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departments increasingly are using these new tools effectively. For more information, contact Public Works Public <br />Affairs Manager Eric Jones at 541-682-5523, or Community Relations Director Jan Bohman at 541-382-5587. <br /> <br /> <br />University Greek Houses Undergoing Fire Safety Re-inspections <br />The 22 fraternities and sororities in the University of Oregon’s Greek system all have at least a little work to do – <br />and soon – in order to meet fire safety codes. The houses, which together accommodate more than 1,000 <br />residents and another 2,000 or so members, participate with the university and the City’s Fire & EMS Department <br />in a fire safety program that helps ensure their adherence to fire code regulations and is intended to prevent the <br />type of deadly fire that has occurred at Greek houses elsewhere in the country. The university contracts with the <br />City for the notifications, inspection, education, and follow-up services. In recent weeks, the houses received a <br />checklist of safety requirements, and were advised to self-inspect and make corrections to see that the conditions <br />listed were met. <br /> <br />Re-inspections have now begun, officiated by Fire & EMS personnel. Common violations found have included <br />blocked fire sprinklers, missing smoke alarms (or missing smoke alarm batteries), combustibles stored too close to <br />heat sources, unsafe exit door hardware, in addition to other violations. No house received a clean bill of health. <br />However, follow-up will continue until they do. Failure to make the required corrections comes at the risk of civil <br />penalties and possible loss of official recognition by the university. The City’s Greek housing inspection program <br />has been operating since the 1990s, but has become more formalized in recent years. It includes not only the <br />inspections described above, but also an annual fire safety academy for fraternity and sorority members. For <br />more information, please contact Deputy Fire Marshal Sandra Johnston at 541-682-5420. <br /> <br />Storytelling Workshop for Adults <br />The Eugene Public Library invites adults who live or work with young children to a <br />free workshop, “Tell It Without the Book: Oral Storytelling and Puppetry,” on <br />Saturday, January 23, 2:00 p.m., at the Downtown Library. <br /> <br />This informative and inspiring program will teach participants how to develop and <br />tell stories that build early literacy skills; choose developmentally appropriate <br />books and stories; and “explore your creative spirit.” Workshop leader Stephen <br />Engelfried is an early childhood librarian and the director of the Raising a Reader <br />program at Multnomah County Library in Portland. <br /> <br />Due to limited space, pre-registration is required. For more information or to pre-register, call the Eugene Public <br />Library at 541-682-8316. <br /> <br />Recreation Swims Fill the No-School-Day Gap <br />While schools are closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday this Monday, the Aquatics program will be in full <br />swing with a no-school-day Recreational Swim at Sheldon Pool from 1:40 - 3:40 p.m. <br /> <br />Sheldon Pool will also hold no-school-day swims on Eugene School District 4J no-school days: January 29, <br />February 15, March 22 - 26, and April 16. Echo Hollow Pool will hold special recreation swims from 1:30 – 3:00 <br />p.m., on Bethel School District no-school days: January 29, March 22, 24 and 26, and April 9. <br /> <br />The cost is $3 for youth, ages 3 - 17; and $3.75 for adults, age 18 and older. Family passes can be used. For <br />more information, call Rich Fay at 541-682-5331. <br /> <br />Residents Invited to Comment on Master Plan for Public Art <br />A draft of the City’s first Master Plan for Public Art is now available for public comment. The 10-year plan provides <br />a vision for the City’s public art program and assets, and a roadmap for integrating that vision with other City <br />planning and development efforts. <br /> <br />A public art plan was identified in the 2007 Cultural Arts Policy Review (CPR) as a tool needed to help “enhance <br />Eugene’s physical environment through public art in the downtown and throughout the City.” The CPR called the <br />development of a plan a key ingredient in reinforcing Eugene’s emerging art identity and a means to “integrate arts <br />and culture into the fabric of Eugene’s downtown and neighborhoods.” <br /> <br /> <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 <br />January 14, 2010 <br />