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- 0/1 /.?01 fl/** to <br /> Everyone pays <br /> 'At a time when, due to budget constraints, <br /> the city is faced with minimum maintenance <br /> for parks, some decisions have been made that <br /> must be questioned. <br /> According to the Public Works Department <br /> (recently merged with parks), more than <br /> $5,000 in materials and labor is being spent on <br /> fencing for the dog off -leash area at Wayne <br /> Morse Park to surround the pasture and pro- <br /> tect the stream from dogs. This is in addition to <br /> several hundred dollars already spent on print- <br /> ed material, postage and staff time over the <br /> last year dealing with this controversy. Initial- <br /> ly, in a memo dated July 25, 1991, Bob Schutz, <br /> executive director of PARCS, told the mayor <br /> and City Council that for the entire dog off - <br /> leash program "the only fiscal impact which <br /> staff would anticipate would be the cost of <br /> making signs. Estimated cost is $500... " <br /> That a non - revenue generating activity <br /> could warrant such riches while other parks <br /> programs are being scaled back or cut or hav- <br /> ing user fees increased is puzzling. The Wayne <br /> Morse site never even met the city's own crite- <br /> ria for an off -leash site to begin with (e.g.,. too <br /> close to a residential area, negative impact on <br /> stream and springs). Yet the Off -Leash Associ- <br /> ation, a private group, has insisted this site be <br /> kept even though there are other off -leash ar- <br /> eas designated in Eugene. Why have parks, <br /> public works and the City Council been unable <br /> to say no to this group? Once again, the city <br /> can't make the tough decisions, so everyone <br /> pays. <br /> KIT STAPLES <br /> Eugene 9 g Z— <br />