Coast Radio News

Planning Commission to make ‘value judgments’ on parkland

The new parks master plan being considered this month by the Florence Planning Commission does spell out how much of future residential developments would have to be set aside for new parks and open space. Community Development Director Sandra Belson says despite charges leveled by James Genereaux to the contrary, the information he says is missing from the draft has been there all along.
205 – “I think the formula to figure it out is pretty simple, so I don’t think it’s really all that complex.”

The draft proposal, if approved as written, could nearly triple the amount of land required to be set aside by future residential developments. In lieu of that, builders could opt to make cash payments to the city. Belson defended the Commission’s decision to cut off written testimony on the plan by next Tuesday.
207 – “That’s their role is to take all of that and they can’t really do that until the hearing is closed and they’ve heard all the testimony. Otherwise they’re making a decision before people have had a chance to comment.”

The commission cut off oral testimony earlier this week and will meet July 27th to decide the next step. They’ll have three options; make a final recommendation at that time, reopen the hearing to additional testimony, or hold the matter over to a future meeting for a decision.
206 – “I think there are a lot of value judgements that the planning commission needs to make to decide what we want to be. And so, in that sense, the planning commission has been… we’ve had three work sessions just talking about it this far.

Genereaux has criticized the plan, saying if approved as is, it could dramatically increase the cost of future housing in the city. The deadline for written testimony is close of business Tuesday.

Lane County Voters will be deciding on three more charter revisions when they get their ballots in the mail this fall. Lane County Commissioners opted this week to ask voters to approve changes that would allow for more flexibility to the county’s operating structure, allow the County Administrator the authority to make those changes… rather than the Board of Commissioners… and a third ‘housekeeping’ change that would clarify language. Commission Chair Bill Fleenor says the charter is the “guide for how we serve our community” and wants to keep it “clear and relevant”. A committee made up of three to five county residents will be appointed to write a ballot title and explanation of the proposals for voters.

Former Oregon football coach Rich Brooks says the new Duck Athletic Director has – quote – “backbone and talent”. Brooks is familiar with the man because he’s worked alongside 41-year old Rob Mullens at the University of Kentucky for the last several years. Mullens, a former associate athletic director for the Wildcats, was named yesterday as the replacement for former Oregon A-D Mike Bellotti who resigned in March to take a position with ESPN. University President Richard Lariviere said Mullens brings a “deep reservoir of experience”, along with a degree in business administration. He arrives in Eugene at a time when the Ducks are preaparing to open a new $227-million basketball arena.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) - Oregon City police looking for a
suspected marijuana-growing operation in a barn have found two pipe
bombs and a quarter-stick of dynamite. Detective Sgt. Bill Kler
says one of the bombs found yesterday was complete and the other
seemed to be under construction. It's unclear who the bombs
belonged to.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Investigators have asked journalists for
video of interviews with people who reported seeing a missing
7-year-old Portland boy after the time his stepmother says she left
him at school. Kyron Horman disappeared on June 4. His stepmother,
Terri Moulton Horman, was the last person known to have seen the
boy.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A federal appeals court is considering the
case of a man who's suing Oregon prosecutors for allegedly
violating his rights in a sex case. David Lee Simmons' lawsuit
stems from prosecutors twice bringing charges against him for
having sex with his 14-year-old girlfriend when he was 17. A
federal trial judge tossed out the case.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Health officials say dangerous levels of
blue-green algae have been detected in two more Oregon lakes. The
algae turned up at Willow Creek Reservoir near Heppner in northeast
Oregon and Diamond Lake in southern Oregon. Visitors are warned to
avoid swallowing or inhaling water droplets. Earlier algae-bloom
alerts at Willow Lake in Jackson County and Lemolo Lake in Douglas
County are still in effect.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Incumbents have solidified a bigger
financial lead in Oregon congressional races as even the candidate
in the closest race maintains a nearly 9-1 fundraising edge.
Congressman Kurt Schrader is expected to face a challenge from
Republican Scott Bruun. But Schrader has about $915,000 to Bruun's
$154,000.

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) - Developers of a natural gas pipeline
from Wyoming to Oregon are donating $22 million over the next 10
years to protect wildlife habitat along the route. The Oregon
Natural Desert Association and Western Watersheds Project say El
Paso Corp. has joined them in setting up a fund to restore and
preserve habitat for species such as sage grouse, pronghorn and
pygmy rabbits.

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - Aided by a federal grant, deputies in seven
Southern Oregon counties are teaming up to fight marijuana growers
who move their gardens from county to county to avoid detection.
Officials in Jackson County say it appears that growers linked to
Mexican drug rings will focus on one county in a given year and
then move to another the next.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Northwest League Baseball:
Matt Lollis combined with two relievers in a two-hit shutout last night as the Eugene Emeralds downed the Tri-City Dust Devils 3-nothing at P-K Park in Eugene. The win, Eugene’s fifth straight, still leaves the Emeralds a half game below of .500; they’re at 13-and-14 on the season. Lollis, the lanky 6-9, 250 pound right-hander allowed one hit in six innings, striking out five. The Emeralds and Dust Devils meet again tonight and tomorrow to wrap up their five-game series. The Ems will be in Everett Sunday to start a three-game stint.

American Legion Baseball:
The ‘Blasters will wrap up the regular season Sunday afternoon with a double-header against the Springfield Titans. Game one at Jiggs Dodson field will be at two o’clock… airtime on KCST will be at 1:45.

Community:
The ‘Bridging Women’s Health five and eight K fun runs slated for tomorrow at Peace Harbor Hospital have been postponed. Race organizer Jim Archer said a scarcity of race entries prompted the decision. Archer said they’ll likely run the races later this fall, possibly in conjunction with the Chowder Blues and Brews Festival.