November 6, 2014 - City Council Newsletter

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Well-Informed Public Ready for Leaf Season to Begin After nearly a month of pre-season public information, Eugene’s annual leaf collection and delivery program will officially begin on Monday, Nov. 10. Communications were initiated in mid-October with a television ad funded through a “Tech Bridge” grant from the City’s telecommunications program. The ad included messaging about the importance of not putting leaves in the street early. Doorhangers have been used to notify specific property owners if they place leaves in the street early; compliance with the doorhangers has been notable. Postcards were mailed to nearly 7,000 homes, businesses and yard-care services emphasizing the need to keep leaves out of bike lanes and reminding people that they are liable if injuries or damages result from placing leaves in the street. Postcards also were mailed to residents in the River Road area north of Maxwell Road and east of River Road. Eugene Public Works is now providing street services, including leaf collection, to all River Road properties south of Beltline through a new intergovernmental agreement with Lane County designed to improve operational efficiencies and make it easier for residents to know which agency to call if street services are needed. One of the questions asked most frequently by residents is, “When will the leaves on my street be picked up?” A new app on the leaf program web site, www.eugene-or.gov/leaf, lets people enter their address and receive specific and detailed information about which collection zone they’re in and when collection is scheduled. Other online services include an electronic leaf delivery request form, real-time mapping of leaf collection crews, and a handy link to the increasingly popular iBikeEugene app that lets cyclists report safety hazards in bike lanes as they are on the go. Public Works crews will focus collection efforts in Eugene’s central zone for the first week, then branch out into three other zones – west, south, and north. The crews are scheduled to continue working in these zones through Dec. 26, and then do a second round of collections through Jan. 23. Leaf deliveries are an important strategy in managing the volume of leaves collected in Eugene each year. Last year, 74 percent (13,790 cubic yards) of the total 18,636 cubic yards of leaves collected from Eugene streets were delivered to private properties. About 2,000 cubic yards of leaves went to community gardens, and no leaves went to the local landfill. For more information, contact Eric Johnson, surface operations manager at Public Works Maintenance, at 541-682-4904. Roosevelt Yard Gets Friendly Facelift A new sight awaits those headed down the Chambers Connector onto Roosevelt Boulevard. A quick glance to the left reveals that the administration building in the Public Works Roosevelt Yard campus has enjoyed a recent facelift. The building was in need of maintenance before rain damage, rust and decay led to more costly repairs in the future. Staff used this opportunity to also meet the goals of the recent “Diversity and Equity Strategic Plan Inclusive Environment Self-Assessment.” The assessment recommended additional accessibility and way-finding improvements to the facility. The result is a more visible, friendly and welcoming environment for staff and visitors. Over the summer, a wider, automated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) pedestrian access was installed and wider sidewalks were constructed to replace narrow, cracked walkways. The administration building was painted in a nature-inspired color palette to reflect the department’s dedication to the great outdoors. While remaining neutral and energy-efficient, the building colors vary from the other buildings on campus, making it easier for visitors to locate the main office. The Public Work’s vision statement - “Making lives better through the services we provide each day” – was painted on the front of the building. This bold statement welcomes the public and reflects the department’s strong commitment to the Eugene community. Further enhancing the welcoming environment, the street address, building number, Public Works’ core values, and two City logos were painted on the building. Additional planned improvements include an ADA-accessible front door to the main office and expanding the building numbering system to the other buildings on the campus. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 November 6, 2014