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General admission to the event is free, and the Club Bethel Carnival tickets are only 25 cents each. For
<br />more information about the event, contact Recreation activity employee Lizz Zitron at 682-6042.
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<br />Still to come this summer, Recreation Services presents two more free community events: the Whiteaker
<br />Neighborhood River Festival on July 20 and the Multicultural Festival on August 3. For more information
<br />on these two events, call Recreation Services Youth & Family Services Manager Tim Patrick at 682-6347.
<br />
<br />Cause of Gheen Fire Officially Listed as “Undetermined”
<br />The sheer magnitude of the April 20 fire at Gheen Irrigation Works, coupled with the absence of
<br />eyewitnesses, made it unlikely that the actual cause of the fire would ever be pinpointed with certainty,
<br />and this turned out to be the case as the cause has now been officially listed as "undetermined."
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<br />In the case of most fires, when the cause is not obvious to responding firefighters, Deputy fire marshals
<br />from the Fire Prevention Office are called in to investigate and report. Often, but not always,
<br />investigation can determine the cause and point of origin, and this information can be helpful in
<br />preventing repetition of the same circumstances. However, in the case of the Gheen fire, even
<br />beginning an investigation would have required resources (heavy equipment) beyond those of Fire
<br />Prevention. Gheen Irrigation's insurers, therefore, hired a private consultant to investigate. Although
<br />speculation remains, fire officials were not surprised that the consultant's investigation failed to
<br />determine the exact cause. For more information, please contact Acting Fire Marshal Doug Perry at
<br />682-7100.
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<br />Early Redemption of Pension Bonds
<br />In the FY07 budget, the City Council set aside $7,665,000 for early redemption of the 2025 maturity of
<br />pension bonds. The pension bonds were issued in 2002 to fund the City's unfunded actuarial accrued
<br />pension liability at that time.
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<br />During the period of uncertainty about PERS rates due to litigation and legislative reforms, the City set
<br />aside funds representing a higher level of PERS rates than what PERS was actually charging. This extra
<br />funding was put into a reserve that would have been used by the City to respond to any adverse litigation
<br />or legislative changes. Once the most significant litigation around the PERS reforms was resolved, the
<br />funds could be used for other purposes. Most of that reserve was dedicated in the FY07 budget to
<br />paying off the callable pension bonds.
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<br />As of June 1, the City will pay off the 2025 maturity of pension bonds. The interest savings from this
<br />early redemption is $0.5 million and the savings will occur annually for the next 18 years. The General
<br />Fund share of the annual savings is about $300,000. For more information, contact Dee Ann Raile,
<br />finance director, at 682-5041.
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<br />Magazine Sale at Eugene Public Library
<br />Some people just want to relax in the hammock and read magazines—others can't wait to cut them up
<br />for a collage! Either way, the Friends of Eugene Public Library's Magazine Sale is a treasure trove, with
<br />the next one scheduled for Sunday, June 10, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., at the Downtown Library.
<br />
<br />The selection includes thousands of gently-used, recent issues of popular magazines for all interests and
<br />ages—most just 25¢ each. Well-represented topics include gardening, travel, cooking, nature, health,
<br />news and opinion, science, art, home decor, finance, fashion, crafts, hobbies, and many more. Vintage
<br />magazines are individually priced. Admission is free, and all City parking is free on Sundays. Proceeds
<br />benefit the Library. For information, call the Eugene Public Library at 682-5450.
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<br />Agate/Fairmount Traffic-Calming Study Workshop Slated for Wednesday, June 6
<br />On Wednesday, June 6, the fourth workshop for the Agate/Fairmount traffic-calming study will be held at
<br />the Edison Elementary School cafeteria from 7 to 9 p.m. As a follow-up to adoption of the East Campus
<br />Plan, the City Council directed Public Works staff to study traffic issues in the Fairmount neighborhood
<br />and along the section of Agate Street adjacent to the University of Oregon.
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<br />City staff has worked with the Fairmount Neighborhood Traffic-Calming Committee and the University of
<br />Oregon to develop a draft proposal that addresses speeding and cut-through traffic issues in the
<br />neighborhood and also improves the functionality of Agate Street. This meeting is an opportunity for
<br />neighbors to learn about the proposal and provide their feedback before a final proposal is presented to
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<br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
<br />May 31, 2007
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