Bethel: The Past, Present and Future of Eugene’s Community Within a City
Time: Noon to 1:15 pm
Venue: Maple Room at Inn at the Fifth
205 E Sixth
Eugene, Oregon
97401
Enter the Maple Room at Inn at the 5th near the north stairs to 5th Avenue. Details at https://cityclubofeugene.org/see-you-at-our-new-meeting-space/. An optional lunch from Provisions may be purchased; please, no outside food. Park in the lot north of the railroad tracks on High or park west of Market Square on 5th.
Ask a question of the speakers! cityclubofeugene@gmail.com
Topic:
In March 2016, City Club of Eugene invited key community leaders from the Bethel neighborhood — located in west Eugene and bounded by Highway 99 on the east; Greenhill Road on the west; Clear Lake Road on the north; and Southern Pacific Coos Bay Line on the south — for a conversation about “Building a Better Bethel.”
Seven years later, the Eugene City Council is considering which neighborhood to focus on next for planning, with the Active Bethel Community Neighborhood Association pushing to be that neighborhood.
This week, we’ll focus on the future of Bethel — its unique strengths, as well as its challenges, and the opportunities that come with them — by welcoming local leaders for this timely conversation.
We hope to see you there.
Speakers
Title: Commissioner
Organization: Lane County
Website: https://www.lanecounty.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=3585881&pageId=4158718
Biography:
Hon. Pat Farr moved from Sheffield, England at age 10 to Tillamook County, Oregon. He graduated from Tillamook High School in 1972 and moved to Eugene in 1973 to attend the University of Oregon.
In addition to his time on the County Commission, Farr has served his community in the Oregon House of Representatives, the Eugene City Council, the Bethel School Board, and in the Oregon Army National Guard.
Commissioner Farr and his wife, Debi, have three children, all graduates of Willamette High School.
Title: Co-Chair
Organization: Active Bethel Citizens
Website: https://activebethelcitizens.org/
Biography:
Tai Pruce-Zimmerman is a stay at home dad who has previously worked as an accountant, and is also a chess enthusiast (and aspiring adult improver!).
He serves as the Chair of the Eugene Budget Committee and the co-Chair of Active Bethel Citizens (ABC) and previously served on the Bethel School District Budget Committee and the Housing Tools and Strategies Working Group for the City of Eugene.
Title: Superintendent
Organization: Bethel School District
Website: https://www.bethel.k12.or.us/superintendent/
Biography:
Kraig Sproles started his career in education in Oklahoma at a school focused on the success of Native American students. He has been a teacher, school improvement coordinator, principal of a dual-language school, and district director of academic achievement before becoming Salem-Keizer’s assistant superintendent. He joined the Bethel district in 2021.
He earned a BA in communications from the University of Sioux Falls, MAs in experiential education from the University of Minnesota and in education from George Fox University, and a doctorate in education from the University of Oregon.
