08/27/09 - City Council Newsletter

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review of the designs and a dialogue with the property owners on possible means to mitigate or minimize the impacts. LTD also will be communicating with other property owners and businesses along the corridor. Councilor Chris Pryor will host a conversation about the project on Tuesday, September 1, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Goodwill Industries, 855 Seneca Road, Eugene. City of Eugene and Lane Transit District staff will be on hand to provide information on the project’s process and timeline. New design graphics will be available that will th show proposed station locations, how traffic will flow on West 11 Avenue with EmX (turns, property access, flow of through-traffic), and design challenges and opportunities. For more information, contact City of Eugene Transportation Planning Manager Rob Inerfeld at 541-682-5343, or Rob.Inerfeld@ci.eugene.or.us. Summer Reading Breaks Records at Eugene Public Library This year, Summer Reading programs at Eugene Public Library drew more readers of all ages than ever before. Inspired by the “Be Creative” theme, more than 7,300 children and teens signed up. Each one got to choose a free book to keep, courtesy of the Friends of the Library. The 2009 sign-up total represents an increase of 1,900 young readers beyond last year. Summer Reading activities at the Library were attended by 3,300 children and teens. Summer story times served 3,900 young children and their grown-ups. Weekly activities at the Library engaged youth in writing, visual arts, drumming, and movies. Special events ranged from the annual Teddy Bear Picnic to a “Twilight” vampire party for teens. The season’s end was celebrated with a family swim party and an impressive youth talent show. Summer Reading programs are fun as well as important to the community’s well-being. Studies show that summer reading programs help keep student reading skills up while school is out. In addition to the success of the programs for children and teens, 600 adults signed up for Summer Reading. Books recommended by booklists and Library staff flew off display shelves. Visiting cartoonist and author Lynda Barry gave a talk on creativity that left her large audience both inspired and rolling in the aisles laughing. Community partners involved in making this success possible included dozens of Library volunteers, the Friends of the Library, Novella Café, and the UO Bookstore/Duck Store. For more information, contact the Eugene Public Library, (541) 682-5450; www.eugene-or.gov/library. New Waterfowl Management Efforts Begin in Alton Baker Park This week the City of Eugene began implementing a number of changes around the pond in Alton Baker Park that will improve water quality and public health, and create a more natural and sustainable home for the ducks and geese. Parks and Open Space staff, contractors, and volunteers will be working together over the next several months to: ? Remove the concrete on the south side of the pond and replace it with native plantings ? Relocate the domestic white geese to a more suitable habitat ? Encourage the Canada geese to seek a natural and less urban environment While the City of Eugene is in the process of seeking more This Canada goose at Alton Baker Park suffers from suitable homes for the domestic white geese, two specially Angel Wing caused by a diet high in carbohydrates. trained Border collies and their handler are working to encourage the Canada geese to return to natural areas. Eugene’s park system includes over 3,000 acres of natural areas offering high quality habitat where Canada geese are welcome. All waterfowl management activities practiced by the City of Eugene are following protocols approved by the Humane Society of the United States. Each year more waterfowl are choosing to take up year round residence in Eugene’s urban parks and become EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 August 27, 2009