CC Newsletter - 08/18/05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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parking lot provides access to a planned loop trail system around the ponds. The parking lot was built by Delta Construction under a contract designed and managed by the Public Works Engineering and Parks and Open Space divisions. Te current trail was built with volunteer labor from area Rotary Clubs. Currently, 1,800 linear feet of path have been constructed between Goodpasture Island Road and Debrick Slough. This is the first leg of a looped path that eventually will encompass 1.3 miles of trail, interpretive signage, and view points. A boardwalk leading down to the water’s edge also will be completed in the future. The future trail will be constructed in partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers, who are co-sponsoring a habitat enhancement project and associated recreation improvements. The trail and parking lot were funded in part by a grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and through a land donation from Renata and John Tilson. The trailhead improvements also include bike racks, a drinking fountain, portable restrooms, and benches. For more information, contact Parks planner Carolyn Weiss at 682-4914. C-SPAN School Bus Visit Highlights Public Access to Government The C-SPAN School Bus continued on its trek around the country to highlight C-SPAN's mission of providing public access to unfiltered government information. In welcoming the 45-foot TV production bus to the Eugene Public Library, Mayor Kitty Piercy said, "Democracy does not work without effective participation and that requires access to, and the exchange of, information. On a national level, the C-SPAN networks provide the kind of information that makes effective participation possible." On the local level, City Manager Taylor noted that LCOG's Metro-TV on cable channel 21 provides C-SPAN-style broadcasts and replays of public meetings including the Eugene City Council. Taylor said the City of Eugene's new portal website at www.eugene-or.gov is another example of the City's commitment to open government and enhanced access to public information. The new website provides convenient access to the City’s full range of public documents and web-based information including the City Code, City Council meeting minutes and full agenda materials, proposed and adopted budgets, public meetings calendar, and local officials' background and contact information. The website also allows users to conduct an increasing range of transactions on-line, including registering for recreation programs, paying parking tickets, and researching neighborhood crime data, all at their own convenience. Along with Lane County Commissioners Anna Morrison and Faye Stewart, Piercy and Taylor got a close- up look at the high-tech vehicle's TV production capabilities. Interested community members toured the bus, receiving an overview of C-SPAN programming and tips on critical viewing techniques. For more information, contact Jan Bohman, City Manager's Office, 682-5587. ‘Riparian Redeemers’ from First United Methodist Church Take Pride in America On Saturday, August 20, Eugene Stream Team and the First United Methodist Church Creation Care Committee’s “Riparian Redeemers” will team up for a “Take Pride in America” event by removing invasive species from a gallery forest in the West Eugene Wetlands. The event begins at 9 a.m. near the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Wallis Street in west Eugene. Mayor Kitty Piercy will join the group to thank them for their continued hard work, which embodies the EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4 August 30, 2005