City Council Newsletter - 11/08/07

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Please join us in welcoming Michael to Eugene, and to Planning and Development’s Neighborhood Services Program. You can contact Michael directly at Neighborhood Services by calling 682-6243 or emailing michael.j.kinneson@ci.eugene.or.us. NPDES Stormwater Report Available for Review Online The City of Eugene holds a federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the municipal stormwater it discharges directly into the Willamette River and indirectly into the Willamette River through other local waterways, including Amazon Creek. The permit includes stormwater monitoring and reporting requirements, as well as a set of best management practices that define the City’s Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP). The draft annual status report for the July 2006 to July 2007 reporting period is available for public review and comment. Several accomplishments are being reported for this period of time including the implementation of design standards to address the quality of stormwater runoff from developing sites, and the design and construction of several projects to retrofit the existing municipal stormwater system to incorporate water quality features. Accomplishments and status of the other essential program elements including stormwater education, system operations and maintenance, industrial controls, illicit discharge controls, construction site management, planning, and data management are also provided. The annual report includes a summary and analysis of water quality sampling data collected during the reporting period. While the annual status report looks back in time and documents what has been accomplished over the past year in the stormwater program, City staff is also looking forward and forecasting a continued evolution of the stormwater program in response to new regulations and persistent water quality problems. Federal regulations in the form of the Upper Willamette Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL), issued in 2006 by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), are placing additional focus on waterways that are not meeting water quality standards for various pollutants. In Eugene, those waterways include Amazon Creek, Willow Creek, Amazon Diversion Channel, A-3 Channel and the Willamette River. Eugene is considered a “designated management agency” by the DEQ and, as such, is required to ensure that its programs address the specific problem pollutants which include bacteria, temperature, mercury, dissolved oxygen and turbidity. A proposed response to the new TMDL regulations is under development by staff and will ultimately be reflected in Eugene’s TMDL Implementation Plan, due to DEQ by March 2008, and in its next municipal stormwater permit renewal application, due to DEQ by September 2008. The public will be invited to provide input on both of these plans. The draft Stormwater Annual Report is available on the Internet at: www.eugene-or.gov/PW, or by calling Therese Walch, water resources manager, at 682-8647. Finding a Job in Lane County: Free Workshop at Library Job-hunters: find valuable information and expert advice at Finding a Job in Lane County, a free workshop on Saturday, November 17, 3:00 – 5:00p.m., at Eugene Public Library, Downtown. Adults and teens are welcome. Professionals from the Oregon Employment Department and Terri Harley of High-Gear Training Institute explain how to navigate the job search process. Get tips on everything from locating employment opportunities to completing a successful interview. Learn how to use the Internet for job searching, craft a traditional or electronic resume, and tap into Lane County’s “hidden job market.” Find out about resources available at the Library. Bring your questions! For more information,contacttheEugene Public Library at682-5450, www.eugene-or.gov/library EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4 November 9, 2007