CC Newsletter - 02/05/04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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invasive vegetation from the city's natural resource and open space areas and ensure that conveyance in waterways is unobstructed. For more information about this project and other work of the crew, contact John Clark in Parks and Open Space at 682-4826. City Sin.qers: Harmonizinq Across Departments Come enjoy the City Singers at the downtown library on First Friday, February 6, at 6:30 p.m. The choir, started in 1999 by Diversity Committee member Maureen Robeson for a City-wide Diversity event, is composed entirely of City of Eugene employees volunteering to make music and community. In keeping with the spirit of diversity, musical selections range widely and entertainingly across continents and centuries. City Singers provides a rare opportunity for staff in all areas and at all levels to step out of work roles and create something truly wonderful and fulfilling. Nearly every department is represented. All City employees are invited to join (rehearsals require an unpaid lunch hour once or twice a week for a couple of months before each performance). While some of the City Singers belong to other singing groups, many last performed during their high school days -- and some have never before performed outside their own cars or showers. Hard to believe, when you hear how great they sound! For more information, contact Maureen Robeson, LRCS Administration, at 682-6065. Library Receives Hiqh Marks in Community Survey The community's investment in a new library appears to be paying off: eight out of ten respondents (81%) to the City of Eugene Community Survey released today feel that the City does an above-average job of providing library services, a 27% increase from 2001. The survey, conducted annually for more than a decade, polls Eugene residents about community priorities and City government and services. Perceptions of the City's recreation programs for children 12-17 also show marked improvement, with 38% of respondents identifying those programs as above average, a 41% increase from 2001. Other areas showing significant increases in above-average ratings: encouraging the use of the bus system (72%, up 22%), Cuthbert Amphitheater (52%, up 27%), and providing leadership for the city (33%, up 27%). On the other hand, ongoing concern in the surrounding community about animal control ~ssues is reflected in a 22% decline since 2001 in the percentage of respondents who feel the City does an above-average job of providing animal control services. The two areas with the highest percentage of respondents who believe the City is doing a below-average job, planning and managing growth and managing tax dollars, are topics about which community sentiment is particularly unstable or divided. For example, 30% of respondents feel that Eugene does a below-average job of planning and managing growth. However, several survey questions related to population and economic development display a lack of unanimity and consistency from the community on its priorities. The percentage of respondents who feel that population growth in Eugene is "too fast" decreased 43% over the past four years after rising sharply from 1995 to 1998. Economic growth strategies also meet with varying support. While the majority believes that Eugene should take an active role in helping businesses, the level of support varies significantly depending on what form that assistance takes. Support for the idea that the City should help outside companies come to Eugene is 25% lower than support for helping local businesses create jobs. Support for providing tax incentives to businesses is 38% lower than providing problem-solving assistance. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 March 17, 2004