Kitty Piercy’s two terms as mayor have reflected her love of Eugene and strong belief that much can be achieved when we work together. These guiding principles underlie her enthusiasm for being Eugene’s mayor for a third term.
Since 2004 Kitty has brought people together from all across the political spectrum to make things happen in our city. Read about Kitty’s:
- Business, Economic and Downtown Achievements
- Transportation Work
- Other City Accomplishments
- National Leadership
Business, Economic and Downtown Achievements
From the beginning, Kitty’s focus has been on jobs and the economy. Currently in Eugene’s downtown, there is more than $100 million in development underway, transforming pits into pride. With the renovated Broadway Commerce Building, the new Woolworth Building, the Inn at 5th and the Lane Community College Green Learning and Living Center, more than 450 construction jobs and 350 permanent jobs have been created. There are more on the way with the renovation of the former Taco Time building at Broadway and Willamette, and the former Eugene Public Works building on Pearl Street.
Kitty launched the Sustainable Business Initiative in her first term. It looked at how the city could support the growth of businesses that produce sustainable products: green building, recycling, natural foods and products, alternative fuel and energy, transportation, education, technology, and secondary wood products. The SBI also looked at how the city could support and foster all businesses adopting more sustainable practices. Out of the work of the SBI committee came a report and a series of recommendations for the city, and for the community as a whole.
Using these recommendations, the City of Eugene adopted green building practices, created a city Sustainability Commission and hired a sustainability manager. With community input, the city produced a very ambitious Climate and Energy Plan.
In addition, Kitty hosted an economic summit to develop a Regional Prosperity Plan with specific targets to increase employment and wages. The strategies are being carried out by Eugene, Springfield, Lane County, the University of Oregon, Lane Community College, the Metro Partnership, Workforce Partnership and Eugene and Springfield Chambers of Commerce. While all unemployment numbers are bad, Eugene’s remains considerably better than the national, state and county averages.
Much has evolved out of this early SBI work. A Triple Bottom Line tool has been adopted by the city (and shared with partners) to analyze policy decisions and practices with people, planet and prosperity in mind and ask hard questions about trade-offs. Envision Eugene (EE) is an ambitious collaborative planning process for the future growth of the city in keeping with goals and values. EE is close to closure and will guide the city on how to ensure compact development and livability for future generations. Accountability for outcomes is important and there is now a community dashboard on the city’s website to show how the city is doing on its adopted goals.
Transportation Work
Transportation choices have much to do with the ability to reduce environmental impact, carbon emissions and fossil fuel dependency. Kitty serves on a number of local, regional and state transportation committees, and she has been a strong voice for our regional mass transit system. The Governor has appointed her co-chair of the committee that will lead the state’s effort to improve our state rail system between Eugene and Portland. A robust rail system will provide access and serve the state and our city economically and environmentally.
Kitty has worked to take care of the city’s infrastructure. In the last three years, with the help of the voters, Eugene has repaired over $43 million worth of roads, creating more than 495 jobs. This is more road repair than has ever occurred in the history of this city.
The city has an opportunity to extend its award-winning rapid transit system, EmX, to west Eugene. Kitty believes EmX will lessen traffic congestion in west Eugene by increasing ridership and removing cars from the street, just as it has in other areas of Eugene and Springfield. Since its successful launch during Kitty’s mayorship, EmX has achieved record ridership. EmX also helps Eugene meet its goals in carbon reduction. She continues to balance the concerns of businesses and residents with the opportunity to create a 21st Century transportation system.
Other City Accomplishments
Kitty has worked continuously to create a healthy, dynamic city.
She has strongly supported the arts in Eugene and the creation of the Arts and Business Alliance. She’s especially enjoyed the Mayor’s Art Show and the Mayor’s Teen Art Show.
Kitty has worked to strengthen the town and gown relationship with the University of Oregon through attending events, from research to the Schnitzer, from working in classrooms to supporting Sustainable Cities, from supporting student activism to welcoming them to campus with President Lariviere, from attending planning charettes to doing interviews, from strongly supporting the Olympic Track and Field Trials to Ducks football games.
Kitty understands that what happens to our families is key to the success of our city. Although no longer teaching school, she has continued to serve on the Lane County Commission on Children and Families and the Oregon Commission for Child Care for well over a decade. She knows that prevention works. She meets with educators and supports local schools. She serves on the Human Services Commission and the Police Commission.
She has worked to have Eugene become an official Human Rights City, which embraces human rights in every decision it makes. She has supported neighborhood associations and, through her “Mayor One on One” meetings, communicates with community members all across the city. This outreach takes her to neighborhood grocery stores to meet the public monthly.
Under Kitty’s leadership, the city now has an Independent Police Auditor and Civilian Review Board.
National Leadership
Kitty has enjoyed national recognition for her work and was named the 2010 “most valuable local elected official” by The Nation magazine. She was an early signer of the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement and has worked with mayors on a number of key issues including peace, public safety, transportation and human rights.
She is a strong advocate of Eugene’s longtime sister city friendships in Japan, Korea, Nepal and Siberia.
