02/21/13 - City Council Newsletter

Home Browse Search

South Willamette Street Alternatives Topic of February 27 Meeting A community forum to evaluate a series of options for redesigning Willamette Street from 24th to 32nd streets will be held Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the South Eugene High School cafeteria, 400 East 19th Avenue. Participants are encouraged to RSVP by calling 541-682-8472 or e-mailing chris.c.henry@ci.eugene.or.us. At the meeting, a project team of City of Eugene staff and consultants will show graphic designs of various alternatives and gather input on specific design alternatives. The presentation will include evaluations of how each alternative affects motor vehicle mobility, business access, sidewalks, bicycle facilities and transit service. The results from this meeting will be used to help the project team narrow the alternatives for future analysis. The public engagement phase of the South Willamette Street improvement plan began last November with two well-attended community forums held to discuss project goals, share the results of traffic studies and begin to explore alternatives for future improvements to the design and condition of Willamette Street between 24th and 32nd avenues. The goal of the study is to help South Willamette Street become a vibrant urban corridor accessible by bicycle, foot, car, and bus. Today, Willamette Street is heavily used to reach many popular destinations, yet it is uninviting to pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders and motorists alike. For years, many residents and business owners have shared complaints about the poor conditions on Willamette Street for walking and biking and the need to do Graphic designs will show various something about it. design alternatives. The plan aims to support existing businesses and the commercial district’s vitality by creating a balanced multi-modal transportation system. It also is intended to further City planning efforts to identify compact growth and redevelopment opportunities and foster a well-informed and involved community supportive of the final outcomes. For more information, contact Transportation Planning Engineer Chris Henry at 541-682-8472 or chris.c.henry@ci.eugene.or.us,or visit the project web site at www.eugene-or.gov/SWillametteStreet. The web site includes links to summaries of last November’s public outreach. Black History Month Play Performed by and for Children at Public Library The Downtown Eugene Public Library will host a free Black History Month play performed by and for children on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 10:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The students of Drinking Gourd Elementary School, ages five through nine, will perform and bring young children in the audience onstage to participate in the play. This year’s play will tell the story of American athlete and Olympian Wilma Rudolph. Considered the fastest woman in the world at the time, she was the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field during a single Olympic Games. For more information, contact the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-8316 or www.eugene-or.gov/library. American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Offered The Aquatics Program is offering training sessions this spring for individuals age 15 and older who are interested in working as a lifeguard. The 40-hour course teaches students to recognize and rescue a person in distress or a drowning situation, and other professional lifeguard responsibilities. The course includes practice and review of lifeguard skills. The City Aquatics Program hires many graduates of this course as lifeguards over the summer months. The training is at Echo Hollow Pool & Fitness Center, 1655 Echo Hollow Road, March 25 - 29, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; April 29 - May 10, 4 - 8 p.m., and May 13 - 24, 4 - 8 p.m. For more information, call Gayle Hein at 541-682-5525. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 February 21, 2013