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2 As you know, we have recently proposed some additional steps [see attachment, "Rasor Park Resto- ration: Phase 2 (2000) "] that we believe will help to restore and enhance habitat on the site and improve its aesthetic appeal, while also increasing its value as a public educational resource and for passive recreation. A second attachment summarizes the (many!) reasons why we believe restoration at this site is important and timely. We appreciated City parks staff's willingness to allow the initial plantings despite the fact that there was (and still is) no official site master plan for Rasor Park. We were also pleased that City parks staff were willing to meet again in December to talk about our new ideas for advancing the restora- tion project, and that they expressed interest in and support of many of those ideas. We believe that the steps that we have proposed are rather modest ones -- additional native shrub and wildflower plantings in the same perimeter areas where we have previously planted trees, and altered mowing regimes to allow parts of the site to become more naturalized meadows. This will help protect the trees and shrubs from mowers, allow the wildflowers to bloom and set seed, improve the aethestics of the park for us humans, and also enhance the value of the site as habitat for birds, butterflies, and other living creatures. City parks planners have indicated that Rasor Park will not be on the "drawing board" for a new master site plan for many years, due to their heavy schedule planning parks and sports fields else- where in the city as a result of passage of the recent parks bond measure. However, we believe that moving ahead with plans for environmental restoration for at least part of the Rasor Park site is timely and beneficial for whole community, and should not be delayed. As the National Marine Fisheries- sponsored hearing here in Eugene this Monday night will highlight, local governments and individuals are soon going to be faced with mandates to do more to protect our waterways and threatened salmon populations. The federal agency is recommending preservation and restoration of native plant communties along waterways, greatly expanded buffers along waterways where no development will be allowed, and strict regulations to disallow chemical or fertilizer use in areas where they may end up as water contaminants, and to reduce water usage and limit activities that will contribute to erosion or surface runoff. Because of Rasor Park's prime location on the banks of the Willamette and entirely within the Greenway, it offers a perfect place and opportunity for the City to demonstrate some of these con- cepts and techniques. The actions that the National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing should be taken because they are the right things to do, not just because federal regulation will soon require them. As Oregon's dwindling salmon populations show, it is nearly too late already - -these steps should have been taken yesterday, not next year. Rather than wait for the new federal rules to be finalized, or to take only the minimum steps required, we would hope that the City would take this opportunity to exert some local leadership and vision. City parks planners and maintenance staff have demonstrated some of this leadership and vision in supporting the restoration process that has already been initiated in the Greenway at Rasor Park. We believe that the process has been, and can continue to be, a model for community involvement, public education, and environmental and threatened species protection efforts. Finally, we want to express our appreciation to you for your past (and ongoing) support of our efforts to protect Rasor Park from inappropriate development. We remember your vocal opposition to the proposed indoor soccer center, and appreciate your past (and current) opposition to a Valley River