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(Wearj 'Nci) <br /> Memorandum <br /> Re: Service Agreement Between Nearby Nature and City of Eugene <br /> Date: September 4, 2009 <br /> From: Howard Kopp <br /> To: Chris Girard, Johnny Medlin <br /> History Of Our Collaboration <br /> I have been looking into the history and facts regarding our interaction with the City at <br /> Alton Baker Park, and through file research and conversations with former staff, have <br /> discovered much information of which I was unaware. I wanted to share this information <br /> with you to help guide our discussions. <br /> 1. Regarding the relationship between Nearby Nature and the City, Joseph Minato, <br /> one of our founding members, confirmed that in the early 1990s, much tension <br /> existed. Apparently Sharon Teague had an antagonistic relationship with some <br /> city staff. By the mid- 1990s, he told me that the relationship had improved <br /> significantly, Sharon had left Nearby Nature, and all parties were working <br /> together to embrace the use of Alton Baker Park as a public amenity. <br /> 2. Originally, there were three structures at or near our current location leased to <br /> individuals. The City terminated these leases. While the buildings stood vacant, <br /> transients began using them. The City originally wanted to remove all three <br /> buildings. Nearby Nature was interested in using the nicest of the three, a middle <br /> building, for a nature center. This potential difference of opinion was rendered <br /> moot when the building burned down. <br /> 3. While deciding what to do with the remaining two buildings, Nearby Nature <br /> entered into a three year service agreement with the City on June 1, 1996 to <br /> provide nature education services for the City in the form of school nature walks, <br /> production of a park guide, public nature walks and environmental restoration <br /> work parties. The total amount of this agreement was for up to $19,453. The <br /> contract work benefitted many children and families throughout our area, and was <br /> successfully completed on time. <br /> 4. During work on this agreement, the partnership between the City and Nearby <br /> Nature grew ever stronger. Support grew within the City to have Nearby Nature <br /> serve as a park host to address problems with security and pollution at the park. <br /> The City chose to allow Nearby Nature use the northernmost house as the location <br /> for this work. <br /> 5. Both parties recognized that much work needed to be done to make the house <br /> habitable, as it had been trashed during the intervening six years of non -use. <br /> 6. In 1998, the City prepared a Request For Proposals for Alton Baker Park Host: <br /> RFP No. 98 -0085. In this request, the City stated its desire to "further enhance the <br /> Park visitor's experience" by starting a park host program. The RFP stated that <br /> the host needed to be an individual or family (defined as a family of up to five <br /> persons), and required the family to make the house their primary residence. In <br /> the RFP, the city agreed to "assume the routine maintenance for the shell and <br />