04/29/10 - City Council Newsletter

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The City’s Solid Waste and Green Building Program promotes composting through partnerships with OSU Extension Service, FOOD For Lane County’s GrassRoots Garden, and the Oregon Green School Program. The program supports community partners to provide the education and technical assistance necessary to help schools, backyard composting enthusiasts, and businesses get started in composting, or supplement their current composting efforts. For more information, contact Anne Donahue, Solid Waste and Green Building Program, 541-682-5542. Human Rights Summit: A Huge Success The Human Rights Summit, held on April 8 and 10, 2010, was a huge success, as evidenced by the evaluations submitted from some of the 150+ attendees at the event and the numerous requests for another summit in 2011. A few of the comments from the event included “Very helpful to see my/our part in the big picture,” “I especially enjoyed the keynote speakers – expertise, youthful enthusiasm, dynamic presentation” and “Very solution oriented – relationships emphasized.” The all-day event was co-sponsored by the City of Eugene Human Rights Commission and the Community Coalition for the Advancement of Human Rights. The event kicked off with keynote speakers followed by break-out discussions, then lunch, and closed with 21 afternoon workshops, each on different topics. Equity and Human Rights staff and interns worked both behind the scenes and up front to help coordinate the event. Many Lane County agencies such as Lane Community College contributed to the event as well, helping to make the summit an overall success. Video of the event is available at www.humanrightscity.com. Neighborhood Services staff reported great attendance at the workshop, entitled Creating Neighborhood Connections for Local Coalitions. Other workshop titles included NAACP Youth in Action, 100% Access: Increasing Access and Reducing Barriers to Health Care, Shelter Is a Human Right, and Know Your Rights When Encountering Law Enforcement. For more information, contact Michelle Mortensen at 541-682-6378 or michelle.e.mortensen@ci.eugene.or.us. Paving in the City Paving projects around town will start as early as May and continue through the summer. Currently, there are 24 signs that identify local gas tax and street bond-funded rehabilitation or reconstruction projects. The idea to place signs far in advance of the work came from the citizen Street Repair Review Panel. This is one way for people to take a closer look at the streets that are getting fixed before they’re under construction. Paving signage will also serve as a reminder to area residents that they may want to consider alternate routes once roadwork begins. Paving details in Eugene are available on the city’s website at www.eugene-or.gov/pw or for those who use twitter at www.Twitter.com/EugenePW. For more information about pavement preservation projects, contact Public Works Engineering Civil Engineer II Matt Rodrigues at 541-682-6036. Trains, Traceys and Tales at the Library There’s something for everyone at the Eugene Public Library, with an especially broad range of events at the Downtown Library during the first week of May. Admission is free to all events. On Thursday, May 6, at 6 p.m., author James McCommons will give a talk based on his book “Waiting on a Train.” Subtitled “The Embattled Future of Passenger Rail Service - A Year Spent Riding Across America,” the book is a fascinating blend of travel narrative, personal memoir, and investigative journalism. A favorite local band, The Traceys, is together again and will give a free concert on First Friday, May 7, at 6 p.m. The group delivers “air-tight EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 April 29, 2010