Honorable Mayor and City Council Members - My name is Eugene Fields. I am a homeowner in Orange, a husband, father and I serve at the will of the Council as a member of the Park Planning & Community Events Commission. I apologize for not speaking in person, but I also coach girls’ soccer for 9/10-year-olds and this is their practice night. First, I want to thank you for appointing me and allowing me to serve our City. It has been one of the heaviest burdens to carry, yet one of the greatest joys of my adult life.
I am writing for informational purposes regarding the benefit the PP&CE Commission brings.
The City staff brings a valid point that there are currently no City-sponsored events for a commission to plan for. However, two of my colleagues met with City Staff at the end of 2024 for several hours to discuss options, sponsorships and partnerships the City could entertain to share the burden and continue the events. None of these proposals or options were presented to the Commission as a whole or to the City Council for discussion. If the Council decides to not have any City-sponsored events or not partner with local organizations/businesses, I respect the will of the Council, but I humbly suggest having invested members of the community - working with City staff and under the guidelines of the Commission's via the OMC - is a benefit to our City.
Part of that work has been done by several Commissioners - including myself - outside of the time we spend on the dais. Commissioner Ahlswede and I have taken meetings with staff, including a meeting when I was out of state attending to the death of a family member, to advise staff of opportunities to gain funding at regional, state and federal levels. Commissioner deVries reached out to several local businesses, which joined the City sponsorship program. Commissioner Litwin and I have engaged with proponents of a BMX park/pump track, connecting them with staff. Commissioner Kushon continues to seek opportunities through branding opportunities.
The Commission also has engaged with the community re: Park Planning on two projects. And there is a use to give the public an opportunity to have a place to hear about the work of Community Services - as well as to ask questions and voice their displeasure before escalating that to the City Council.
Finally, there is no need to curtail the meeting schedule, as I have made good on the promise to you - the City Council - that we will not meet if there was no need. In 2025, I have trusted our staff regarding that lack of need - although several of my fellow Commissioners have disagreed - and opted to cancel our first two meetings.
I posit that our City is in a fiscal crisis and instead of pulling the oars out of the water and letting the tides carry us, I respectfully request the Council allow us to continue our work: Connecting with the public, businesses, stakeholders and organizations to find a way to continue the events that make Orange Orange - a special place to live, work and play. Let us continue to plan for the Nation's 250th anniversary, as well as Orange's upcoming 140th anniversary. You have put faith in the seven of us to do this work and I humbly ask you to continue to let us work with City staff to serve our City.
Honorable Mayor and City Council Members - My name is Eugene Fields. I am a homeowner in Orange, a husband, father and I serve at the will of the Council as a member of the Park Planning & Community Events Commission. I apologize for not speaking in person, but I also coach girls’ soccer for 9/10-year-olds and this is their practice night. First, I want to thank you for appointing me and allowing me to serve our City. It has been one of the heaviest burdens to carry, yet one of the greatest joys of my adult life.
I am writing for informational purposes regarding the benefit the PP&CE Commission brings.
The City staff brings a valid point that there are currently no City-sponsored events for a commission to plan for. However, two of my colleagues met with City Staff at the end of 2024 for several hours to discuss options, sponsorships and partnerships the City could entertain to share the burden and continue the events. None of these proposals or options were presented to the Commission as a whole or to the City Council for discussion. If the Council decides to not have any City-sponsored events or not partner with local organizations/businesses, I respect the will of the Council, but I humbly suggest having invested members of the community - working with City staff and under the guidelines of the Commission's via the OMC - is a benefit to our City.
Part of that work has been done by several Commissioners - including myself - outside of the time we spend on the dais. Commissioner Ahlswede and I have taken meetings with staff, including a meeting when I was out of state attending to the death of a family member, to advise staff of opportunities to gain funding at regional, state and federal levels. Commissioner deVries reached out to several local businesses, which joined the City sponsorship program. Commissioner Litwin and I have engaged with proponents of a BMX park/pump track, connecting them with staff. Commissioner Kushon continues to seek opportunities through branding opportunities.
The Commission also has engaged with the community re: Park Planning on two projects. And there is a use to give the public an opportunity to have a place to hear about the work of Community Services - as well as to ask questions and voice their displeasure before escalating that to the City Council.
Finally, there is no need to curtail the meeting schedule, as I have made good on the promise to you - the City Council - that we will not meet if there was no need. In 2025, I have trusted our staff regarding that lack of need - although several of my fellow Commissioners have disagreed - and opted to cancel our first two meetings.
I posit that our City is in a fiscal crisis and instead of pulling the oars out of the water and letting the tides carry us, I respectfully request the Council allow us to continue our work: Connecting with the public, businesses, stakeholders and organizations to find a way to continue the events that make Orange Orange - a special place to live, work and play. Let us continue to plan for the Nation's 250th anniversary, as well as Orange's upcoming 140th anniversary. You have put faith in the seven of us to do this work and I humbly ask you to continue to let us work with City staff to serve our City.