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all L. <br /> EU Public Works <br /> Administration <br /> City of Eugene <br /> 858 Pearl Street <br /> April 6, 2005 Eugene,Oregon 97401 <br /> (541)682-5262 <br /> (541)682-6826 FAX <br /> www.ci.eugene.or.us <br /> Harold Ogren <br /> 500 Terra Linda Avenue <br /> Eugene, OR 97404 <br /> Dear Mr. Ogren: <br /> City Manager Dennis Taylor has asked me to respond to your letter of March 22, 2005 in which <br /> you expressed dissatisfaction with the acquisition process for a parcel the City purchased from <br /> you in 2002. The City purchased this site due to being a good location for a future neighborhood <br /> park in an area that needs that service. <br /> The heart of the issue you raise in your letter, and in earlier letters,is your perception that your <br /> decision to sell to the City was under threat of condemnation. While I understand this is your <br /> perception, city staff involved in the negotiations state that condemnation was never implied. <br /> While the City has the authority to condemn property we have very little history of that <br /> happening for acquisition of park property. I am not aware of any instance that condemnation has <br /> been used to acquire any park parcel since at least the early 1970s. <br /> Considering that this property is still needed for a future park, and that I can determine no <br /> misrepresentation of city interests in the acquisition negotiations, I do not feel it would be <br /> appropriate to sell this parcel back to you. <br /> I regret I am unable to provide you the answer you had hoped for.Nonetheless, I believe that <br /> when the city moves forward to develop this site into an active Neighborhood Park that we will <br /> do so in a manner that will be sensitive to your concerns as an abutting neighbor. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Kurt Corey, P.E. <br /> Director of Public Works <br /> cc: Dennis M. Taylor, City Manager <br /> Johnny Medlin,Parks & Open Space Division Manager <br />