The Lane County Board of Commissioners last week unanimously approved a construction contract with a Portland-based company to build a crisis stabilization center in Springfield.

The vote came after two local contractors expressed concerns about the county’s use of an alternative contracting method and choice of an out-of-town construction company, Pence Contractors. 

Commissioners asked staff questions about the contracting method, which brings a contractor into the project during design and differs from the standard design-bid-build process.

Staff defended the method, which the board had previously signed off on, and suggested the county host an open house with local contractors to discuss the two ways of contracting.

Ultimately, commissioners voted “yes” on the contract, stressing the urgency of building the stabilization center.

“Not to be hyperbolic or overly dramatic, but literally people are dying every day that we delay this project,” said Commissioner Laurie Trieger.

County to work with consultant on indoor sports facility

Also last week, county commissioners approved a $168,000 contract with a consultant to assess sites, funding options and other details around a possible indoor multiuse sports facility.

The county will split the cost of the feasibility study with Travel Lane County, which is advocating for the facility to boost winter tourism and increase overnight travel with regional sports tournaments.

State Supreme Court denies CleanLane petition

After the state’s highest court said it will not review previous court rulings denying the county’s request for a special use permit to build the CleanLane facility in Goshen, the county’s attorney said staff continue to work toward an agreement to move the project to the Short Mountain Landfill.

Were you forwarded this newsletter? Sign up here to receive Willamette Watchdog every Monday in your inbox.

Inside Eugene City hall with Grace chinowsky

A canceled meeting: Eugene City Manager Jenny Haruyama canceled a meeting about automated license-plate reader technology, according to Ky Fireside, a progressive activist who unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the state House of Representatives this year.

Fireside and colleague Ken Willis testified about the cancellation during the public comment period at the Eugene City Council’s meeting last week. 

Reached for comment, Fireside said their Thursday appointment with Haruyama had been scheduled two months out. City staff canceled the meeting on Tuesday after Fireside’s colleague tried to confirm the appointment on Monday, they said, adding that staff refused to reschedule the meeting.

Fireside said they wanted to discuss Haruyama’s stance on the technology and go over certain details of Senate Bill 1516, a new state law allowing Oregonians to sue private companies that sell or improperly use data captured by license plate-reading cameras. Fireside helped write the bill.

“In Springfield, we were able to get meetings with city councilors, with the mayor, with the police chief, no problem at all,” Fireside said. “It’s just funny that in Eugene, it is so hard to get the chief and the manager to actually sit down and just have a conversation.”

City spokesperson Elle O’Casey told Lookout that Haruyama had “initially agreed” to meet with Willis and had “no knowledge” that Fireside would be joining the meeting.

New tax exemptions: Eugene will introduce two new 10-year property tax breaks to boost housing supply: one applying to developments for moderate-income residents near transit routes and one for housing in commercial centers, including market-rate projects.

Affordable housing gets funds: A vacant city-owned lot on the northwest corner of 34th Avenue and Hilyard Street could soon be the site of a new affordable housing project. The Eugene City Council also agreed to grant more than $650,000 to a pair of proposed developments in Eugene with a combined 89 units. 

Polk Street bike lanes: In spring or summer 2027, Eugene will make room for new bike lanes on Polk Street by removing on-street parking from 18th Avenue to the alleyway between Sixth and Fifth avenues. But neighborhood concerns over speeding remain.

Checking in on Springfield With lillian Schrock-Clevenger

Library services: The city launched a survey seeking feedback from community members about library and museum services. The survey comes after the library recently reduced its hours in response to cuts in the city’s fiscal year 2027 budget.

beyond lane county

Oregon State Hospital is sued: After Kenneth Hass died at the state-run psychiatric hospital in Salem nearly 16 months ago, his sister on July 13 filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging the hospital violated “constitutionally protected ‘fundamental rights.’”

Summer school: According to Oregon Capital Chronicle reporting, Gov. Tina Kotek plans to prioritize education and summer learning programs in her forthcoming 2027-29 budget.

Package recycling rules go on trial: A federal judge last week heard arguments from lawyers representing the wholesale product distribution industry in U.S. District Court in Portland, the first day of a five-day trial against the state of Oregon over its Recycling Modernization Act. The Oregon Capital Chronicle has the story. 

Public Meetings this week

The Eugene and Springfield city councils are on summer recess. Enjoy the break!

Tuesday

  • Springfield History Museum Advisory Committee meets at 5:30 p.m.
  • Springfield Planning Commission meets at 6 p.m. to discuss a bicycle and pedestrian transportation plan.

Do you have story ideas or tips? Send them our way: ben@lookoutlocal.com | grace@lookoutlocal.com | lilliansc@lookoutlocal.com

Download the Lookout Eugene-Springfield app in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Our content isn’t possible without community support, so if you’re not already, please consider becoming a Lookout member.

Dann Miller is the executive editor of Lookout Eugene-Springfield, bringing decades of leadership experience in both traditional and digital newsrooms.

Ben Botkin covers politics and policy in Lane County. He has worked as a journalist since 2003, most recently at the Oregon Capital Chronicle, where he covered justice, health and human services and documented regional efforts to combat fentanyl addiction. Botkin has worked in statehouses in Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma and, of course, Oregon. When he's not working, you'll find him road tripping across the West, hiking or surfing along the Oregon Coast.

Grace Chinowsky graduated from The George Washington University with a degree in journalism. She served as editor-in-chief of the university’s independent student newspaper, The GW Hatchet, and interned at CNN and MSNBC. Grace covers Eugene’s city government and the University of Oregon.