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Mr. Lyle asked for information about BLM's 1995 budget. Mr. Bowman responded <br /> that the status of the budget was unknown. He said it would be appropriate to <br /> raise the issue now, noting that the local office had just received its 1994 <br /> work plan. He suggested that local elected officials contact Judy Nelson or <br /> Dean Bibles of BLM to discuss the issue of acquisition funding. <br /> Mr. Gordon said that the lobbying trip would begin on February 26. <br /> VI. SOCIETY OF WETLANDS SCIENTISTS CONFERENCE <br /> Mr. Gordon said that he and Ed Alverson of The Nature Conservancy would <br /> participate in the field trip with participating conference members to visit <br /> wetland sites. He asked other Wetheads to let him know if they wished to <br /> participate as well. <br /> Mr. Gordon proposed that interested Wetheads hold a meeting in March ta plan <br /> their panel presentation for the conference. He noted that Mr. Alverson had <br /> submitted a technical paper for the conference. Mr. Bowman and Mr. Lyle <br /> indicated their interest in participating in the panel presentation. Ms. <br /> Evans said she would contact Mr. Gordon to let him know if she could <br /> participate. Mr. Croteau suggested that Mr. Bjorklund participate on the <br /> panel. <br /> Mr. Elliott suggested that BLM could be a stop on the field trip. <br /> VII. WEST EUGENE PARKWAY REALIGNMENT <br /> Mr. Lyle said that the West Eugene Parkway Planning and Design Team continued <br /> to encounter issues related to endangered plants and animals. The State and <br /> Federal Fish and Wildlife Departments are concerned about conservation plans <br /> associated with the parkway and a new ecosystem approach was being <br /> incorporated into those agencies' expectations for the project. Mr. Lyle said <br /> that Paul Fishman of Fishman and Associates, a consultant for the project, had <br /> expressed concern that those expectations could create more roadblocks to the <br /> permit process. <br /> Mr'Lyle said that as a result of those concerns and the increasingly <br /> complicated nature of the project, Mr. Fishman had proposed a parkway <br /> realignment to avoid impacts on endangered plants and animals. Mr. Fishman <br /> had proposed the parkway be located on the north side of the railroad tracks <br /> parallel to the railroad right -of -way. Mr. Lyle said that the realignment <br /> would mean the parkway would cross the railroad at Terry Street. He <br /> acknowledged the implications of changing the alignment, which could include a <br /> new public vote. Previous, early alignment changes had been made and an <br /> attorney's opinion had held the City did not need to seek approval for those <br /> changes. "Mr. Lyle said staff was investigating to see if the attorney's <br /> opiniom4A§ valid for the proposed realignment. <br /> MINUTES -- Wetheads January 20, 1994 Page 5 <br />