News & Updates

Monday March 11, 7 pm

Hybrid meeting at 1055 River Road and online at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86399080539?pwd=vS4CXVFXdipYHaWL1m336MrGh7wXqe.1 It’s Spring and we are starting to unfurl from hibernation. This month we will celebrate the ways that we connect through neighboring activities. Renee Duncan, the new superintendent of the River Road Parks and Recreation District will join our conversation about how community activities enhance community and personal health.  Other neighbors will also share their experiences of neighboring and community building. We will also hear an update on Howard Avenue Safe Routes to School Project by Catherine Rohan from Eugene Transportation Planning and an update on the Neighborhood Plan process going to City Council & Planning Commission Hearing on March 12.

Come to the March meeting and be sure to sign in to be eligible to vote in April!

Winter Bowling Tournament FUNdraiser, benefiting LCOG Senior & Disability Services’ Senior Meals Program! We have partnered with Playground Sports to host this event and invite all who are interested to come out and have a ball!

The tournament is Saturday, January 20, 2024 from 12:00-5:00 p.m. at First Bowl, 1950 River Road, Eugene, OR 97404.

Click here to register.

The cost to register is $75.00 per individual, or $450.00 for a team of 6. Registration fees include shoe and lane rental, with a portion of all registration fees going directly to the Senior Meals Program. Up to 12 teams will participate in a no-tap tournament, meaning 8 or 9 pin bowls will count as strikes. There is a 3-game guarantee, prizes for winners, and raffle for ALL! Children are welcome to attend but only 18+ are allowed to bowl.

The Senior Meals Program is a nutrition Wellness program which helps Lane County adults aged 60 and up to maintain their independence by providing healthy meals and opportunities to develop vital social connections through Cafe 60 Dining Rooms and the Meals on Wheels program. To find out more about these vital programs, please visit our Senior Meals Program page.

Have a look at our summary of last year.

This will also give you an idea about the work of the executive board of RRCO that works to provide these events and services to the community. We will be electing new board members in March. If you would like to serve, please send an email with your interest to board@riverroadco.org

Look at this 3 minute movie of all the fun from River Celebration 2023 on Saturday September 23. See if you can see yourself!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ol2elctAlw

We’re having a plastics recycling event on October 1st, 2023 at Emerald Park picnic shelter #1, from 9am-12pm. Hope to see you there!

See the flyer below for more details:

(new post every day till it starts!)

Play Beanbag toss win real prizes from Locally Owned Businesses – Lonches to Go, Lube It USA, River Road 2nd Hand, Paramont Sewing & Vac, Panaderia Y Peposteria Bendicion, and more. Also prizes for kids!

Spoken Words from authors and readers with a shady place to listen near the Grove (Hazelnut Grove area). Here is the schedule:

	SPOKEN WORD area (in THE GROVE)
12:20	Gabriel Gallon “Through Dalton’s Eyes” a Story of Science
12:40	AUTHORS Sandi Goldie & Jim Bronson “Gray Love”
1:00	AUTHOR Margo Solod “Washed Up in the Waves” Chidren’s rhyming children’s book
1:30	Ravi Logan: Discussion circle – Transition to a new Era: humanity at a cross road
2:15	Drasmin – poetry
2:30	Jan Spencer: Discussion circle – Permaculture
3:00	What do the Kalapuya people have to teach US about FLOURISHING into the 21st century ?
3:30	Brenda Wills reading several children’s picture books
3:50	Culminating circle with Drums from Merry Lane

Here is the Big Picture

This is the personal opinion of one board member.

Dear city government –

I understand you are debating whether to finance a stadium facility for the Ems, although I wasn’t able to see any documentation about this transaction on the COE website. Some argue that supporting sports franchises helps the community and are culturally valuable institutions. However, this franchise would siphon local money out of our community into the pockets of the Elmore Sports Group, Ltd.which has no real stake in our resilience and sustainability.

When I worked on my PhD in Urban Studies, I came across  academic research that shows no benefit to city economic development. For example:

“Across the nation, franchises have argued that building a new stadium will lead to economic development in the form of increased incomes, jobs and tax revenues. However, the preponderance of academic research has disputed these claims. This article looks at the benefits and costs of building a stadium and discusses why the economic development argument has failed to stand up to academic scrutiny. Stadium seeking franchises are now shying away from making economic development claims in light of the strong research findings. Franchises are able to make quality of life arguments and, given the monopoly power of the major sports leagues, cities are responding by competing for a limited number of franchises by offering to fund stadiums.”  (https://gardner.utah.edu/_documents/publications/finance-tax/pp-funding-sports-stadiums.pdf).

Given the current budget woes of the city and county, there is no justification for turning over resources to a private, profit-making corporation.  What is the ROI? Would the city see tax revenues for the owner’s profits? How long would it take to refill the coffers? Can you make an economic argument to your constituents?

I think a comparable investment in a cooperative enterprise incubator would be far more generative economically, socially and culturally.

Sincerely, Clare Strawn, PhD

There was discussion at the last RRCO General Meeting about the proposed new stadium for the EMS. As a newcomer to the City of Eugene (less than 5 years) I was curious and asked a friend who sent me the link below and some highlights that I found helpful. Perhaps others will as well. —— Brenda Wills, RRCO Board Member

saveourems.com

Here are main points:

Why can’t you just keep using PK Park at the UO?

There are both scheduling and facilities issues that make sharing PK Park no longer possible. The new full-season schedule format means that both teams need the stadium at the same time. The Ducks use the PK locker room and facilities until they finish their season, which results in the Emeralds without access to the home facilities until well into their season. 

Even more importantly, PK Park does not provide a visiting locker room, or other facilities to meet the MLB minimum requirements for High A Teams. Currently the Ems rent construction trailers to house players, trainers, coaches and female staff. The Ems did approach the UO about expansion potential, but without an additional practice field and facilities, it’s not possible to share PK Park.

Why don’t the Giants/Major League Baseball pay for the stadium?

The relationship between Major League Baseball and a team’s community is a partnership. The league pays for the talent on the field, signing the players, paying their salary and health insurance, housing, meals, and associated costs. The community is responsible for providing a suitable place for them to play. 

The proposal for a new stadium in Eugene is a collaborative effort between the team and the community. The Ems will be sharing financially in the cost of construction and operation of the new multi-use stadium with the community (see below). The new building will be available year around for much more than baseball. In addition to the support of youth sporting and many charitable events, the new facility will be available as an arts and concert venue, as well as an emergency response site for disasters such as wildfires and other events requiring evacuation and temporary service delivery. The Ems have agreed to be the operator of the new stadium, which contributes significantly to pay ongoing costs.

How will the cost of the new stadium be funded? Will this increase my property taxes?

The plan for financing the new stadium does NOT include any increase in local property taxes. 

We have been working with Lane County for about two years to develop a funding plan and have made all of our information public in meetings with the Lane County Commissioners. The original cost was much lower but over the time of planning for the new stadium construction costs have increased significantly.

The current estimate is about $90M to build the new stadium/multi-use facility, and about $10M to replace the existing livestock barn which will be displaced with a new stadium.

To date, the confirmed funding plan totals $57.5M including:

• $35M in tourism taxes
• $13.5M direct payment from the Ems
• $7.5M allocation from the State of Oregon
• $1.5M allocation from the Federal government

We are working hard to secure a contribution from the City of Eugene, which will help close this gap. Additionally, the funding plan includes a request to the State or Oregon for an additional contribution, and a large private sponsorship as part of naming the stadium. Together, these contributions will close the gap.