HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-23-15 - 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
April 23, 2015
IN THIS EDITION
HIKING TALKS AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARIES
NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS HEALTHY PRODUCT CHOICES, PET-FRIENDLY GARDENS
CITY LAUNCHES ONLINE BUILDING PLAN REVIEW AND PERMITTING
CITY OF EUGENE PARK AMBASSADOR PROGRAM LAUNCHED
AROUND THE CITY
Hiking Talks at Eugene Public Libraries
Coming up at the Downtown Eugene Public Library, the Library will host two illustrated
talks about the great Oregon outdoors.
On Wednesday, Apr. 22, at 6 p.m., join hiking guru William Sullivan for a "slide show tour"
about new trails he discovered while researching the third edition of his book "100
Hikes/Travel Guide: Eastern Oregon." Discover a colorful badlands on the Owyhee River, a
wilderness with cactus flowers on the John Day, and a viewpoint hike to a ranch at the east
end of the Columbia Gorge - plus a half-dozen little-known hot springs. As always, Sullivan
spices his illustrated talk with notes on the geology, wildlife, and history of the land.
Writer and photographer Adam Sawyer will focus on "Hiking Waterfalls in Oregon," on
Saturday, May 2, at 3 p.m., based on his guidebook of the same name. His informative and
humorous presentation of some of the state's most beautiful spots is "intended to entertain
and inspire everyone to get out and explore in all seasons." Some of the featured waterfalls
are remote while others are just a short hike from the trailhead. Some are gentle trickles and
others are roaring giants. "Yet all of them," Sawyer points out, "offer a peaceful escape and
are worth seeking out."
Admission is free. For more information, please contact the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-5450 or www.eugene-
or.gov/library.
Newsletter Highlights Healthy Product Choices, Pet-Friendly Gardens
Selecting products that are safe for people and the environment can be a daunting task. The current issue of Clean Water
Connections points readers to two prominent organizations – the American Association of Poison Control Centers and the
National Pesticide Information Center – that have teamed up to focus
on pesticide education and safety . A quick guide for understanding
signal words on product labels provides tips for safe use in homes and
storage areas.
A pet-friendly garden article provides recommendations for plant
choices that are safe for dogs and cats, considerations for landscape
design and an emergency phone number – just in case. Some vegetables
and flowers such as onions, lilies, and foxglove can present danger to
pets, while others like wheat grass and rose hips are good for pets.
Read about a restoration project for Amazon Creek that has helped
stabilize eroding creek banks. Large boulders, sloping banks and over
14,000 native plants now work together along the creek to provide flood protection and an active wildlife habitat. Other
informative topics include safer controls for slugs, a sustainable landscaping workshop for homeowners, and thoughtful
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
April 24, 2015
steps to a healthy yard. Find out more about two upcoming events in May – Bark in the Park on May 16 and Public Works
Day on May 21.
The focus of the Clean Water Connections is educating and informing community members about stormwater pollution and
ways to protect the local waterways. Articles typically address seasonal or current issues and include one page of interest
for younger residents.
Copies of the newsletter are now available electronically at www.eugene-or.gov/happyrivers. Eugene residents can also
expect to receive the newsletter in the mail next week. Those interested in receiving the short monthly e-newsletter,
Raindrop to River, can subscribe in the Stay Connected section of the City’s website. For more information, contact Public
Information Specialist Kathy Eva, Stormwater Management Program, at 541-682-2739 or Kathy.a.eva@ci.eugene.or.us.
City Launches Online Building Plan Review and Permitting
The City of Eugene is launching eBuild, a new online plan review and permitting program that allows customers to submit
their plans electronically to be reviewed and approved online. The new online system will save customers time and money
with fewer trips to the Permit and Information Center, reduced printing
costs, and increased efficiency.
eBuild is an internet-based plan review system developed by the City of
Eugene that allows customers to:
Submit building permit applications and construction documents
electronically;
View plan review and inspection results online in real time;
Pay permit fees online; and
Schedule inspections for projects once they are ready.
Two open house events to introduce people to eBuild, answer questions
and provide tips on using the program, will be held this month. The open
house sessions will be on Apr. 30 in the Sloat Conference Room of the Atrium Building at 99 West 10th Avenue. The first
session will be from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., and another will be held from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. The sessions are free and open
to anyone who wants to learn more about eBuild. Local architects, contractors, engineers, and designers are encouraged to
attend.
The use of online technology aligns with Eugene’s on-going efforts to support local businesses by providing easy,
streamlined access to City services. Providing quicker and easier access to building services also promotes the safety,
livability, and economic vitality of the community. Learn more at www.eugene-or.gov/eBuild.
City of Eugene Park Ambassador Program Launched
The Parks and Open Space Division is launching a park ambassador pilot program focused on creating a welcoming user
experience in Eugene’s most visited park area: the over 700-acre riverfront park system which features 12 miles of paved
path, four miles of running trails, the RiverPlay destination
playground, the Cuthbert Amphitheater and much more. Situated
next to the system is the new WJ Skatepark + Urban Plaza, which is
drawing all ages and offers a variety of outdoor sports.
Park ambassadors will help enrich the experience of park users by
providing information around park amenities, recreational
activities, history, rentals, rules, hours and more. In addition, they
will help park staff identify and mitigate hazardous conditions and
provide social service information to park patrons as needed. The
two ambassadors will work together Wednesday through Sunday
from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. They will cover the riverfront corridor from
Maurie Jacobs Park to the I-5 bridge, as well as the WJ Skatepark.
The pilot program will run Jun. 1 through Sept. 8, and
complements the three-year-old park watch program in the goal of creating a welcoming and safe park environment for
park users. For more information, please contact Parks and Open Space Marketing and Outreach Manager Kelly Darnell at
kelly.a.darnell@ci.eugene.or.us or 541-682-4901.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
April 24, 2015