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HAMMITT Bob <br />From: MEDLIN Johnny R <br />To: ETTER John F; MORGAN Dick A; HAMMITT Bob; PLAMONDON Scott F; ANDERSEN <br />Chris F; LYLE Les A <br />Cc: MCVEY Fred; LONG Jack E; KOENIG Ruth A; CAHILL Michelle R <br />Subject: Delta Ponds Nature Park <br />Date: Thursday, April 27, 1995 8:06AM <br />Hi Folks, <br />The below is a FYI only at this time. I'm not requesting any action, but comments would be very welcome. <br />Recently Ruth Koenig made me aware of a citizen petition which is in the process of obtaining signatures <br />regarding the future of the Delta Ponds System. <br />The scope of this petition which is planned to be presented to Eugene's City Council and the Lane County <br />Board of Commissioners is to identify all the Delta Ponds as a "Nature Park "; to provide joint management <br />of the lands currently in ownership by either Lane County or the City of Eugene; to develop a citizen <br />advisory committee "similar to that done for East Alton Baker Park" and give them direction to undergo a <br />public planning process leading to a management /development plan and afterward to assist in implementing <br />the proposed park. I believe Ruth told me that the petition she viewed had about 40 signatures on it. <br />While our staff had no part in this and the petition is a surprise, in hind sight, that a citizen group has <br />grown up around this issue and is now getting into political lobbying shouldn't of been so surprising. Our <br />work in sponsoring volunteer and "get involved" activities is a natural draw and lead in for this "next step" <br />type of public action to take place. The Delta Ponds efforts have a couple of real dedicated citizens who <br />have taken a leadership role and who have lots of energy. The volunteer program activities dealing with <br />the ponds have drawn significant numbers of people at each activity. <br />I suspect our current policies around "natural areas" and the draft policy the new "Interdepartmental <br />Natural Resources Team" (INRT) is working on would support our acquisition of the ponds from the <br />County. I also suspect the County would be happy to give them to us. However, our draft policy is a <br />couple of months away from being ready to forward to Division Managers and Chris for comment and <br />adoption. <br />I don't know when they are going to finished the signature collecting phase of this and move into the <br />political arena. <br />Thanks <br />Johnny <br />Page 1 <br />