HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Newsletter - 10/28/04EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
October 28, 2004
City of Eugene
777 Pearl Street, Room 105
Eugene, Oregon 97401-2793
(541) 682-5010
(541) 682-5414 (FAX)
www.ci.eugene.or.us
EUGENE POLICE DEPARTMENT WINS NATIONAL A WARD
AMAZON POOL BEST PLACE TO HANG OUT WITH KIDS
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER WORKSHOP
FLEET SHOP ACHIEVES ASE 'BLUE SEAL' CERTIFICATION
STATE PANEL A WARDS GRANT FUNDS FOR TEN PEDESTRIAN ISLANDS IN EUGENE
THE PRODUCERS COMING TO THE HUL T CENTER
EUGENE'S FALL LEAF PROGRAM BEGINS NOVEMBER 1
AMAZON APPRECIATION DA Y DRAWS ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD
EUGENE RANKS HIGH IN PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT
Eugene Police Department Wins National Award
The Eugene Police Department was selected as a National Award Winner
for its outstanding participation in the "21st Annual National Night Out"
(NNO) crime, drug and violence prevention program, for cities with a
population of 100,000 to 299,000.
EPD partnered with Library, Recreation and Cultural Services at the
Multicultural Festival, Neighborhood Watch groups, and with local
business to promote the theme of "Give Neighborhood Crime and Drugs a
Going Away Party!" Police K9 and Motor officers also attended gatherings
at apartments in the Bethel area, a bicycle safety rodeo, and a free ice
cream event at Whiteaker. The 22nd Annual NNO will be August 2, 2005, when it will continue working
with established partners, as well as address specific neighborhood problems. For further information,
please contact Norman Babcock, Eugene Police Department, 682-5858.
Amazon Pool Best Place to Hang Out with Kids
According to the Eugene Weekly's (EW) yearly "Best Of Eugene" issue,
Amazon Pool wins again! It was named as the "Best Place to Hang Out
with the Kids" in Eugene.
In detailing this award, the EW states: "Is there anything better than a
slide into water to occupy the kids for endless hours? On the very rare
occasion that the sun comes out in Eugene, this place is packed with
families. Screaming kids, lounging parents, sound like paradise? It is --
at least, that's what you all say. So next time the sun is ready to shine,
you know where to find the fun." Another great option is Alton Baker
Park -- the 2nd "Best Place" winner. For more information, contact Aquatics Manager Doug Smith at
682-6354.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
October 28, 2004
Neighborhood Association Newsletter Workshop
On Saturday, October 23, twenty-two neighborhood newsletter editors, leaders, and volunteers from
fourteen neighborhood associations gathered to share their knowledge. The workshop was a
collaboration between the City's Neighborhood Services and Eugene Neighbors Inc. (ENI), a local non-
profit formed to support neighborhood groups. ENI members focused on all the work that goes on to
produce a newsletter before it reaches the City, the ins and outs of publishing your own newsletter, and
various delivery systems. Steve Norris, Neighborhood Liaison, explained in detail the various print
options and processes and City guidelines, procedures, and funding. All in all, a lot of information to
share in three hours! For more information on ENI, contact its chair, Jon Belcher at 343-6695 or via e-
mail (jbelcher@efn.org). For information on the City's Neighborhood Associations, contact Steve Norris,
Planning and Development, 682-5009 (steve.d.norris@ci.eu.qene.or.us).
Fleet Shop Achieves ASE 'Blue Seal' Certification
Fleet and Radio Communication Services, a section within Public Works
Maintenance, continues to excel in achieving technician and shop
certifications. In the January 16, 2004, Eugene City Council Newsletter, it
was reported that the Radio Shop had received organizational certification --'~ ~ c~
from NARTE (National Association of Radio and Telecommunications
Engineers). The other half of this section, the Fleet Shop, has now achieved
the highest credential awarded by the National Institute for Automotive
Service Excellence (ASE), the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence. This "~'~ ""~" ?~"'""~' ~'¢'~:~'""~ '~'"" '%~' '~'~'~" .....
recognition requires that 75% of fleet technicians be individually ASE-certified, and that there is at least
one ASE-certified technician in each area of service offered in the shop. Blue Seal certification
credentials must remain current and are reviewed annually by ASE.
ASE is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of vehicle repair and service by means
of testing and certification for automotive repair and service professionals. Achieving individual ASE
Fleet technician certification is currently voluntary, but is an important part of the overall team effort to
further the professional credentials of the entire section. With both the Fleet and Radio shops now
organizationally certified by leaders in their respective industries, this section has risen to meet this
particular challenge, and will continue to go the extra mile in support of City customers.
The City of Eugene's Fleet Shop is one of only four municipalities within the 67 businesses in Oregon to
achieve ASE's Blue Seal status. For more information about this section's recent accomplishments,
contact Fleet and Radio Communication Services Manager Carlos Davis at 682-4800 or by email at
carlos.a.davis@ci.eugene.or.us.
State Panel Awards Grant Funds for Ten Pedestrian Islands in Eugene
Public Works Engineering received word that a grant for 10
pedestrian refuge islands has been awarded to the City of Eugene
by the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. The
proposal was to provide safer pedestrian access to bus stops for
those who must cross busy streets in Eugene. The islands would
offer a refuge at the center of a street so bus riders can wait for a gap
in traffic one direction at a time. The total grant amount was
$156,265, including a local match of $31,254 to be shared equally by
the City of Eugene and Lane Transit District. Funds will be available
beginning in July 2005.
Criteria for selecting the sites for the islands included access to a bus
stop, relatively high traffic volumes and speeds, high density
residential or employment centers nearby, and high transit use on the
corridor. Constraints to siting islands included driveways, street
intersections that needed a dedicated left turn lane, and lack of a center turn lane in which to install the
island. Sites chosen include River Road at Owosso and Knoop Lane, two locations on Country Club
Road, Goodpasture Island Road at Wimbledon Court and Alexander, Roosevelt Boulevard at Bethel
Drive, 1st Avenue at Monroe Street, Jefferson Street at 21st Avenue, and 19th Avenue at Mill Street. For
more information, contact Diane Bishop, bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, at 682-5471.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
October 28, 2004
The Producers Comin.q to the Hult Center
Experience Broadway without getting on a plane, and see the biggest Tony Award winner in Broadway
history when The Producers opens at the Hult on November 9 for eight stellar performances.
The show is based on Mol Brooks' Academy Award-winning 1968 film
starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, and is directed and
choreographed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (Crazy
for You, Contact, The Music Man). This grand production cost $8
million to mount and has a crew and cast of 50 with eight semi-trucks
of sets and lights, 400 costumes, 130 wigs, a 24 piece orchestra, 40
tap shoes, 22 Hitler moustaches, and one trick sausage.
The musical comedy is the story of two men's scare to create a sure-
fire Broadway flop and pocket investors' money, but the would-be flop
"Spring-time for Hitler" becomes a hit. Mayhem ensues, and
everything you heard is true! "The Producers is the funniest, most
fearlessly irreverent thing ever seen on stage and Mol Brooks has put
the comedy back into musical comedy" (USA Today). The New York
Times raves "The Producers is a blissful spectacle that will leave you
delirious."
This is a rare opportunity to see one of the greatest Broadway hits ever in our own back yard. Show
times are as follows:
· 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 9 through Saturday, November 13
· 2 p.m. Thursday, November 11; Saturday, November 13; Sunday, November 14
The production contains mature themes and language. For more information, contact the Hult Center
Ticket Office at (541) 682-5000.
Eu.qene's Fall Leaf Pro.qram Be.qins November 1
Eugene's annual leaf program begins November 1 offering residents a
variety of options for dealing with fall leaf accumulations. The
program, which has been available to Eugene residents since the late
1960s, was originally implemented to prevent street flooding caused
by clogged gutters and catch basins. Keeping leaves out of the RAKE
stormwater drainage system also improves water quality because
decomposing leaves use up oxygen that is needed by aquatic life in
local streams and rivers.
While the program continues to offer traditional leaf pickup service, it
also encourages residents to consider reusing and recycling their
leaves. The leaves collected by the City are reused by delivering
them upon request to residents and to the City's community gardens
and community groups such as Food for Lane County. Leaves that
aren't delivered are recycled as compost material. None of the leaves collected by the City are taken to
public landfills. A flyer offering detailed schedule information has been included in today's council packet.
For more information about the leaf program, contact Tony Jobanek at Public Works Maintenance, 682-
4800, or call the program's hotline at 682-5383.
Amazon Appreciation Day
On Saturday, October 23, nearly 100 community members, including many elementary and high school
students, gathered to contribute their collective energy to enhancing Eugene's own Amazon Creek at the
13th annual Amazon Appreciation Day. Co-sponsored by Eugene Stream Team and Eugene Weekly,
the event mobilized volunteers from age 3 to 73 to plant native plants, remove invasive species, pick up
trash, build trails, and learn more about Eugene's amazing Amazon Creek, from its headwaters at the
base of Spencer Butte all the way out to the West Eugene Wetlands. Sites such as the butterfly meadow
at 39th and East Amazon, the wetland mitigation site behind Amazon Pool, the Camas Trail next to the
Amazon Park skatepark, the creek banks behind Chavez School and the Fairgrounds, the Gudu-Kut
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
October 28, 2004
wetlands at 14th and City View, and the widened stretch of Amazon Creek between Oakpatch Road and
Acorn Park Street all received special attention. Invasive plants were removed at several sites, but
mostly volunteers concentrated on planting more than 750 native trees, shrubs and forbs, all of which
were grown at Stream Team's volunteer-run Native Plant Nursery. In addition, volunteers donned waders
to cut and plug willow whips along the creek where the banks were bare with the hope of providing shade
to the stream in years to come. Eugene Weekly's comfort booth was set up at Oakpatch Road and
provided those participants with bagels and coffee.
Stream Team Coordinator Lorna Baldwin was delighted that entire families participated in the event.
"Some families have attended every year since we began Amazon Appreciation Day," says Baldwin. "All
of us worked together to improve the health or our urban watershed and strengthen the community at the
same time."
For early risers, Audubon expert Steve Gordon led a bird walk along the creek at 7:30 a.m. Volunteers
started work at 9 a.m., and lunch and door prizes commenced at noon at the Hilyard Center. More than
60 people returned to enjoy pizza donated by Track Town and salad donated by Sundance. Participants
enjoyed camaraderie and conversation as well as an address from County Commissioner Peter
Sorenson. For more information, call Lorna Baldwin at 682-4850 or e-mail
Iorna.j.baldwin@ci.eugene.or.us.
Eu,clene Ranks Hi,clh in Performance Measurement
The City of Eugene was one of a select group of communities
awarded a Certificate of Distinction by the International City/County
Management Association (ICMA) Center for Performance
Measurement for its exceptional use of performance information in the
management of local government.
"Performance measurement guides us in making sound decisions and
improves the way we serve the community," said City Manager Dennis
Taylor, who received the award at the ICMA's annual conference in
San Diego. "It's gratifying to see Eugene recognized as a leader."
The City has a well-developed performance measurement system,
collecting data across thirty-eight services, and using it to inform
management decisions and report the City's performance to the
public. Eugene also benchmarks its performance against more than
100 other jurisdictions through the ICMA's Center for Performance
Measurement, and recently received a "Trailblazer" grant from the City Manager Dennis Taylor
receives award from ICMA
National Center for Civic Innovation to make its performance Executive Director Robert O'Neill
information more accessible and useful to the public.
Joining Eugene in receiving the Certificate of Distinction, the top honor
in the ICMA's certificate program, were Austin, Tex.; Bellevue, Lynnwood, and Vancouver, Wash.;
Coral Springs and Miami-Dade County, Fla.; Fairfax County and Prince William County, Va.;
Hamilton County, Ohio; Las Vegas and Reno, Nev.; Phoenix and Safford, Ariz.; San Jose and Santa
Barbara County, Calif.; and Westminster, Colo. The jurisdictions receiving the Certificate of
Achievement were: Bryan and Pearland, Tex.; Henderson, Nev.; Mount Lebanon, Pa.; Orlando, Palm
Coast, and Sarasota County, Fla.; and Richmond, Va. For more information, contact Service
Improvement Manager Terrie Monroe at 682-5412 or terrie.e.monroe@ci.eugene.or.us.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4
October 28, 2004