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6. Reports on Subcommittees <br />a. Wildlife/Habitat <br />Ms. Brand said they had not met but there would be a formal meeting later in the week of the <br />Wildlife/Habitat Committee. She said there had been changes in committee members, and <br />extended an invitation to those present to join the committee. It was time again for the ground <br />nesting bird signs and she needed another four signs. <br />b. Government Relations <br />Mr. Sonnichsen said there was a meeting last Friday of the Parks Coordination group for the I- <br />5 /Willamette River Bridge. A surprising development was that Sonny Chickering announced that <br />the bridge name did not have to go to the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) for <br />approval. The reason cited was that OTC's naming policy only applied to considering names of <br />specific people. Mr. Chickering intended to sign a decree naming the bridge. A signing was <br />being planned to take place at ODOT's Springfield headquarters with, perhaps, the unveiling of <br />the signage on -site, flanking the highway, at the same time. Mr. Sonnichsen said they could <br />assume the name to be an official name very soon. Sample signs reading "Whilamut Passage <br />Bridge" would be forthcoming from ODOT. The color was traditionally brown with white <br />lettering for informational signage. The color options for the sign were discussed. ODOT said <br />the color did not have to be brown. Mr. Sonnichsen wanted to know what the CPC thought with <br />regard to the color of the sign. The color could not be blue, or green and gold and a special font <br />could not be used. Green was a color that could be used. <br />Mr. Sonnichsen said his second issue also related to signage and he wanted to thank Mr. <br />Richardson for carrying through on the signs put up at the north end of the Knickerbocker Bridge <br />and the Frohnmeyer Footbridge. He said the signs were very nice. He asked the status of the <br />signs in the possession of Mr. Hyde. <br />Mr. Hyde said a work order had been submitted to the Division of Parks Services, but he could <br />not provide a timeframe as to when it would be done. He said he would follow up in a couple <br />weeks if he had not heard back from Parks Services. <br />Mr. Sonnichsen said those signs would be the same as the ones already up except they would <br />have the Willamalane logo rather than Eugene Parks and Open Space. <br />The final thing Mr. Sonnichsen discussed was the north bank path status. The CPC had sent a <br />letter to the Mayor and City Manager regarding the CPC's objections to the design of the part of <br />the path between the boat ramp and Leisure Lane in West Alton Baker Park. Unfortunately the <br />City did not take the CPC's objections to heart and were moving forward with widening the path <br />and straightening it, which would not be a harmonious lead into the curving part of the path in the <br />Whilamut. He stated that they walked with the City Manager and the Mayor on July 13, 2011 <br />and showed them the reasons why the path should retain the meanders and present width. The <br />path was in good condition and it would be a waste of money to widen and straighten the path. <br />July 13 was important because on July 14 the MPC met; because he was told before he testified at <br />the meeting that the City Manager and Councilor Alan Zelenka had found a way to compromise <br />MINUTES -- Citizen Planning Committee for the January 12, 2012 Page 4 <br />Whilamut Natural Area <br />