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'.7/O2192 11: 13 $503 341 5894 EUGENE CITY HALL 444 EUGENE PW 'MINT. [ej 002 July 1, 1992 Committee on Citizen Involvement J U L 2 1992 City of Eugene 777 Pearl Street DEPT, OF ;.LANP4iNG Eugene, OR 97401 CITY or EUGENE Ladies & Gentlemen: I am writing to alert you to what I believe has been an inadequate citizen participation process for development of the "Wayne Morse Ranch Park Master Plan Report" The "Master Plan Report"was developed by Tom Litster, a Landscape Architecture Student, with funding provided jointly by the Wayne Morse Ranch Historical Park Corporation and the City of Eugene. Direction for preparation of the "master plan report" appears to have been provided exclusively by the Board of the Historical Park Corporation. The 'master plan report" is dated March 1992, but only became available in late June. A public meeting is now scheduled for July 9, 1992. However, this appears to be an effort to gain public input"after-the-fact." I am writing to alert you to the fact that no citizen input was permitted during earlier stages of the report's preparation. In what would appear to be a highly irregular process, the Historical Park Corporation's Board of Directors conducted its meetings, which included discussion of the master plan, in dosed session. Even general members of the Historical Park Corporation were prohibited from observing during the Historical Park Corporation Board's February meeting. Ms. Ann Penny, (hair of the Board, "excused" all attendees who were not Board members and declared the business meeting an "executive session." Since partial funding for the "master plan report" was provided by the City of Eugene, I question whether closure of the meeting was either legal or appropriate. In any case, it is very dear that citizen input was not permitted at early stages when it would have been most valuable. It may be possible for some aspects of the Wayne Morse Ranch Park Master Plan Report to be salvaged, but a reconsideration of major parts will likely be required since the general citizenry was not allowed input, even on the initial goals and objectives. I would encourage members of the CCI to review the process used in development of this report and determine whether such methods are acceptable to the City. I am curious whether public involvement used in development of this master plan meets public participation requirements established by the state planning regulations. In my mind the methods adopted by the Historical Park Corporation's Board also raise issues about the relationship between it and the City and whether the Historical Park Corporation needs to comply with open meetings laws if it acts as a partner or agent of the City. Sincerely, hn Replr 41 West 35th Avenue Eugene, OR 97405 I