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Nov -26 -99 03:55P Excalibur Cutlery 1 541 343 2851 P.02 <br /> Charles E. Warren <br /> 1 158 High Street <br /> P.O. Box 1818 <br /> Eugene, Oregon 97440 <br /> November 26, 1999 <br /> Mr. Bill Hirsh <br /> 4j Director of Facilities & Transportation <br /> 715 West 4 Avenue <br /> Eugene, OR 97402 <br /> Dear Bill: <br /> I have given some additional thought to our conversation yesterday and I wanted to <br /> summarize my feelings in regard to spending priorities for the football field/youth sports parks <br /> project. I sympathize with your situation in that every time you take another look at the figures <br /> there is less that we are going to be able to accomplish. In that vein, since priorities have to be <br /> set, it is my strong feeling that the following should be seriously considered. <br /> First, the S1 million dollar fund raising project that 4J committed to as part of this <br /> project should be earmarked solely for lights and bleachers for the four football fields. This <br /> was the original understanding, but now there seems to be some hedging about it. For the <br /> whole project to work, 4J's additional million dollars must be raised and used as originally <br /> intended and the youth sports parks should not suffer if all or part of this million is not raised. <br /> There is also another aspect to this, in my experience, it will be much easier to raise that money <br /> if it is earmarked for specific projects such as the lights and bleachers. I guarantee you that <br /> after one season of either having to stand on the sidelines or play in the afternoon because of the <br /> lack of lights your booster and parents groups will be very motivated to find the money for <br /> these improvements, especially if some other schools have already been successful with their <br /> drives. <br /> Secondly, if some items come in under budget when the actual bids are received, these <br /> savings should be applied to a priority list that both the 4J and the city have agreed to. This <br /> priority list consist of items that will have been dropped from the original plan because of the <br /> lack of funds. My point is you mentioned that the football coaches felt that if there were <br /> savings from bidding all four fields at one time the savings should be applied to additional 4J <br /> priorities. I don't believe this is proper. Wherever savings may occur, whether in construction <br /> of youth sports parks or school fields, those savings should fund the highest priority items on a <br /> mutually agreed list. <br /> Thirdly, in regard to the priority list mentioned above, I strongly urge you to try to <br /> maintain the integrity of the Kennedy /Churchill, and Cal Young youth sports parks. The Parks <br /> Bond Measure campaign focused directly on these two facilities and the public, especially in <br /> those areas are expecting these facilities. My point is if they come up considerably short, there <br /> is liable to be a real backlash. I remind you also that never was there any consideration given to <br /> any youth sports parks or family parks facilities at Sheldon in the original bond measure. Thus, <br /> I urge you to give priority to Cal Young and Kennedy /Churchill. <br /> Tel. 541-484-7445 FAX: 541 - 343 -2851 <br />