A Word From The Director

LCOG is viewed in many different ways by the citizens of this region and by the public agencies with whom the agency most directly interacts. A variety of descriptive labels may appropriately apply to this voluntary association of governments, now entering its fifty-eighth year. It can be said that LCOG is a component of the human services system; it is a shared technical resource pool for local governments; and it is a forum for multi-jurisdictional planning and problem solving. LCOG’s staff members provide lunches for senior citizens, maps and land information for all kinds of purposes, telephone services for government agencies, loans to small businesses, and planning assistance to local governments. What is LCOG anyway?

It is important to emphasize that a council of governments, like LCOG, is whatever its member government stockholders want it to be. The democratic process by its members defines and limits the work of the organization to those activities that hold the greatest promise for enhancement of the quality of life of the region. Although itself an independent public agency, LCOG does not impose taxes, nor does it enact law. Its work program is a reflection of the collective determination of elected officials to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the public sector. LCOG’s focus has been on planning, program development, analysis, and service delivery. But, throughout its history, the agency has been asked to demonstrate that, through voluntary cooperation, local units of government can achieve healthier communities and a higher quality of life for their citizens.

The year just past has been one of national and international trial and distress. The Lane region has not been immune to the tensions and threats imposed from far beyond its boarders. Key concerns for many Americans, including those who live and work in the southern Willamette Valley, have been security and economy. While the television’s evening news attends to disturbing events around the globe, individuals and local communities here closer to home have attended to the daily, here-and-now tasks of making their way and pursing the American dream. The larger world certainly impacts our lives, but we are most dependent upon one another locally and regionally, and our recognition of that interdependence has allowed the benefits of cooperation to accrue to citizens and governments alike.

The pages which follow offer a summary of the work by the agency’s principal divisions. As a preface to that report, several observations about LCOG’s work in 2002 can be made. The organization was ably led by two Board Chairs, Peter Bartel of EWEB and Winn Wendell of Junction City. The consistent engagement and constructive participation by the elected officials who comprise the Board of Directors has been very high, and that sense of personal ownership of the enterprise by its policy leadership has been invaluable. The Board’s monthly meetings have afforded an opportunity for intergovernmental communication that is not available in any other venue. The relationships forged between policy makers at the council of governments have made possible numerous cooperative arrangements that have served the public well.

The Board and the agency’s six-member Executive Committee have provided policy direction and have guided the organization through a number of decision points and events over the past year. The Board engaged in a structured goal-setting process that allowed a concerted examination of regional issues and specifically addressed the changing role of special districts within the region. The agency’s leadership also studied the vital tasks performed and challenges faced by the public education districts in the region. A highly successful Appreciation Dinner was held. And during the year, the Board thoughtfully attended to significant regional issues, such as drastic human services funding reductions, the adoption of a new long-range transportation plan, the formalization of economic development priorities, the development of a long-term strategy for enhanced park and open space facilities, and continued work toward a 50-year vision for the sphere of influence area surrounding Eugene-Springfield. LCOG also significantly increased its commitment to resource development over the past year. Both through a strategic investment in staff fund-raising work and through the agency’s support of a rejuvenated and refocused non-profit corporation, the pursuit of non-traditional financial support has been accelerated.

Much of LCOG’s ongoing work has utilized the skills and energy of advisory bodies, and in some cases, the agency has provided professional support to independent entities, working in regional or multi-regional arenas. Examples might include the Lane Library League, the Willamette Valley Livability Forum, and the Southern Willamette Services Corporation. Appreciation is overdue and must be expressed to the hundreds of volunteer citizens who annually participate in, and contribute to, the regional process.

The member-stockholders of the Lane Council of Governments have reason to be confident in the agency’s good stewardship of the human and financial resources available to it. LCOG has earned a reputation for high-quality performance and the effective pursuit and utilization of external funding to address targeted needs within the agency and the region. The financial statements for fiscal year 2002 were prepared by staff and audited by an independent accounting firm, which concluded that the COG’s operations were conducted and accounted for in an appropriate manner. A summary of the revenues received and obligations incurred is provided on the accompanying chart.

Indeed, the past year has been extraordinarily challenging at regional, national, and global levels. Whether driven by economic conditions, cutting deeply into public and private capacity, or by the continuing threat of terrorism and war, the American society is anxious. And, of course, the citizens of this region are by no means isolated or immune from those anxieties, concerns, and challenges. But, just as distant forces bear upon the well being of individuals and communities, so likewise, each citizen is affected by far more localized actions from just across jurisdictional boundary lines. The Lane region is comprised of interdependent parts. By working together—by finding common ground and capitalizing upon economies and shared vision—those parts have not only come together as a more efficient regional machine, but have been freed from some of the anxiety and discomfort that stem from powerlessness.

The Lane Council of Governments is proud to have served as a catalyst for cooperation, efficiency, and well-being. Citizens and local governments, alike, have been well served.

George Kloeppel
Executive Director