City Council Newsletter - 09/27/07

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International Walk to School Day is October 3 Amazon Community Center’s parking lot will be the meeting location for “International Walk and Bike to School Day” on October 3. The event is sponsored by the Roosevelt Middle School’s (RMS) Safe Routes to Schools Committee to promote safer routes for walking and biking, and to raise awareness of the importance of increased physical activity for children – a key initiative for Eugene Recreation Services. The walk is also intended to draw attention to pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment, and to build connections between families, schools and the broader community. Staff members from Recreation Services, Public Works Engineering and Police Services have collaborated with Roosevelt Middle School to plan and host the event. RMS students and celebrity walkers will meet at Amazon Center’s south parking lot and walk or bike to the school from there. For more information, contact Tim Patrick, 682-6347. Wastewater Division’s Environmental Management System Recertified On September 20, the International Organization for Standardization recertified the Public Works Wastewater Division’s environmental management system (EMS) as compliant with ISO 14001 EMS standards following an external audit by an accredited third-party agency. The division has been ISO certified for six years and has gone through a number of audits to ensure that the plant continues to conform to ISO requirements. The Wastewater Division’s ISO 14001 registered EMS provides the framework to manage environmental impacts. The EMS is a management system that is used to identify, track and continually improve on the environmental impacts of operations and decision-making. The focus is on moving beyond compliance and liability issues to achieving environmental goals, capturing stakeholder’s priorities, and engaging all employees. The ISO was set up in 1947 to facilitate and support international trade by developing standards that people everywhere would recognize and respect. ISO achieves this purpose through the participation and support of its member bodies. These member bodies represent standards organizations from 157 countries. The environmental management standard is designated as ISO 14001. The standard defines a set of environmental management requirements for environmental management systems. The purpose of this standard is to help all kinds of organizations to protect the environment, to prevent pollution, and to improve their overall environmental performance. By having an ISO-registered system, the Wastewater Division commits to the highest standard for pollution prevention and continual improvement. The Wastewater Division has a high level of due diligence and regulatory compliance, reducing its liability and risk of non-performance. There is an emphasis on measurable goals, monitoring, and reporting environmental performance. The ISO standard elements for communication and accountability provide involvement and accountability by all levels of staff. The division’s EMS program has built in an effective method to prioritize environmental components into the budget process. The system is an investment that appreciates over time and is achieving fiscal resource efficiency through several avenues such as energy conservation, chemical use reduction, and avoidance of regulatory fines. For more information, contact Donna Adams, environmental health and safety supervisor, at 682-8613. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 September 27, 2007