Anne Hausrath, August 4, 2010

File

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

This collection contains recorded interviews with Boise citizens. Notable topics include Boise Bench history, Greenbelt history, Foothills Levy history, Boise Fire Department history, Boise Police Department history, and personal and political histories of former mayors and councilmembers.

Dates

August 4, 2010

Biographical / Historical

Anne Hausrath was born in Hillsboro, Oregon, and moved to Boise in 1977. Before serving on the council, she was co-founder of the Boise Peace Quilt Project which became a very empowering experience and helped her to run for the City Council. Hausrath taught sociology as an adjunct at Boise State University, as well as taught junior high in Yakima, and served as a soccer coach. She served on the City Council from 1992 to 2000.

Extent

662.7 Megabytes

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Abstract

In an interview with Brandi Burns on August 4, 2010, Anne Hausrath discusses her experience on Boise City Council from 1992-2000 and the development of Boise throughout those years. She was a founder of the Wetland Coalition, a group of individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting and preserving the wetland ecosystem in Hulls Gulch; they would later become the Save Hulls Gulch movement. According to Hausrath, her experience in the effort to save Hulls Gulch from development inspired her to run for City Council in 1992. She discusses her interest in transportation issues and the importance of walkability and access to amenities in cities. Hausrath highlights the challenge of having separate groups responsible for land-use and transportation planning. Additionally, she explains that preservation occurs by acquiring parkland—it is more important than park maintenance—and how acquiring land for permanent public preservation is crucial for the long-term good.

Minutes Summary

Track One

00:00 Introduction

00:30 Hausrath indicates that she prefers to be called by “Ms.” and not “Mrs.”

00:33 Hausrath spoke about growing up in western Oregon before moving to Boise in 1977.

01:10 Hausrath described her role as one of the founders of the Boise Peace Quilt Project. The project centered around making a quilt for the people of the Soviet Union. She describes this experience as pivotal in her decision to run for city council.

02:31 Hausrath described her time before being on the city council. This included teaching sociology at Boise State University, working on the effort to save Hulls Gulch and living in Africa for a year. . 06:20 Hausrath discussed in more detail how she became involved with the project to preserve Hulls Gulch. She spoke about how taking walks through the hills prompted her to believe in their preservation. She helped to form a coalition dedicated to fighting development of the foothills.

11:14 Hausrath spoke of her community connections and the help they provided during her run for city council.

11:48 Hausrath explained how the Wetlands Coalition became involved in the the effort to save Hulls Gulch. The Wetlands Coalition traded some of their land to build a waste treatment plant in exchange for land in the foothills.

12:56 Hausrath discussed her longtime interest in city government. She mentioned the influence of author Jane Jacobs on her opinion of what cities should be.

16:10 Hausrath discussed learning of a plan to tear down houses along Eighth Street in order to expand the road. Her disapproval of this plan encouraged her further to become involved in city government.

17:16 Hausrath spoke of the importance of transportation in city planning. She mentioned the need for a city to be accessible and maneuverable.

20:11 Hausrath described how testifying as a citizen before the city council influenced her belief in the participation of average citizens in the city planning process.

21:22 Hausrath discussed her appreciation of Boise and her desire to preserve it for future generations.

23:16 Hausrath discussed the Boise Visions Plan. She mentioned the local support for preserving the Greenbelt and the foothills.

24:30 Hausrath explained the increase of neighborhood planning and the growth of neighborhood associations. She credits this to Brent Coles.

25:13 Hausrath praised former mayor Brent Coles for his work to promote appropriate transportation as well as the idea for the Foothills levy.

25:47 Hausrath described the beginnings of the Foothills levy project.

27:20 Hausrath discussed the Greenbelt briefly.

28:50 Hausrath spoke about the problem of having the Ada County Highway Department (ACHD) control the roads in Boise while the city controls land use planning. She described ACHD as having a different vision for development than the city did.

30:29 Hausrath discussed the Foothills preservation project. She describes the comprehensive Foothills plan which was developed. She spoke of the “livability” of neighborhoods as taking precedence over efficiency of road construction.

33:32 Hausrath discussed the relationship between the city council and ACHD. She mentioned becoming the liaison between the two groups. The election of Susan Eastlake as helping to unify the groups.

36:52 Hausrath explained how different governmental groups within Ada County worked together. She talked about her time with the Ada County Planning Association and her role as liaison to the Public Works Commission.

40:15 Hausrath discussed how she felt about the impact she was able to make on the city. She stressed the importance of having livability as a focus of public policy

40:50 Hausrath explained her involvement with the Public Works Commission. She expressed her impression that the city staff was extremely competent. She spoke about being the council liaison to the ground water task force.

44:56 Hausrath discussed the acquisition of new park land by the city. She emphasized the importance of acquiring park land for the enjoyment of future generations.

45:55 Hausrath described the local feelings towards growth which she encountered while running for the council. She described her own apprehension towards “thoughtless expansion”.

51:23 Hausrath discussed the dynamics of the city council during her time serving. She described her disappointment at the emergence of partisan politics in local government.

55:29 Hausrath described her realization that collections of small issues are what facilitate larger changes over time. She mentioned specifically her strong desire to acknowledge and represent the citizens.

End of Track One Track Two 00:50 Hausrath described the respect that she had for government workers. She reminisced about her public service.