City halts new organization reservations at McNail-Riley House
The McNail-Riley House is located at the northwest corner of Jefferson Street and W. 13th
Ave. and has been used for many years by a variety of community organizations, many of
which are not specifically based in the JWN neighborhood.
For a number of years, a volunteer from our neighborhood has been responsible for
scheduling the use of the building. However, when the new JWN board took office last
May, we found the meeting and reservation records in complete disarray with
double-bookings, defunct organizations still holding reserved slots, and so on. There
were also major problems with needed repairs.
JWN board member Erika Seiferling worked many hours to contact groups, set up a new
reservation system, and work with the City facilities management staff to arrange repairs
and obtain new tables and chairs.
Once we stabilized the system, we asked the City's Neighborhood Services section to
either take over responsibility for scheduling or let the JWN charge a nominal fee for
providing this service to organizations throughout the City. The JWN board was supportive
of the City handling reservations as they do for their other meeting facilities.
However, providing reservations and fielding all the calls that come from groups who use
the building requires significant time and is normally the responsibility of City staff. If the
JWN was going to do the City's job, we felt it was fair to raise some funds for the
neighborhood by requiring a modest reservation service charge.
On October 16, Richie Weinmann, from the Community Development Division of the
Planning & Development Department, sent the JWN an e-mail stating: "At this time the
City does not have staff available to manage scheduling of the facility. Therefore I'm
proposing that no new groups be scheduled in at this time. Attached is a copy of the
notice that I plan to put on the door tomorrow."
When the JWN co-chairs went to check the McNail-Riley House the next day, we found the
following notice posted on the door:
Ave. and has been used for many years by a variety of community organizations, many of
which are not specifically based in the JWN neighborhood.
For a number of years, a volunteer from our neighborhood has been responsible for
scheduling the use of the building. However, when the new JWN board took office last
May, we found the meeting and reservation records in complete disarray with
double-bookings, defunct organizations still holding reserved slots, and so on. There
were also major problems with needed repairs.
JWN board member Erika Seiferling worked many hours to contact groups, set up a new
reservation system, and work with the City facilities management staff to arrange repairs
and obtain new tables and chairs.
Once we stabilized the system, we asked the City's Neighborhood Services section to
either take over responsibility for scheduling or let the JWN charge a nominal fee for
providing this service to organizations throughout the City. The JWN board was supportive
of the City handling reservations as they do for their other meeting facilities.
However, providing reservations and fielding all the calls that come from groups who use
the building requires significant time and is normally the responsibility of City staff. If the
JWN was going to do the City's job, we felt it was fair to raise some funds for the
neighborhood by requiring a modest reservation service charge.
On October 16, Richie Weinmann, from the Community Development Division of the
Planning & Development Department, sent the JWN an e-mail stating: "At this time the
City does not have staff available to manage scheduling of the facility. Therefore I'm
proposing that no new groups be scheduled in at this time. Attached is a copy of the
notice that I plan to put on the door tomorrow."
When the JWN co-chairs went to check the McNail-Riley House the next day, we found the
following notice posted on the door:
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Jefferson Westside Neighbors
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The City has apparently decided to no longer make the McNail-Riley House
available for use by other groups, rather than pursue either of the alternatives the
JWN board had proposed. We've also heard the City is considering selling the
McNail-Riley House.
In late January, the JWN turned over all scheduling records to the City, and the
JWN no longer has any involvement in scheduling or facility management. The City
has provided the JWN no information about their plans for the facility.
If you wish to express any concerns or inquire as to the City's plans, please
contact:
Richie Weinman
Community Development Division
Eugene Planning & Development Department
99 W. 10th Ave., Eugene, OR 97401
Richie.D.WEINMAN@ci.eugene.or.us .
available for use by other groups, rather than pursue either of the alternatives the
JWN board had proposed. We've also heard the City is considering selling the
McNail-Riley House.
In late January, the JWN turned over all scheduling records to the City, and the
JWN no longer has any involvement in scheduling or facility management. The City
has provided the JWN no information about their plans for the facility.
If you wish to express any concerns or inquire as to the City's plans, please
contact:
Richie Weinman
Community Development Division
Eugene Planning & Development Department
99 W. 10th Ave., Eugene, OR 97401
Richie.D.WEINMAN@ci.eugene.or.us .