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sometime in January. In addition, information about recycling plastic bags will be placed in the <br />informational pages the City and County sponsor in DexMedia (phone book). <br />Coincidently, in November 2007, San Francisco implemented a ban on plastic bags for use at large <br />grocers and pharmacies, making it the first city in the U.S. to take such a step. San Francisco joins a <br />number of countries that have banned or taken action to discourage the use of plastic bags including <br />Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, Italy, South Africa and Taiwan. Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India, also <br />has banned plastic bags. Bans are being implemented because of litter problems and the impact the <br />material has at MRFs. For more information, contact Alex Cuyler, Planning and Development <br />Department, Solid Waste and Recycling Program, 682-6830, or via email, alex.d.cuyler@ci.eugene.or.us. <br />Design Work Under Way to Improve Alley Between Tyler and Polk Streets <br />City staff is beginning design work to improve the gravel alley <br />between Tyler and Polk streets south of 6th Avenue. The <br />existing potholed gravel alley is virtually flat, with no <br />opportunity to drain surface water. Without upgrades that <br />include a functional stormwater collection system, <br />improvements to the existing surface would be very short-term <br />and require repetitive maintenance to sustain. <br />Abutting property owners who are concerned about the <br />condition of the alley petitioned the City to have it improved. <br />After Public Works Engineering staff received the petition, they <br />polled the property owners who would be assessed for the <br />improvements. The response poll indicated owners <br />representing 68% of the total assessable costs were in favor of <br />the improvements. Because the owners of property <br />representing a majority of assessable cost were in favor of the <br />improvements, the City has initiated project design for this <br />alley. <br />A recommendation to form a local improvement district for the alley project is anticipated to go to the City <br />Council this spring, with construction following in the summer. For more information, contact Project <br />Manager John Bonham at 682-5300. <br />Stagehand Union Invites High School Students Backstage at Hult Center <br />An innovate new program by the International <br />Association of Theatrical Stage Employees <br />(IATSE), Local 675, is bringing high school <br />students and teachers from local stagecraft and <br />theatre classes to the Hult Center to experience <br />backstage operations and meet-one-on-one with <br />professional stagehands. <br />Ruth Atcherson, a professional stagehand, took <br />the lead on this endeavor, inviting high schools in <br />Eugene and Springfield to participate. Thus far, <br />Springfield, Willamette and North Eugene high <br />school students have benefited from this unique <br />learning opportunity. The tour for Springfield and Willamette High Schools was perfectly timed to see <br />first-hand the set-up of the concert shell and concert choir risers on the Silva Stage. The students asked <br />great questions and were particularly interested in the technical aspects of the Silva’s shell sound <br />enhancement system. The Hult Center’s IATSE members are now preparing for both Sheldon and <br />Churchill High School visits this month. <br />Though this is a new program for high schools, tours for Lane Community College students have taken <br />place for many years. It is exciting for everyone at the Hult Center to take an active role with the youth <br />who are involved in the arts in the community. For questions, please contact Brian Ference, assistant <br />technical director and liaison for this program, at Brian.r.ference@ci.eugene.or.us. <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 <br />January 10, 2008 <br />