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<br />City of Eugene eValue8s Health Plans
<br />The City of Eugene, along with other members of the Oregon Coalition of Health Care Purchasers, is
<br />participating in eValue8, a national program which helps health care purchasers evaluate health plan
<br />options based on performance. Developed by the National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH),
<br />eValue8 is widely used by business health coalitions and employers to assess and manage the quality of
<br />their health care plans.
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<br />In June, coalition members, including representatives of the state Public Employees Benefit Board
<br />(PEBB), SAIF, INTEL, PGE, the cities of Eugene and Springfield, and others, conducted site visits of the
<br />eight Oregon health plans participating in the eValu8 project. Participating health plans are CIGNA,
<br />HealthNet, Kaiser, LifeWise, ODS, Providence, Regence and United/PacificCare.
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<br />The eValue8 program reports health plan performance in eight modules including Consumer
<br />Engagement, Health Information Technology, Provider Measurement, Pharmaceutical Management,
<br />Prevention and Health Promotion, Chronic Disease Management, Behavioral Health, and Consumer
<br />Driven Health Plan. The data collected through this project is extensive and the results of the surveys
<br />will not be published until next year. For more information, please contact Myrnie Daut, risk and benefits
<br />manager, 682-5790.
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<br />City Receives DOGAMI Award for Delta Ponds Restoration Project
<br />The City of Eugene has received an
<br />Oregon Plan Award from the Oregon
<br />Department of Geology and Mineral
<br />Industries (DOGAMI) for outstanding
<br />protection and enhancement of fish and
<br />wildlife habitat during the first phase of
<br />the Delta Ponds restoration project.
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<br />The award, which was announced June
<br />22, recognizes the City’s willingness to
<br />go beyond reclamation requirements to
<br />(Above) Inlet constructed at
<br />the north end of the Delta
<br />restore or create viable fisheries habitat.
<br />Ponds to increase river flows
<br />Sharing the award is the U.S. Army
<br />into the ponds. (Right)
<br />Corps of Engineers, which is working in
<br />DOGAMI 2006 Oregon Plan
<br />partnership with the City on a multi-year
<br />Award, which recognizes
<br />project to improve water quality and
<br />Eugene’s outstanding
<br />enhance wildlife habitat in the Delta
<br />commitment to protecting
<br />Ponds area.
<br />and enhancing fisheries.
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<br />The Delta Ponds were formed by gravel extraction operations that provided much of the gravel for the
<br />construction of Interstate 105 and the Delta Highway. The City purchased the ponds from Eugene Sand
<br />and Gravel in the late 1970s. Since that time, natural succession has created an area in the heart of
<br />Eugene that has relatively high habitat value. Today, the ponds are used by numerous City residents
<br />who enjoy experiencing nature in the city.
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<br />The first phase of the Delta Ponds restoration project began in 2004 and included removing invasive non-
<br />native vegetation and constructing gravel and paved paths and parking areas. In 2005, the Corps and the
<br />City undertook a project to excavate inlets and construct weirs for improved water flow in the northernmost
<br />ponds. That work, which was completed in January 2006, earned the DOGAMI award. Restoration work
<br />has continued, with construction underway this month to connect more of the ponds through culverts. In
<br />addition, volunteer organizations such as Rotary clubs and the Downtown Lion’s Club have helped provide
<br />access to a portion of the ponds through their work with the Eugene Stream Team.
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<br />The Delta Ponds project was unanimously chosen as the 2006 Oregon Plan winner by an independent
<br />selection committee consisting of representatives from the mining industry, professional consultants,
<br />federal, state, and county resource agencies, and environmental groups. Awards are presented at the
<br />annual Oregon Concrete and Aggregate Producers Association (OCAPA) convention. Past winners of
<br />the Oregon Plan award include mining companies, individuals associated with watershed councils, and
<br />watershed councils. For more information, contact Scott Milovich, Delta Ponds project manager, at
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<br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
<br />July 5, 2007
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