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<br /> i <br /> <br /> i <br /> <br /> ~ ugust 15, 19 7 <br /> W S RELE SE <br /> rom Phil Wei er, Public Information Analyst <br /> ity Manager' Office, 682-5823 <br /> CITY OF EUGENE SUPPORTS GOVERNOR'S VETO;. <br /> PLEDGES TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH MARIST <br /> City of ugene officials expressed appreciation today for Governor John Kitzhaber's <br /> ecision to vet House Bi112753, which would have taken away Eugene's authority to acquire <br /> roperty throu h the right of eminent domain. The Oregon Legislature passed House Bi112753 <br /> n response to he City of Eugene's attempts to purchase property from Marist High School for <br /> he purpose of xtending the East Bank Bike Path along a portion of the school adjacent to the <br /> illamette Ri er. Marist opposed the bike path citing security issues and other concerns. <br /> The pu ose of eminent domain is to acquire property needed for public improvements. <br /> art of the pro ess is determining a fair and equitable value for the land being purchased. While <br /> minent domai proceedings can ultimately result in a jury deciding the value of the property, <br /> ourt action is arely necessary. The majority of all property acquisitions performed by the City <br /> re settled thro gh negotiations like the type that have been underway with Marist High School <br /> or the past se eral months. However, there are times when negotiations do not result in an <br /> greement and the court must make the final determination of value. <br /> "I am p eased that the Governor agrees that a local issue like the placement of a bike path <br /> hould be addr ssed at the local level," said Ward 5 City Councilor Ken Tollenaar. <br /> The Cit of Eugene has been negotiating with Marist, including mediated sessions over <br /> <br /> ~ he last several weeks, in an attempt to reach an agreement on the location of the proposed path. <br /> -more- <br /> <br />