City Council Newsletter - 08/03/06

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AIC Planning Director Selected Lisa Gardner of Public Works has been appointed to the six-month position of Acting-in-Capacity Planning Director. Lisa joins the Planning Division with a superb technical background and great leadership skills that she will be able to directly apply in this role. The Planning and Development Department recently posted this leadership opportunity for internal candidates after an unsuccessful recruitment attempt over the last six months. The City is now hiring a headhunter to begin a new recruitment process find the right candidate. The appointment of Lisa allows Steve Nystrom, Principal Planner, to return to his duties after serving in the AIC Planning Director role. For more information, contact Susan Muir at 682-6077 or by e-mail at Susan.L.Muir@ci.eugene.or.us. Outdoor Program Enlists Mariachi to Spice Up the Whiteaker River Festival The mercury approached 100 degrees on Friday, July 21, making the Whiteaker Neighborhood River Festival a huge draw to over 700 people seeking refuge from the heat. Participating staff members were all decked out in colorful cowboy hats and festive garments. The event boasted many highlights: ? Library staff treated early arrivals to stories read in the cool shade of the cottonwood trees. ? Neighbors stood in lines at the life jacket fitting station awaiting their turns to use the touring and whitewater kayaks provided by the River House, Adaptive Rec and Campbell Center. ? The Faire Zone, new this year, provided hula-hoops, juggling and flying discs. ? Oregon’s largest Slip-n-Slide drew many folks of all ages who slid down the grassy slope with squeals of delight and gigantic grins. ? Water safety booths provided important information to ensure river outings are safe and fun. ? A delicious BBQ satisfied every appetite. ? Festive music of the mariachi band surprised everyone and capped off the last hour of the event. Originally started by the Outdoor Program as a way to share the highlights of the program with neighbors, the River Festival is gaining city-wide popularity as a great way to learn about river safety and to play with LRCS staff. For more information, contact Recreation Programmer Roger Bailey at 682- 6323. Recreation Services and USA Track & Field Co-Sponsor “Be A Champion” Program Olympic track and field gold medalists Joanna Hayes and Darold Williamson and two-time Olympian Jon Drummond will be the featured speakers at the "Be A Champion"program co-sponsored by USA Track & Field and the City of Eugene Recreation Services. Youth and their parents are invited to attend this free event from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. on Monday, August 7, at Sheldon High School auditorium, 2455 Willakenzie Road. Attendees will meet the athletes and hear them talk about healthy lifestyles, keeping active, and living with integrity. They will also be invited to make the "Be A Champion" pledge. Each youth attending the event will receive two free tickets to the Road to Eugene ’08 elite, high- performance track and field event to be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 8, at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field. A major initiative byUSA Track & Field and the American College of Sports Medicine, “Be A Champion” brings Olympians together with middle-school aged children around the country in order to positively impact their lifestyles and decision-making. Eugene Recreation Services is partnering with USA Track & Field to help fight childhood obesity. The City follows the We Can! approach. We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition) is a national education program developed by the National Institutes of Health to help youth and families maintain a healthy weight. We Can! provides activities and programs that encourage improved nutritional choices, increased physical activity, and reduced screen time for youth ages 8-13. For more information, contact Sandy Shaffer, recreation manager, 682-5373. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 August 3, 2006