08/16/12 - City Council Newsletter

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Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Friends of Buford Park and Mt. Pisgah. Together these efforts will result in the enhancement and protection of many of the important natural areas enjoyed by the community. For short-notice burn information, go to the "Willamette Valley Prescribed Fire" Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Willamette-Valley-Prescribed-Fire/222587147840368 or contact Natural Area Restoration Supervisor Trevor Taylor at trevor.h.taylor@ci.eugene.or.us or 541-682-4888. Hult Center Entrance Changes for Lobby Lighting Construction The Hult Center Lobby will be closed through late September due to construction and installation of new lighting. The ticket and administration offices remain open. The new lighting will provide energy savings and increased cost efficiencies as well as greatly improved illumination. Years of planning the lobby lighting project will culminate in capturing the excitement of the original vision of a vibrant community gathering place. To access the ticket and administration offices, patrons are being directed to use the Jacobs Gallery entrance via the stairs and wheelchair-accessible ramp access on the east side of the thth building nearest the Hilton Hotel. The entrances on 6 and 7 avenues and on the Concourse (level 3 of the parking garage) are closed during this time; signage at those entrances will direct patrons to the Jacobs Gallery entrance. For more information, please contact Libby Tower at 541-682-8380. New Eugene Park Watch Program Aims to Make Parks Safer This past spring, an interdepartmental staff team met to strategize on practical ways to reduce crime in City parks and recreational facilities, especially during the summer months when visitation to these areas is highest. From this meeting, the new Eugene Park Watch program was born. Eugene Park Watch is an exciting collaboration between the community, the police, Eugene Parks and Open Space staff, Recreation and Cultural Services staff, and other City departments. The program empowers City staff and the community to become active in reducing crime and the fear of crime through participation. Eugene Park Watch is designed to increase safety and reduce crime in Eugene’s parks, recreation facilities, and surrounding neighborhoods through these efforts:  Online reporting from the City of Eugene website and sharing of information regarding problems in parks.  Visible Eugene Police Department (EPD) patrols with sworn and non-sworn assets.  Increased presence of City staff in areas needing attention.  Public events where pro-social activities are needed to stimulate positive behavior in parks.  Increased confidence and use of Eugene’s parks and recreation facilities through continuous improvement. During the first three months of its existence, the Eugene Park Watch pilot program has focused its efforts on sending police and other resources to specific areas with both high public use and a history of illicit activities. Among them are the Willamette River corridor, the Amazon Creek corridor and several neighborhood parks. Vehicle and bike patrols have noticeably increased in these parks and staff has reported a stronger sense of security compared to past summers. For more information on the program, please contact Park Operations Manager Eric Wold at 541-682-4842 or Police Lieutenant Doug Mozan at 541-682-5164. Eugene Reuses: Used Merchandise Creates Jobs and Reduces Waste A recent report reviewing the economic impact of solid waste related industries and businesses in Eugene and Lane County, revealed that the used merchandise industry contributes $16.1 million to Eugene’s economy, and $26.1 million to Lane County’s. The study also noted that Eugene stands out for the strength of its used merchandise industry which includes used books, appliances, furniture, antiques, and clothes. According to the study, Eugene employs five times the number of people in the used merchandise industry as the rest of Oregon. Nationally, compared to the 648 counties for which data are available, Lane County has the second highest percent of total employment in the used merchandise industry, second only to St. Clair County, Alabama. While the study did not investigate why this sector of Eugene’s economy is so robust, it noted that there may be cultural factors fueling the used goods market or a community preference for environmentally friendly goods. A recent study conducted as part of the City’s Community Climate and Energy Action EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 August 16, 2012