Lane County begins master‑plan visioning for Lane Events Center; 646 survey responses guide first priorities

Lane County staff and consultants presented an early phase of master‑planning work for the Lane Events Center to the Board of County Commissioners on March 12, reporting that a first community survey drew 646 responses and that a 15‑member visioning work group has identified emerging values to guide next steps.

Corey (Lane Events Center and Lane County Fair Manager) introduced the project team and said the board previously directed staff to prioritize community engagement and high‑level visioning. Jessica Bull, a consultant from Soarscribe Strategic Planning & Communications, summarized outreach methods and early findings.

Why it matters: the Lane Events Center hosts the annual county fair, seasonal sports and events, and has been used as an emergency operations hub during wildfires and public‑health responses. The facility is an enterprise fund within county government; the master plan will be used to prioritize investments that improve programming and financial sustainability over the next 20 years.

Engagement completed and participants Consultants said the early phase included stakeholder interviews, recruitment of a 15‑member visioning work group, a public survey that closed with 646 responses, and a project website (lecmasterplan.org). Jessica Bull described the visioning work group's role: to identify core community values, advise on design criteria, and help evaluate concept alternatives. The work group includes representatives from local businesses, event operators, fair organizers and neighborhood groups — staff read the roster aloud and provided the list in project materials.

Survey results and emerging priorities Consultants summarized the survey as an initial "pulse check" rather than a statistically representative sample. They reported respondent demographics skewed toward older, white women and noted that the survey was distributed by link through partner newsletters, social media and local media coverage.

Top themes emerging from the survey and the visioning work group were: - Emergency and community resilience: many respondents ranked the facility's role in disaster and emergency response as very important. - Programs for families and youth, and year‑round sports and recreation offerings. - The Lane County Fair and opportunities for local gatherings. - A desire for a fiscally sustainable facility that supports local economic activity and multi‑use programming.

Jessica Bull said the work group’s emerging values include "fiscal stewardship," being a "regional economic engine," serving as a "community lifeline and emergency response hub," and supporting "arts, culture and year‑round sports." She said those themes have been consistent across stakeholder interviews and the public survey.

Board questions and operational points Commissioners asked about the work group composition and outreach reach. Staff read the work group roster, which included Dan Hurley (Director of Public Works), Kelly Mason (Sales and Events Supervisor), Bruce Weber (Fair Board president), Ted Koopman (neighborhood association representative), and members from Travel Lane County, Oregon State University Extension, regional business and event organizations.

Staff confirmed that the initial public survey was an open, link‑based solicitation (not mailed or statistically weighted) and that a later statistically valid survey will be conducted to ensure broader demographic representation. Staff said 646 responses produced several hundred email signups for further engagement and that open houses are scheduled for April and May; staff planned to return to the board with updates in May or June and a draft master‑plan report in July.

Funding and feasibility questions Commissioners pressed staff on funding. Several said the county should make clear which recommended improvements are likely to be self‑funding (through rentals and operations) and which would require outside grants or county appropriations. Staff said the work group will consider financial feasibility in later phases and that budgeted consultant funds are available for business‑plan and marketing work in the next fiscal year.

Ending County staff and consultants closed by noting the master‑plan process will continue with the visioning work group and that public engagement will expand in coming months through open houses, targeted outreach to under‑represented groups and a statistically valid survey. The project website (lecmasterplan.org) and posted materials provide the detailed roster, survey findings and upcoming event dates.