Eugene weekly., June 07, 2012, Page 4, Image 4

viewpoint
BY MAYOR KITTY PIERCY
Mutual Benefit
Campus and community are intertwined
D
ear Aiden R. Smith: You asked me for a response to your letter to the
editor [“Student Disconnect,” 5/31], so here it is.
I‘m sorry that you feel deeply disconnected from Eugene’s
government. We’re here to serve you and every other member of our
community.
While you live here, this is your city and we value you as part of our
community. As you know, there are approximately 25,000 students who
live, study, work and volunteer here. We benefi t every day in terms of our
local economy, the many cultural opportunities the UO provides, and from
the amazing contributions students make to our community in sharing their
skills and talents. I often say that I would never think of talking about Eugene
without talking about the UO and I invite those of you who attend the UO to
thoroughly participate in our city.
Just a week ago I was on campus reviewing some student proposals for a
local indoor/outdoor farmers market. These proposals broaden our thinking
and contribute to our local planning efforts. They matter a great deal. Last
week at the First Friday Art Walk, student art was on display for our community
to enjoy. This past weekend’s track and fi eld events fi lled our community with
activity. And, in our Regional Prosperity Plan, the spin-off businesses from
student research have a key role in ensuring a more successful future for our
community. Your impact is large and important to us.
I’d be the fi rst to admit, there are always town and gown confl icts here as
in every university community. We work at this consistently and contribute to
the broad discussion in the International Town and Gown Association.
Personally I take every opportunity to recognize and appreciate students
for the role they have in community. That’s why I’m on campus every month
talking to classes and attending events.
Former President Richard Lariviere and I introduced the annual community
welcome and asked ASUO presidents to join us in walking door to door to
welcome and thank students and to encourage them to be good neighbors
and active in their neighborhood associations. As a community we struggle
to provide for student housing needs and maintain our beautiful older, close-
to-campus neighborhoods. We’d welcome your help with this.
The university has created a Communiversity Assistants program and the
city facilitates a neighborhood livability work group, which includes student
leaders, and meets once a month to address quality of life and relationship
issues near campus. These do include the challenge of how student parties
(and after-party behavior) affect the people who live and raise their families
around them.
Eugene Police Department has built a comprehensive education
campaign to help students avoid being victims of property crimes, especially
during school breaks when students are gone. The crime reduction has been
substantial.
I think investigation would fi nd that the neighborhood and university
spend a great deal of time considering parking issues. It’s not easy. There are
many needs that must be balanced. To that end the city is doing its utmost
to increase options that work, whether that’s pedestrian, transit, bike or car.
The city encourages students to participate on city boards and
commissions and we take pride in having students or former students
currently serving on both the police and planning commissions. If you have
concerns/observations, please know that you can contact your city councilor,
speak at the community forum part of our council meeting, or speak directly
to boards and commissions. We welcome your input and participation.
We’ve had students come to our City Council meetings to discuss options
for skateboarder use of bike paths, and we’ve had students directly infl uence
city rental policies. We’ve had students speak out for social, environmental
and economic justice and equity. These voices are valuable and their activism
an important part of our city.
Finally, we know our economy is tough and we’re all working on it. We’d
love to have more students stay in this community and that means there
must be jobs. UO, LCC, the Chamber of Commerce, Eugene, Springfi eld, Lane
County, Metro Partnership, the Workforce Partnership, the hospitals and
schools are all working together to foster entrepreneurship, bring in more
investment, offer loans, one-stop online business help, incubator space,
training, research and cluster development. Our hope is not only more jobs,
but also jobs with good wages and in keeping with our community values.
This is just a small part of the picture. I encourage and invite you to become
involved and I wish you well with your studies. Don’t hesitate to contact me at
Kitty.Piercy@ci.eugene.or.us
Kitty Piercy has been mayor of Eugene since 2005 and served in the Oregon House for three terms in the 1990s.
4
JUNE 7, 2012
EUGENE WEEKLY
letters
TO THE EDITOR
A LOT OF TURNIPS
A column written by Paul Conte in the
May 24 EW expressed concern about the
Eugene City Council and professional staff
in the way they worked with the proposed
Capstone student housing project.
Here is some information that may be
helpful: The project was fi rst introduced to
the Downtown Neighborhood Association
(DNA) Jan. 25. There was a community
forum sponsored by DNA and City Club
of Eugene March 11 and an open house
sponsored by the city March 13. There
were numerous meetings with Steve
Master and Capstone staff by members
of the DNA Steering Committee. Master
and Capstone’s Conrad Sick were directly
involved in discussions with residents of
Olive Plaza.
City staff was generous with their time
as was Mayor Kitty Piercy and Councilor
George Brown. I assume that other
members of the public were afforded equal
opportunity to give input if they asked for
it.
All of this took place between Jan. 25
and May 13 when the council approved
the project. I believe that public inclusion
was welcomed, heard, and respected; I
don’t think anyone was shortchanged in
the process.
Another issue raised is the profi t that
Capstone stands to make on this project.
In today’s economy, 9 percent is certainly
a healthy profi t. But that’s a red herring.
Consider this: The city is investing $8.8
million in tax exemptions. The Capstone
project is bringing $89 million in new
money to Eugene in the form of jobs and
taxes (people with jobs pay taxes!). That’s
a lot of turnips. This looks like win-win to
me.
The DNA Steering Committee voted 6-1
to support the proposal, with reservations.
The City Council voted 6-2 in favor of
the project. We share responsibility for
ensuring as best we can that the project
is successful for everyone and that
agreements are kept.
Sure, there are disagreements, but the
City Council and staff, along with many
community members, have worked hard to
get the best possible deal for Eugene, and
I think they’ve done an admirable job. It’s
time to turn off the negativity and move
forward.
David Mandelblatt
DNA chairperson
THREESOME IN EUGENE
It’s amazing how often I’m reminded of
the joys of calling Eugene my home. This
morning was another one of those special
times.
With the sun already up, I fl ing the golf
clubs over the shoulder and embarked
on the short walk up to Laurelwood Golf
Course (the city’s only and fi nest golf
course). Arriving well before its 8 am
opening, my two companions teed off
behind the greenskeepers already atop their
mowers. No worries, we’ll square away at
the pro shop when we turn the corner. What
a gem of a view of the south hills and the
northeast fl ank of Spencer Butte hold as we
descend the #1 fairway. Despite the quiet
we’re not alone this morning: The cart paths
are dotted with dog walkers, a jogger or two
and the robins hunting for wayward worms.
Now mind you this is not the Laurelweed
of old. Steady course improvements over the
years have enhanced the drainage features
of the old dairy bottomlands, and absent
are the fairway white daisies camoufl aging
your golf ball. Not lost however, is the dawn
charm of this precious park valley with its
majestic tall fi rs, rolling hills and the huge
statuesque oak (once a twin) midway
through hole #7.
Hackers we are, but skilled enough to
know what a treasure we have nestled in
our own backyard. Or perhaps it was the
two pars and a bogey on #9 that helped
emphasize this point? Either way, thank you
soooo much, south Eugene.
Rich Heil
Recently retired
NO METER, PLEASE
Dear EWEB: Please don’t put a smart
meter on my house. I already pay for the
electricity with my money. Do I have to
pay with my health, too?
When I fi rst heard about EWEB’s plan
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