City Council Newsletter - 07/19/07

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Summer Swimming Enrollments Up Youth are flocking to Recreation Services’ Aquatics program. The Summer Swim and Water Polo League (SSWPL) is at capacity at all three pools with 105 youth participating and a waiting list of 30. That’s a 50% increase over the number of youth who enrolled last year; and an 87% increase over enrollment in 2005, the first year of the program. The SSWPL is designed to introduce youth ages 8-14 to the world of competitive swimming and at just $20 for 10 weeks of programming, it’s among the best values of the summer. Youth are involved in two team-oriented practices each week and a competition every Friday. SSWPL also provides an opportunity for older youth experienced in competitive swimming to mentor and Team from Amazon Pool with their coach, Jim Koh, after their coach younger swimmers. first competition. The City’s Learn to Swim programs have seen increased numbers, too. Some 16,775 children and youth enrolled in the programs in fiscal year 2007—an increase of more than 1,100 swimmers over the same time period in FY06. For more information contact Aquatics Manager Doug Smith at 682-6336. nd Work to Begin on 2 Phase of Courthouse District Transportation Project The second phase of construction to improve transportation facilities in the new federal courthouse district is scheduled to begin Monday, July 23. The project is a cooperative effort involving the City of Eugene and the Oregon Department of Transportation. Bids for the $4 million project were opened in mid-May, and Wildish Construction Co. of Eugene was selected as the general contractor. Construction is expected to occur in several stages, with final completion of the project scheduled for fall 2008. The second-phase work includes reconstructing 8th Avenue between Ferry and Hilyard streets, building a new section of Hilyard Street next to the railroad tracks from Ferry Street to Broadway, adding capacity for southbound traffic in the area of Mill and 8th, and installing new traffic signals on 8th Avenue at Mill and Hilyard streets. Improvements at 8th and Mill will enhance the connection between downtown and the new Wayne Morse Federal Courthouse and the Willamette River. The existing traffic signal at Broadway and Hilyard will be reconstructed to allow for two new right turn lanes onto the new section of Hilyard from Broadway to High Street to reduce the volume of traffic at 8th and Mill. The project also includes repaving portions of Franklin Boulevard, Broadway, 7th Avenue, the Ferry Street viaduct offramps and Mill Street. Other features of this phase include amenities such as wider sidewalks, a pedestrian/bicycle path parallel to the railroad tracks, reconstructed driveways, pedestrian crosswalks, decorative streetlights, landscaping, stormwater swales and on-street parking. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 July 19, 2007