HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/13/14 - City Council Newsletter
City of Eugene
125 East 8 Avenue, 2 Floor
thnd
Eugene, Oregon 97401
(541) 682-5010
(541) 682-5414 (FAX)
www.eugene-or.gov
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
February 13, 2014
IN THIS EDITION
WINTER STORM RESPONSE MOVES TO RECOVERY PHASE
FIREFIGHTERS VOLUNTEER AT OPPORTUNITY VILLAGE
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: “WHY AREN’T THERE MORE BLACK PEOPLE IN OREGON?”
NEARBY NATURE STEWARDS URBAN GREENSPACE
INTERNATIONAL LIVABILITY EXPERT TO GIVE TWO TALKS IN EUGENE ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20
AROUND THE CITY
Winter Storm Response Moves to Recovery Phase
The green light at the Public Works Emergency Command Center (ECC) has been turned off, but recovery from the
extensive damage caused by the early February snow and ice storm will take months.
Public Works activated its ECC at the Roosevelt Yard at 6 a.m. on Feb. 6, as snow began to fall. Several hours later, a formal
declaration of an ice-snow emergency was made. Crews had been deicing city streets for two days before the storm hit, but
the amount of snow that fell Feb. 6 and Feb. 7
buried streets in spite of round-the-clock operations
by the City’s five plows, seven sanders and two
deicing trucks.
The storm was a dynamic event, as snow turned to
sleet last Friday evening, and then to freezing rain
on Saturday. The response turned from plowing
snow to clearing downed trees and limbs that were
blocking streets, complicated by power lines
tangled up in fallen trees. Most recently, the
weather has brought wind and heavy rain.
Fortunately, the storm drainage system is working
well and only sporadic and localized flooding has
been reported, primarily in low-lying portions of
city bike paths.
By the numbers, the storm response included the
use of 555 cubic yards of traction sand and 5,750 gallons of deicer. Cost of the event is currently around $150,000, with
staff time estimated at 4,200 hours (regular and overtime). Both the cost and the staff hours will increase as the recovery
phase continues. Approximately 1,000 tree calls have been received to date; call loads peaked last Saturday, and are now in
the range of 150 calls a day – about double the normal call volume.
Currently the focus is on clearing blocked roads, abating hazardous trees and removing debris and sand from city streets.
Even though the “emergency” is over, the Incident Command System (ICS) structure is being used to manage the ongoing
event and recovery operations. Once hazard trees and limbs are on the ground, debris removal teams and sand removal
task force teams will follow and work systematically throughout the city.
For more information about the storm event and recovery operations, contact Craig Carnagey, Parks and Open Space
director, at craig.t.carnagey@ci.eugene.or.us or 541-682-4930.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
February 13, 2014
Firefighters Volunteer at Opportunity Village
When members of the Lane Professional Firefighters Association (LPFA) saw a need in the homeless community, they
decided to volunteer their time, money and skills at Opportunity Village.
On Monday, Jan. 27, firefighter/paramedics from LPFA
constructed and painted two bungalows from materials they
purchased using $1,000 donated by the union membership.
LPFA is comprised of firefighters and paramedics from Eugene
Springfield Fire Department, South Lane Fire & Rescue, Lane
Fire Authority, Western Lane Ambulance, Oakridge Fire
Department and Crescent Fire District.
Opportunity Village Eugene is located at 111 Garfield Street in
Eugene, and consists of several single room bungalows and
Conestoga-like structures that are designed to temporarily
house one to two people while they make the transition into a
more permanent home.
For more information on Opportunity Village, visit
http://www.opportunityvillageeugene.org/.
Community Conversation: “Why Aren’t There More Black People in Oregon?”
Oregon has a history not only of Black exclusion and discrimination, but also of a vibrant Black culture that helped sustain
many communities throughout the state—a history that is not taught in schools. To learn more, join author and educator
Walidah Imarisha for “Why Aren’t There More Black People in Oregon?”- a community
conversation on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m., at the Downtown Eugene Public Library.
Imarisha will lead participants through an interactive timeline of Black history in Oregon
that speaks to issues of race, identity, and power in this state and the nation. The group will
explore how history, politics, and culture have shaped—and will continue to shape—the
landscape, not only for Black Oregonians, but all Oregonians.
Walidah Imarisha has taught in Portland State University’s Black Studies Department,
where she created classes about topics as diverse as the history of the Black Panther Party,
race and the history of prisons, Hurricane Katrina, and hip hop as literature. She has
facilitated writing workshops for students in third to twelfth grade, community centers, youth detention facilities, and
women’s prisons. Imarisha also filmed and co-directed “Finding Common Ground in New Orleans,” a documentary about
Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath.
This free event is co-sponsored by the Oregon Humanities Conversation Project and the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art.
Participants will receive free museum passes to see the exhibit, “Emancipating the Past: Kara Walker’s Tales of Slavery and
Power,” at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. For more information, contact the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-5450
or www.eugene-or.gov/library.
Nearby Nature Stewards Urban Greenspace
Given life’s everyday obligations and distractions, it’s easy to
forget how valuable spending time in nature can be. The
success of Eugene Park Stewards (EPS) relies, in part, on
strong partnerships with community-based, non-profit
organizations. Together, they provide ways for all residents to
explore Eugene’s urban greenspace. EPS partners with Nearby
Nature in volunteer support and tool-sharing to foster an
appreciation of nature and ecological living. They are a model
for park adoptions, working independently, with big results
throughout the year. Whether it is with service learning or
outdoor community events, Nearby Nature is dedicated to
maximizing the outdoor experience at Alton Baker Park for the
benefit of all community members, human and otherwise.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
February 13, 2014
For more than two decades, Nearby Nature has thrived by providing a unique niche where outdoor adventure meets
science education. In Alton Baker Park, Nearby Nature organizes community litter pickup days in the park and coordinates
volunteer efforts to remove invasive species, such as English Ivy and invasive blackberry, so native plants can flourish.
Nearby Nature’s partner, Network Charter School, has spent many hours working to restore this beautiful park’s native
plants and teaching local youth an appreciation for the outdoors.
Join Nearby Nature at the next ivy pull in Alton Baker Park on Sunday, Feb. 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information,
contact Nearby Nature at 541-687-9699, info@nearbynature.org or www.nearbynature.org. For more information about
park adoptions and volunteer opportunities, contact Eugene Park Stewards North Region Volunteer Coordinator Katie
Blair-Terrazas at 541-682-4831 or katie.a.blair@ci.eugene.or.us.
International Livability Expert to Give Two Talks in Eugene on Thursday, February 20
The City of Eugene is a co-sponsor of two upcoming public presentations by international livability expert Gil Penalosa,
executive director of 8-80 Cities and former commissioner of Parks, Sport and Recreation for the City of Bogota, Colombia.
Penalosa will be the keynote speaker for the Connecting Communities event on Thursday,
Feb. 20, from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Hilton Eugene Conference Center. Information on
registering is available at Lane Transit District’s website. Connecting Communities will also
include remarks by Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, Springfield Mayor Christine Lundberg and
Land Transit District (LTD) Board President Doris Towery, a panel of local experts, and
audience participation.
On the evening of Thursday Feb. 20, Penalosa will give a public presentation as part of
University of Oregon student group LiveMove’s speaker series. The event will take place at
the Lane Community College (LCC) Downtown Campus and will have a social hour from 5
to 6 p.m., followed by Penalosa’s talk from 6 to 7 p.m.
Gil Penalosa is a champion of advocating quality of life for people of all ages, from eight to 80 (and beyond). As the
executive director of Toronto-based, non-profit 8-80 Cities, Penalosa bases his practice in a simple philosophy: Creating a
city that's good for an eight-year-old and good for an 80-year-old, creates a successful city for everyone. Penalosa is
passionate about cities for all people regardless of social, economic or ethnic background. He advises decision-makers and
communities on how to create vibrant cities and use parks and streets as great public places, as well as on sustainable
mobility.
Elements of an 8-80 City are simple:
8-80 Cities are communities built for people. They are made up of public spaces that create equal access for diverse
groups.
They nurture the need to be physically active by providing safe, accessible and enjoyable places for everyone to walk,
bike and be active as part of a daily routine.
They recognize that people are social creatures and prioritize human interaction by fostering vibrant streets and great
public places where people can rest, relax and play.
8-80 Cities encourage vibrant communities and healthy lifestyles for everyone regardless of age, gender, ability,
ethnicity or economic background.
As former commissioner of Parks, Sport and Recreation for the City of Bogota, Penalosa successfully led the design and
development of over 200 parks of which Simon Bolivar, a 360-hectare park in the heart of the city is the best known; here
he created the Summer Festival, with over 100 events in 10 days and more than three million people attending, making it
the main annual recreational and cultural event in the country and an economic engine for the city. Penalosa also led the
development of the first Ciclovia that has led to the blossoming of the Open Streets movement in the U.S., including Eugene
Sunday Streets.
For more information, please contact Transportation Planning Manager Rob Inerfeld at rob.inerfeld@ci.eugene.or.us or
541-682-5343.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
February 13, 2014