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market rather than wait for future EPA regulation. Participants in the Lane Clean Diesel Project are
<br />leading by example with an investment in the local community to help everyone breathe easier,
<br />especially the children.
<br />
<br />During the process the group also identified biodiesel as an alternative fuel with benefits similar to ULSD.
<br />Biodiesel has a life cycle carbon impact that is approximately 20% of petroleum diesel. The volume
<br />commitments generated by this project have given SeQuential Biofuels, a local supplier of biodiesel, the
<br />certainty to begin construction on a Portland biodiesel production facility, creating jobs and increasing
<br />access for fleets in the future. This has catalyzed sustainable economic development by creating a
<br />market demand for biodiesel that will help spur oil seed crop production and additional processing
<br />facilities in the Northwest. This project also ties into Governor KulongoskPs initiatives on global
<br />warming, economic development, and sustainability.
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<br />Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken, representatives from the Governor's Office
<br />and more than two dozen public and private organizations will present their organizational commitments
<br />pledging to use cleaner burning diesel fuels at the event on Monday. For more information, contact Eric
<br />Jones, public affairs manager for the Public Works Department, at 682-5523.
<br />
<br />Eugene Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Helps Fund Needed Street Repairs
<br />Eugene's motor vehicle fuel tax will increase to 5 cents per gallon this Friday. Revenues from the fuel
<br />tax will help fund almost 12 lane miles of major street repairs this summer.
<br />
<br />The new 5-cent tax, which includes a 2-cent tax increase approved by the council in January, is expected
<br />to generate approximately $3.6 million per year to help repair city streets. Eight major street repair
<br />projects estimated to cost $3.5 million are scheduled at various locations in Eugene this summer:
<br />
<br />· 28th Avenue from Friendly to City View
<br />· Crescent Avenue from Coburg Road to Tulip Street
<br />· Chambers Street from 8th to 11th avenues
<br />· Kevington Avenue from Brittany to Warren streets
<br />· City View Street from 11th to 18th avenues
<br />· Bertelsen Road from Royal Avenue to Roosevelt Boulevard
<br />· 11th Avenue from Pearl to Charnelton streets.
<br /> fees a~ work
<br />Eugene started a pavement preservation program funded through
<br />the local gas tax in 2003 to address a growing backlog of street
<br />repair projects. Since then, more than 20 lane miles of streets have
<br />been repaired. However, the current estimate of work needed to bring all of Eugene's streets into good
<br />condition is still more than $93 million. For more information about the pavement preservation program,
<br />contact City Engineer Mark Schoening at 682-5243.
<br />
<br />$150,000 Grant Funds Play Replica of Skinner Butte at RiverPlay Playground
<br />RiverPlay, Eugene's first regional playground at Skinner Butte Park, was awarded $150,000 from the
<br />Meyer Memorial Trust. The grant was awarded to the Eugene Rotary Club Charitable Trust, which is the
<br />City's partner in funding this premiere, 90-percent accessible playground. The Meyer Trust grant brings
<br />the grand total of funds raised thus far to $420,000. This,
<br />coupled with $400,000 from the 1998 parks and open space S. kinr~er 8utte Park
<br />bond measure, will fund Phase 1of the playground. The full ..... : i,,~:
<br />cost of the project is $1.2 million. Construction is scheduled to
<br />begin in late May.
<br />
<br />"Because of this grant and all the local businesses and
<br />community members who have generously donated to the
<br />project, the community can be assured that this destination
<br />playground is really going to happen," says Bob Mylenek, chair
<br />of the Eugene Rotary Club RiverPlay fundraising committee.
<br />"And, we're hoping that others will step forward to help us ,,,.,,.~,,,,*'~'..,,,~,~:'"'"",,,~,'c'"'~,,,,,,,,,,. .... ....... ~ ¢ ~ ~,~:~;~i
<br />realize the grand vision!"
<br />
<br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
<br />March 31,2005
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