE L. MORSE RANCH” AS
THE “WAYNE MORSE FAMILY FARM.”
The City Council of the City of Eugene finds that:
A.
On February 10, 1975, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2368 in support
of “the concept of acquisition by the State of Oregon of the Wayne L. Morse Ranch in Eugene
for preservation as a historic park and monument to Wayne L. Morse,” thereby officially naming
the park as the Wayne L. Morse Ranch.
B.
The Wayne Morse Historical Park Corporation (WMHPC) Board has requested
that the name of the park be formally changed to the “Wayne Morse Family Farm” to more
accurately memorialize Senator Wayne Morse. According to the WMHPC, the Morse property
had been used as a farm rather than a ranch. However, during the early stages in the process of
the State’s purchase of the property, the site was erroneously referred to as a ranch and use of the
name “Wayne L. Morse Ranch” continued throughout execution of the documents associated
with the purchase of the property.
C.
The surviving Morse daughters, Nancy Morse Campbell and Amy Morse Bilich,
approve of the name change. In addition, the City’s Parks and Open Space Division, the City’s
Recreation Division, the neighbors, through the Crest Drive Citizens Association, and the Morse
Dog Park group all approve of the name change as being a fitting tribute to the family and the
site’s history.
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EUGENE, a
Municipal Corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows:
Section 1.
The Council approves and adopts the name of the “Wayne Morse Family
Farm” as the official name of the historic park which had been named by Resolution No. 2368 as
the “Wayne L. Morse Ranch.”
Section 2
. The City Manager is authorized to cause all appropriate signage changes
to identify this change.
Section 3.
This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
The foregoing Resolution adopted the _____ day of __________________, 2008.
____________________________________
City Recorder
Resolution - Page 1
08 Wayne Morse Ranch Rename Resolution (00210440).DOC