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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 2014)
CITY TABLES PURCHASE OF AMAZON HEADWATERS The fate of the Beverly property and the Amazon Creek headwaters it contains is still up in the air, thanks to the Eugene City Council’s motion to table the issue in a Feb. 19 work session. The property is near Spencer Butte in the south hills. The delay preceded the 4J School Board’s vote that night to accept the city’s offer to purchase Civic Stadi- um. The Southeast Neighbors and those who would like to see the headwaters protected from development say that some key points were glossed over in the work ses- sion (see Letters), and by tabling the matter of purchas- ing the Beverly property, the council is only stalling. “We were hoping to see it move into executive ses- sion, which didn’t happen,” says Heather Sielicki of the Southeast Neighbors. “I understand there is that urge to talk, but it postpones the decision making, and at some point they have to take responsibility.” During the work session, Councilor Mike Clark said that although Martin and Leslie Beverly lowered the ask- ing price from $4 million to $2.5 million for their three tax lots that contain the ecologically sensitive Amazon headwaters, the price of $1.5 million is still too high for the two lots at risk of having houses built on them. Councilor Claire Syrett said she was hesitant to pur- chase the headwaters with 2006 bond money intended for park and natural area acquisitions when other areas of Eugene, including her own ward, lack adequate park space. She and other councilors suggested that commu- nity members might contribute to purchase the land. A few suggestions include The Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy and The Be Noble Founda- tion, headed by Deborah and Peter Noble, who started the foundation to save the Amazon Headwaters in hon- or of their son Erin, who died in a 2012 plane crash. Deborah Noble says the city could also look at using the money from the system development charge (SDC) fund, gathered from city development fees and used to pay for parks, new streets and other growth-related im- provements. Councilor Betty Taylor also suggested using SDC fund money to purchase parkland in other parts of Eu- gene while using the $1.1 million available from the 2006 bond measure to acquire the headwaters. “I think there’s nothing more urgent or similar to this particu- SLANT • It is disappointing that two Eugene attorneys who are powerful statewide have led the effort to stop HB 4143, which would give to legal aid the funds left over when all the winners of class-action lawsuits do not collect their shares, for whatever reasons. Oregon and New Hampshire are the only states that return the uncollected funds to the guilty defendants. David Frohnmayer and Bill Gary, representing big oil and big tobacco, argue now that this short legislative session allows too little time to consider this issue. That’s an ironic argument when we remember that Gary represented Nike in locking in an unprecedented 30-year tax deal in a special one-day session. Senate President Peter Courtney, who knows the logistics of legislation as well as anybody in this state, has argued passionately for the state Senate to pass HB 4143. It passed the House 36-21. Attorney General Rosenblum former attorneys general Hardy Myers and Ted Kulongoski and favor HB 4143. This is a test of whether the big-money lobbying that dominates D.C. also dominates Salem. • 4J School Board Member Jim Torrey complimented the local YMCA for playing the best “ground game” in the competition for the 10.2 acres including Civic Stadium at the decisive school board meeting Feb. 19. Internet messages from the Y flooded board members’ inboxes. But the board voted 6-1 (Beth Gerot dissenting) to sell to the city. It was clear at that meeting that Fred Meyer (Kroger) is now standing in the wings eager to buy the valuable property no matter the price if the city can’t meet its own requirements. • The long squabble over historic street lamps for WOW Hall might be ending soon. We understand a productive meeting happened Feb. 21 between WOW Hall, Eugene Public Works, Councilor George Brown and Eugene Neighborhood Services. Jon Pincus of WOW Hall says negotiations will continue and will involve architect Steve Baker, a member of the Eugene Historic Review Board and Planning Commission. What’s next? If the project goes forward, the next phase of fundraising will begin. Find out more at wkly.ws/1ox. • We hear tireless advocate for the homeless Alley Valkyrie is moving to Portland. It’s a “decision based on personal finances and psychological well-being,” she writes on her public Facebook page. Valkyrie’s business, Practical Rabbit, where she dyes and prints clothing and patches and felts fuzzy creatures, makes more money in PDX, she says. We wish her the best, want to give Portland city government a heads up and can’t help but wonder if we can’t raise money through some Kickstarter campaign to hire her as Eugene’s official squeaky wheel to keep her here a while longer. • Skin deep in Springfield — Needles buzzed across acres of exposed flesh this past weekend, Feb. 21-23, as dozens of the nation’s best artists plied their trade at the inaugural Evergreen Tattoo Expo at Springfield’s Willamalane Center. Experts from far-flung places like London and Puerto Rico mingled with artists closer to home, such as Tyler Jones (aka “Mr. Jones”) from Off the Map Tattoo in Grants Pass. Evergreen organizer Erin Smith says the expo was a hit, receiving “tons of praise” from the artists. “We’ve already sold booths and are making plans for next year,” she adds. PHOTO BY TODD COOPER SLANT INCLUDES SHORT OPINION PIECES, OBSERVATIONS AND RUMOR-CHASING NOTES COMPILED BY THE EW STAFF. HEARD ANY GOOD RUMORS LATELY? CONTACT TED TAYLOR AT 484-0519, EDITOR@EUGENEWEEKLY.COM >>> CONTINUED ON P. 10 >>> CONTINUED ON P. 10 ! g n i r Sp Public Hearing for the Draft 2015 – 2018 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) March 12, 2014 5:30 p.m. Lane ACT meeting at the ODOT office 644 A Street, Springfi eld McLane Room, 2nd Floor 2015-2018 Draft STIP public hearing will be on the LaneACT agenda. For those interested, this will be the time for public oral comments to be accepted. View the draft 2015-2018 STIP at: www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION2/Pages/1518Draft STIP.aspx Official Show Sponsor eugeneweekly.com • February 27, 2014 9
