06/23/11 - City Council Newsletter

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framework for practical implementation. In addition, it promotes learning and inspiration from a network of leaders from the private and public sector. To learn more about The Natural Step, visit www.naturalstep.org. For more information or to RSVP to the event, please contact Jenna Garmon at 541-682-5541 or jenna.r.garmon@ci.eugene.or.us. Fish-Friendly Car Wash Kit Supports Dog Wash Fundraiser Sunday, June 26, a fundraiser for PAAWS, People and Animals Who Serve, will do its part to protect local waterways by using a fish-friendly car wash kit to cover a storm drain in a dog wash area. Over the last several years, several dog wash fundraising groups have borrowed the kit for use at outdoor events. The kit was created by the cities of Eugene and Springfield for the purpose of protecting local waterways when non-profit groups hold car wash fundraisers. Using models from other communities, these kits include all the parts necessary to turn a car wash event into a fish-friendly one. Kits include easy-to-follow directions, a fish-friendly car wash sign, storm drain covers and sump pumps to divert wash water to waste water treatment sewers or grassy and vegetated areas. A new video clip at happyrivers.org shows how to use the kits. The Barks & Bubbles dog wash will be held outside of Salon De Lange at 3007 North Delta Highway (next to Gold’s Gym) on Sunday, June 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This is a B.Y.O.T. (bring your own towel) event. For details, call 541-343-0520. Groups interested in learning more about the kits and their availability for a specific date can contact Kathy Eva, public information specialist for the Stormwater Management Program in Eugene, at 541-682-2739 or kathy.a.eva@ci.eugene.or.us. For events in Springfield, call 541-726-3626. Street Work Starts Monday in West University Area Work is scheduled to begin Monday, June 27, on a $2 million project to reconstruct Alder Street from Broadway to thth 18 avenues and 13 Avenue from Alder to Kincaid streets. The project combines standard pavement repair work and innovative street-scaping improvements to make Alder th Street and 13 Avenue safer and friendlier for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists in the area. th The street repairs will be extensive and will require closing portions of Alder Street and 13 Avenue during construction. City staff is working closely with local businesses, residents, students and other stakeholders to mitigate, as much as possible, construction impacts. The City also is coordinating with other projects in the area, including Lane Transit District’s (LTD) University of Oregon (UO) station renovation project on Kincaid Street. th The first phase of construction will close Alder Street from Broadway to 11 Avenue and leave one lane open for thth southbound traffic on Alder Street between 11 and 13 avenues. On-street parking in that area will be temporarily th removed. Full closure of Alder Street will be required during the construction phases on Alder Street between 13 thth and 18 avenues and on 13 Avenue between Alder and Kincaid streets. In addition to the road repairs, several innovative street-scaping enhancements will be included in the project. A two- way “cycletrack” on the east side of Alder Street will replace the existing bicycle lane configuration on Alder between th 18 Avenue and Franklin Boulevard. A cycletrack is a bike facility that is separated from vehicular traffic by a parking strip or striped buffer area. By separating cyclists from vehicular traffic, the cycletrack is expected to attract more families and cyclists who are uncomfortable riding in mixed traffic. A new signal at Franklin Boulevard will enable bicyclists and pedestrians to safely cross the boulevard and use a wide sidewalk to access the Ruth Bascom th Riverbank Path system. Back-in diagonal parking will be installed on the south side of 13 Avenue between Alder and Kincaid streets. Back-in diagonal parking increases safety because drivers can see oncoming traffic (including bicycles and pedestrians) when they are pulling out of their space and it reduces the chances of bicyclists getting “doored.” Enhancing the tree canopy in the west university area is an important project goal. Twenty-one trees will be replanted in the project area, including new trees on 13th Avenue between Alder and Kincaid streets. The primary source of funding for the project is the 2008 voter-approved bond measure to fix city streets. The funding mix also includes local gas tax funds and a $707,000 state bicycle and pedestrian program grant. Wildish EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 June 23, 2011