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City Partners to Make Affordable Homes More Efficient with Stimulus Funds <br />For residents at Oakwood Manor, it is the new ductless heating system in their apartments that means a warmer <br />winter and a lower utility bill. For the three local agencies that came together to make it possible, it is one of the 160 <br />affordable housing homes that have received energy improvements to reduce annual energy use by a total of <br />236,854 Kilowatt hours – enough energy to power 22 average American homes for a year. For both, it is a reason to <br />celebrate. <br /> <br />City of Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, Lane County Commissioner Faye Stewart and Eugene Water & Electric Board <br />(EWEB) General Manager, Roger Gray, will dedicate the first completed project of the Affordable Housing Energy <br />Improvement Partnership on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011, at 10 a.m. at the Oakwood Manor (1665 Oak Patch Rd). St. <br />Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County, which developed, owns, and manages Oakwood Manor, will host the event. <br /> <br />City staff initiated the partnership with the Housing and Community Services Agency (HACSA) and EWEB after <br />receiving $1,485,800 through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) as a part of the <br />American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Affordable Housing Energy Improvements Partnership streamlines <br />funding and resources helping existing affordable housing developments become more energy efficient. The goals <br />are to: <br /> <br /> reduce energy consumption; <br /> <br /> decrease utility costs for low-income tenants; <br /> <br /> improve living conditions for vulnerable community residents; and <br /> <br /> extend the life of existing affordable homes. <br /> <br />With $160,000 in EECBG funds earmarked for affordable housing energy improvements, the agencies were able to <br />pool their resources for a total of $594,000 in grants and incentives to fund six affordable housing energy <br />improvement projects that were selected through an application process. Other projects include: <br /> <br /> An improved heating system and weatherization at an emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence <br />and their children run by Womenspace; <br /> <br /> Energy efficient windows in a 35-unit affordable housing development for individuals with mental illness; and <br /> <br /> Solar water heating systems for three, local, affordable housing developments. <br /> <br />For more information, contact Shawna Adams, Community Development Division, Shawna.l.adams@ci.eugene.or.us <br />or 541-682-5534. <br /> <br />Two Open Positions on Planning Commission <br />The City of Eugene is currently recruiting for two Planning Commission positions. This <br />seven-member body advises the City Council on land use issues, decides certain land <br />use applications and appeals, and works closely with Planning Division staff to advance <br />high priority projects in the community. In the coming year, the commission will be <br />focused on Envision Eugene recommendations, as well as ongoing land use decision- <br />making. <br />The time commitment is generally two-hour meetings, twice per month, plus evening <br />public hearings as necessary. The deadline for submitting an application is Sept. 28. <br />Applicants will be selected for interviews by the City Council, and members will be <br />appointed at a council meeting in early October. <br /> <br />All interested community members are encouraged to apply. For more information, <br />contact Terri Harding, Senior Planner, at 541-682-5635 or terri.l.harding@ci.eugene.or.us. <br /> <br />Eugene-Jinju Sister City Committee Invites Delegates for 2011 Korea Trip <br />The Eugene-Jinju Sister City Committee is seeking persons interested in joining a delegation to Jinju, Republic of <br />Korea, from Oct. 5 – 13, 2011. The eight-day visit will include tours of cultural and historic attractions in Jinju, Seoul, <br />and Gyeongju, and participants will be treated to the sights and sounds of the Jinju <br />fall festivals. Language assistance will be provided at all times during the trip <br /> <br />Jinju is located 250 miles south of Seoul, and is the cultural and educational center <br />of western Kyungnam Province. It is home to Gyeong Sang National University and <br />is a leader in bio industry and silk and silver production. Eugene and Jinju <br />established a formal sister city relationship in 1961, making it the most enduring of <br />Eugene’s sister city partnerships. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 5 <br />September 15, 2011 <br /> <br />