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THE REGISTER-GUARD CITY/REGION SUNDAY,NOVEMBER 23,2003 <br /> t Beat: Existing, future parks debated 1 <br /> As for the youth levy—ap- <br /> proved in November 2002 to opinions on whether that would <br /> CITY BEAT/EUGENE augment the tight budgets of lo- be a good time or would not be a <br /> cal school districts—council- good time,"Carlson says. <br /> ors reaffirmed that the gesture <br /> • would be a one-time shot. New part features paths, <br /> Councilors "There was a broad consen- fountain,Climbing Wall <br /> sus that they would not renew <br /> review levies, that levy,"Carlson said."It's Speaking of parks,a new one— <br /> not a core function of city gov- of the 51-acre,neighborhood va- <br /> ernment to support schools,on riety—has recently opened <br /> bond options along term basis." across Oakmont Way from the <br /> Then there are the possibili Oakway Center. <br /> ties for bond measures—which The$500,000 project is the <br /> BY JOE MosLEY are used to pay for capital im- city's most recent product of the <br /> The Register Guard provements such as construe- 1998 Parks and Open Space <br /> tion projects,rather than ongo- bond measure <br /> ugene taxpayers and voters,F <br /> ing services. Designed around community <br /> the City Council is thinking of One option is for a bond input gathered during a series <br /> you. measure in 2008 to pay for a of meetings in the winter and <br /> At a strategy session last week, new city hall. spring of 2002,the park was <br /> councilors opened a can of worms Another measure,in 2006, built this summer on a contract <br /> that's about as attractive to political- would pick up where the 1998 awarded to Grant's Landscape <br /> types as,well,a can of worms. Parks and Open Space bond Service. <br /> Taxes.Taxes.And more taxes. measure—whose$25.3 million It features a playground <br /> Which ones might fly,and which is still being used to pay for <br /> to let lie. park upgrades and improve- with an interactive water foun- <br /> "It was really more of a discus- ments around the city—will tain,climbing wall,sand play <br /> cion to see where their tendencies have left off. area and play equipment;a bas- <br /> /ere,"says Assistant City Manager Or there's the possible mea- ketball court that will double as <br /> Jim Carlson. sure in November 2004 that space for neighborhood events; <br /> Five potential property tax levy would pay for a new police ser- and paths for bicycling and run- <br /> or general obligation bond measures vices building,and get the city's ning. <br /> —spread over the next five years— cops out of their cramped and A buffer of restored native <br /> were up for discussion. outmoded quarters in the cur- oak savannah prairie sur- <br /> The current library and youth rounds the urban park,which <br /> services levies,for instance,each rent city hall. includes more than 150 new <br /> "In 2004,the only thing that trees,open lawn areas,rolling <br /> Please turn to CITY BEAT,Page C8 might be put on the ballot is the hills and berms. <br /> downtown police services build- A grand opening celebration <br /> ing,"Carlson says."That's the for the park will be held next <br /> only thing that would be ready spring. <br /> Continued from Page Cl to go,and they will have to look <br /> at it again early next year." <br /> will expire on June 30,2007.An The possibility of a 2008 Joe Mosley can be reached at <br /> election would be needed by No- bond measure to pay for a new 338-2384 or jmosley@guardnet <br /> vember 2006 to renew either or city hall is just too far over the .com. <br /> both of them. horizon to bring into clear fo- <br /> Carlson says the library levy cus. <br /> —the current four-year,$19.5 A 2006 sequel to the parks <br /> million version was approved and open space measure is a <br /> in May 2002—is likely to re- matter for continuing debate. <br /> main a topic of conversation. On one side are city council- <br /> But councilors agreed that in an ors who maintain the city <br /> ideal world they'd prefer to find doesn't have enough money to <br /> a different,more stable way to adequately maintain and oper- <br /> pay for ongoing library opera- ate its current park facilities, <br /> tions. and on the other are those who <br /> • - - - - say the city ought to at least be <br /> investing in property for future <br /> S parks. <br /> "There was agreement that <br /> at the earliest,that would be in <br /> 2006,and there were different <br />