CC Newsletter - 08/12/04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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21 Science Factory Science Factory Mural Project 22 Soromundi: Lesbian Chorus of Eugene Soromundi Season 15 CD 23 Sponsors, Inc. The Big House Studio 24 Veselo Community Folk Dancers, Inc. 27thAnnual International Folk Dance Festival 25 Youth Visions Youth Visions Video Exhibit 26 Youth Writers Association Upstart! Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Rates Review Completed The City of Eugene sets rates for solid waste and recycling collection and performs a rate analysis every other year. In 1998, a department advisory committee determined that the hauler with the largest market share would be considered the "average hauler" and rates would be set according to the expenses reported by that hauler. Criteria in Schedule 2 of the Administrative Rule for Solid Waste and Recycling Collection are used to determine if there is a need for an increase. Based on information reported for calendar year 2003, there will not be an increase this year in either the residential or commercial rates. The rate stabilization is a result of City Council direction in 2001 to combine residential and commercial expenses for the purposes of rate calculation. There has not been an increase to residential rates since March 2001. The commercial rate increase in July 2003 was the first rate increase for that service in over a decade. If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Nancy Young at 682-6849 or nancy.a.young@ci.eugene.or, us. Land Manaqement Efforts Reduce Severity of Wildfire in West Euqene Wetlands The wildfire at Bertelsen Nature Park this past Tuesday afternoon could have been much worse had it not been for the work of the Parks and Open Space Wetlands staff over the last three weeks. Thanks to a $120,000 grant from U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), invasive blackberries, non-native pasture grasses, and reed canary grass were removed from over 80 acres of the natural area, located in the heart of Eugene's industrial corridor, off West 11th Avenue between Bailey Hill and Bertelsen roads. Part of the grant funding was specifically targeted for reducing wildfire fuel on public lands, which is being carried out in conjunction with ecosystem restoration efforts. "Had the blackberries and grass not been mowed, this fire could have been very extensive and intense," says Wetlands Supervisor Eric Wold. "Our work these past few weeks was an important factor in the Fire Department's ability to contain and extinguish the fire." Staff is enthusiastic about the prospects for restoring this area, which includes the popular Stewart Pond, and making it even more accessible to the public. Removing overgrown vegetation is the first step in restoring the native understory and managing the natural area. This process has uncovered a rich diversity of habitats at the site, including oak savanna and woodlands, upland prairie, emergent ponds, and seasonal wetlands. Both oak savanna and seasonal wetlands are threatened habitat types due to development in the region. However, as the blackberries have been mowed and cleared, staff is seeing the potential to create or restore about half of the site to oak savanna and upland prairie. The next step in the management of the site involves reseeding the area with a diversity of native upland prairie species. For more information about the fire or restoration efforts at Bertelsen Nature Park/Stewart Pond, contact Wetlands Supervisor Eric Wold at 682-4888. 08/31 T 4:00 pm JT Mayor's One-On-One Council Chamber COUNCIL BREAK: August 12 - September 7 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 August 12, 2004