08/06/09 - City Council Newsletter

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Risk Services Recovers Cost of Damages to City Property Risk Services staff was successful in recovering $149,012 in damages to City property caused by third parties in FY09 - a record year. Over the past five years, Risk Services has recovered an average of $90,978 per year, while spending only about $14,000 per year in staff time to pursue these claims. Risk Services has recovered almost $1.5 million over the 20-year history of the recovery program. Risk Services receives notice of these accidents/incidents from the affected City work units, members of the public or by review of police reports routed to Risk Services by the Police Department. Risk Services then pursues a claim for the City’s cost of replacement or repair against the person who caused the damage, against his or her auto insurance, or through the court system if it involves a violation or crime. The funds collected are returned directly to the affected City work units to offset expenses for the damage. Common types of City property damaged include City vehicles, fire hydrants, trees, street lights, traffic signals, traffic signs, and City facilities. Over 50% of the monies recovered were attributed to accidents involving damage to City vehicles, fire hydrants, and street trees. For more information, contact Claims Coordinator Jan Bergquist at 682-5662. Technology Comes to Scavenger Hunt It’s just like an old-fashioned scavenger hunt, except that instead of randomly seeking specified neighbors and friends, participants in geocaching events use Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to take them anywhere in the world to locate hidden “treasure.” On Saturday, August 8, Recreation Service’s Outdoor Program will conduct two classes on how to use GPS to find hidden treasure at sites right here in the community. That afternoon, the program will conduct a free geocaching event, starting at the River House Community Center, and using GPS equipment to navigate to hidden treasure. For more information, call Roger Bailey at 682-5329. Ceremony To Mark Groundbreaking on I-5 Willamette River Bridge Replacement Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Reresentative Peter DeFazio will be joined by local and state officials on Tuesday, August 11, to commemorate the groundbreaking of the Interstate 5 Willamette River Bridge replacement. The event begins at 10:00 a.m. along the bike path on the south side of Franklin Boulevard and east of I-5, about a half-mile east of Walnut Street. Parking and shuttle service are available at the former state motor pool office near the corner of Franklin Boulevard and Walnut Street. Brief presentations will be followed by a short reception. The I-5 Willamette River Bridge is the largest project in the OTIA III state bridge delivery program. Linking the cities of Eugene and Springfield, the new bridge will improve a critical segment of the primary north-south commuter and freight corridor for the West Coast. For more information about the groundbreaking event, contact Transportation Planning Engineer Chris Henry at 682-8472. The project details are available at www.willamettebridge.org. City Awarded Funding for New Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan In the fall of 1974, Eugene’s first ever Bikeway Master Plan was released to a community committed to developing a comprehensive network of bicycle facilities. Over the past 35 years, many of the projects and policies described in that plan were implemented, helping to define Eugene as one of the most bike-friendly communities in the nation. Eugene’s current planned bicycle and pedestrian projects are contained in TransPlan, which serves as Eugene’s Transportation System Plan or TSP. The community will soon have an opportunity to revisit and EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 August 6, 2009