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EUGENE <br /> Public Works <br /> Administration <br /> City of Eugene <br /> 858 Pearl Street <br /> MEMORANDUM Eugene, Oregon 97401 <br /> (541) 682 -5241 <br /> (541) 682 -6826 FAX <br /> www.ci.eugene.or.us <br /> Date: June 14, 2007 <br /> To: Dennis M. Taylor, City Manager <br /> From: Kurt Corey, Public Works Executive Director <br /> Subject: Golden Gardens Park <br /> Dennis, you asked that I provide an update regarding our land acquisition efforts at Golden Gardens Park <br /> and corresponding discussions with Lane County. Specifically, we are pursuing the acquisition of more <br /> land than necessary to accommodate the Golden Gardens Park project while Lane County has expressed <br /> an interest in an agreement that would leave open the option for them to acquire what would become the <br /> surplus property. The following information sets forth the background and current status of these efforts. <br /> POLICY AND FUNDING BACKGROUND <br /> The policy direction for land acquisition is within the Council adopted Parks, Recreation, and Open Space <br /> Project and Priority Plan which established as a priority one project for the acquisition of 100+ acres <br /> surrounding Golden Gardens Ponds. <br /> Initial funding for a project at Golden Gardens Park in the amount of $600,000 was approved in the 2006 <br /> budget process for modifications of the ponds to improve safety. Subsequently, voters approved the 2006 <br /> PROS Bond which included $2 million for land acquisition and replacement funding for the $600,000 <br /> earlier approved by the City Council. <br /> PARK PLANNING AND DESIGN <br /> Over the summer and fall of 2006 a park development planning process was facilitated by staff from the <br /> Park Planning Section of the Parks and Open Space Division. This process included three public input <br /> sessions involving neighborhood and community interests and concluded in the fall of 2006 (Attachment <br /> A). This park development plan shows that the majority of land acquisition needed would be generally <br /> east and north of the ponds. Engineered plans were then developed determining the scope of the land <br /> acquisition needed on the west side of the ponds to allow the bank modifications. <br /> PARK LAND ACQUISITION <br /> There are two land owners abutting Golden Gardens Park. Van Duyn owns the property west of the <br /> ponds and Babb owns the property east of the ponds. A map showing ownership is attached (Attachment <br /> B). Both property owners showed interest by attending the park development sessions and indicated a <br />