March 19, 1998 Contact Ross West (541) 346-2060 EUGENE--University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer established a steering committee this week that is charged with reviewing issues related to the Riverfront Research Park and making recommendations about future plans for the project. In a letter notifying committee members of their appointment, Frohnmayer asked for the review of a variety of issues such as land-use, including use of parcels north of the railroad tracks; the continuing desirability of a public-private partnership; the economic viability of research parks generally and of this project specifically; and the proper administrative configuration to achieve dynamic executive leadership for the project. "Your work will complement and bring current the years of study, consultation, and community discussion that have been involved in the development of the project to date... [and] ...will be extremely helpful to me in reaching the ultimate decisions for the University regarding aspects of this project," Frohnmayer wrote. The committee includes Margie Paris, law professor and member of the Faculty Advisory Council; graduate student Debbie Guatelli-Steinberg; Joanne Hugi, director of university computing and a member of the Riverfront Design Advisory Committee; Paul Engelking, chemistry professor and member of the Faculty Advisory Council; Tom Hoyt, board member of the UO Foundation; Marian Smith, associate professor of music and University Senate member; Michele Johnson, president of the Associated Students of the University of Oregon (ASUO) Student Senate; and Theodore Palmer, mathematics professor and chair of the UO Campus Planning Committee. The committee will work in two subgroups: one focused on design and land-use issues and another concerned with governmental issues. The subgroups will be headed by Theodore Palmer Joanne Hugi, respectively. The steering committee will coordinate its work with an external consultant. The consultant will be charged with examining the master plan for the Riverfront Research Park and evaluating the degree to which the goals of that plan have been achieved, as well as suggesting improvements. The consultant also will be asked to provide a current national perspective on university-affiliated research parks. The park's review is part of the prescribed activity in the original Land Transfer Conditions approved by State Board of Higher Education, requiring a review of the project near the completion of each of its increments. The Riverfront Research Park project is a cooperative effort of the University of Oregon, the City of Eugene/Urban Renewal Agency and private developers. The project is designed to create a setting where knowledge-based businesses and organizations can start and grow in proximity to and in collaborative association with the research capabilities of the university in order to diversify and strengthen the region's economy and provide quality employment opportunities. Two existing buildings in the Riverfront Research Park are fully leased, with technology-based tenant companies including Dynamix, Inc.; System Technology Development Corp.; the Computational Intelligence Research Laboratory; the New Media Center; Marker Gene Technologies; and Electrical Geodesics, Inc. The project's third building, located south of the railroad tracks, will be completed later this year. -30- #O-7337/Local