09/15/11 - City Council Newsletter

Home Browse Search

To prepare for potential disasters please visit http://www.ready.gov/, the FEMA Ready.gov site or the Oregon Emergency Management site http://www.oregon.gov/OMD/OEM/. Taking these simple steps can make a big difference in ensuring the safety and well-being of one’s loved ones. For more information, please contact Stacy Burr at 541-682-5860. Newly Awarded Grant Will Fund Restoration in the West Eugene Wetlands A grant recently awarded to the City’s Parks and Open Space Division will promote healthy watersheds and provide jobs and education for youth in the West Eugene Wetlands. The federal grant, for just over $61,000, was awarded by the Eugene District Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Advisory Committee (RAC). This newly funded project will restore and improve wetland habitat for plants, pollinators, grassland birds, and other animals through on- the-ground infrastructure improvements, invasive species control, and seeding with native plant species. Part of the work will be conducted by the Northwest Youth Corps, a program that uses challenging outdoor projects to teach problem-solving and positive living skills, while promoting a strong and productive work ethic in local youth. Youth in the program learn essential job skills and receive training that will enhance their ability to make a positive impact in the communities in which they live. This restoration project will add to the many successful projects that have been completed by the Rivers-to- Ridges Partnership (formerly the West Eugene Wetlands Partnership). This collaborative partnership of federal and state agencies, the City of Eugene, and non-governmental organizations has protected and restored several thousand acres of interconnected wetlands in the west Eugene area for their educational, Seed collecting at one of the sites where grant-funded restoration is recreational, and habitat values over the past 16 years. planned. The Eugene District BLM RAC is a 15-member committee that evaluates and oversees projects in Lane County and parts of Douglas and Linn counties. The goal of RAC funding is to promote healthy lands and watersheds. Committee members are appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Interior and represent diverse perspectives from throughout the community, including elected officials, non-governmental organizations, and recreational interests. Work on the project will begin in 2012. For more information, please contact Trevor Taylor at 541-682-4888. Free, Fun Prevention Convention October 1 The Prevention Convention is a free, fun and educational event that is unlike anything else in the country, a very large and unique event – the Eugene Police Department's (EPD) greatest community outreach event. There are engaging, educational presentations for all ages. This year it will be held at Sheldon High School on October 1, from 1 - 5 p.m. Included are opportunities for kids, teens, adults and Spanish-speakers. th KidZone - Kinders through 4 grade: Children rotate through 13 educational lessons, learning everything from gun safety to stranger safety getting an opportunity to see the various police special teams, including the K-9s. Teen Xtreme - Grades 5 - 8: Teens can rotate through four classes that use the fun of CSI-type science experiments and police investigations to learn the importance of reading, writing, math and science skills. This curriculum has been endorsed by local educators to provide “extra credit” for students who attend. Adult Classes (also open to high school students): There are eight classes being offered, including Gangs in Eugene, Traffic Safety, Internet Safety, Personal Safety and much more. Booths: 50 booths will include information about EPD programs, non-profits, and vendors. Mano a Mano en la Comunidad: A full curriculum of adult classes will be offered in Spanish. For more information, contact Sgt. Lisa Barrong, Eugene Police Crime Prevention, at 541-682-8248. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 September 15, 2011