06/11/09 - City Council Newsletter

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flights operate two times weekly between the Eugene Airport and Oakland International Airport, with service Monday and Friday. 1:30 p.m. 2:55 p.m. 11:25 a.m. Flights leaving Eugene depart at arriving in Oakland at Flights depart Oakland at 12:50 p.m. arriving in Eugene at Allegiant also offers low-cost, nonstop service to two other vacation destinations from Eugene: Las Vegas and Phoenix-Mesa. Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Company is focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations such as Las Vegas, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Phoenix-Mesa and Los Angeles. Through its subsidiary, Allegiant Air, the company operates a low-cost, high-efficiency, all-jet passenger airline offering air travel both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with hotel rooms, rental cars and other travel- related services. For more information contact Cathryn Stephens, director of marketing and public relations for the Eugene Airport, at 682-6638 or cathryn.e.stephens@ci.eugene.or.us. Deputy Fire Chief to Chair State Emergency Medical Service Committee Eugene Fire & EMS Deputy Chief of Administration Denise Giard has been named chair of Oregon’s Emergency Medical Service Committee, which advises the Department of Human Services and EMS agencies statewide on maintaining and improving the quality of service. The appointment was made at the committee’s meetings in Portland last week, and carries a two-year term. Chief Giard has served on the committee since 2000. Members include emergency room physicians, EMTs, and other professionals representing a number of EMS- related sub-disciplines. The committee’s responsibilities include advising DHS regarding state EMS rules and regulations, assisting with regional EMS coordination and planning, and assisting Oregon communities in identifying system needs and quality improvement initiatives. For more information, please contact Fire & EMS Chief Randy Groves at 682-7115. City Joins Filing of Comprehensive National Broadband Comments with FCC The City of Eugene has partnered with a number of other local governments and the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (www.natoa.org) to file comprehensive comments regarding the creation of a National Broadband Plan with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). These comments represent a vision of what America’s broadband future can become by adopting progressive policies in the public interest, and reflect the values and concerns of communities across the nation. The City has taken a forward-looking approach to broadband development and high-speed technologies since the mid-90s when the City Council formed a subcommittee to prepare for adoption of the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, the largest overhaul of national telecommunications laws since 1934. The council adopted a set of Telecommunications Visions and Policies which focused on development of high speed broadband for improved public service delivery and to foster residential and business uses. In addition to a myriad of local governments, NATOA was joined by the Alliance for Community Media. The comments filed at the FCC cover a wide range of issues, from how to define broadband capability and wireless service issues to open networks and competition policy considerations. The comments reflect and include NATOA’s Broadband Principles and build off of much of NATOA’s recent activity related to broadband. City staff remains involved in NATOA’s Broadband Committee. The entire text of the comments, in Adobe PDF format, can be found at: http://www.natoa.org/documents/National%20Broadband%20Plan%20Final%20Draft.pdf . For additional information or questions, please contact Telecommunications and Cable Licensing Program Manager Pam Berrian, Information Services Division, at 682-5590. Rasor Mixed Use Center Plan Nears Completion An open house on Monday, June 15, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., will introduce the final plan for the Rasor Mixed Use Center project. The open house will be hosted in cooperation with the River Road Community Organization at the River Road Annex, 1055 River Road. The Rasor Mixed Use Center project is focused on planning for the future of the lower River Road area to accommodate more density while developing a walkable community that protects the natural features and historic character of the neighborhood. On May 28, 2009, the nine-member Community Advisory Committee held its final meeting and voted to support EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 June 11, 2009