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Home My WebLink About10/15/15 - 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 October 15, 2015 IN THIS EDITION “WILLAMETTE TO WILLAMETTE” SEEKS INPUT ON CONNECTING DOWNTOWN TO RIVER ON 8TH SQUAD CAR MAINTENANCE TEAM HONORED WITH GOVERNOR’S VOLUNTEER AWARD FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR MAYOR’S BOLD STEPS AWARD 7TH ANNUAL HOUSING PROCLAMATION AND GRAND OPENING OF BASCOM VILLAGE PHASE I AROUND THE CITY “Willamette to Willamette” Seeks Input on Connecting Downtown to River on 8 th Eugene’s Willamette Street is a mere half-mile from its namesake the Willamette River. In fact, much of Eugene’s history and identity have long been shaped by these important and closely linked landmarks. The Willamette to Willamette (W2W) project aims to make the connection between Eugene’s downtown and the Willamette River even clearer along one of Eugene’s “great streets” – 8 Avenue. A great street can be as much a th destination as a path. By integrating public art and local history, 8 Avenue can become an inviting, beautiful and walkable th promenade to the river. The project is seeking community input to make this vision for 8 th Avenue a reality and create a high quality public street to complement all of the growing energy along this avenue. The City of Eugene wants to know what key elements will help make the link from Willamette to Willamette, and make 8 Avenue a th truly “great street” – a place people want to visit and enjoy. A brief online survey is now available on the project’s website, www.eugene-or.gov/w2w. Over the last several weeks, staff members have been sharing information about the project and collecting input in person at local businesses and the Saturday Market. In addition to the survey, community members are invited to participate in a fun and informative Willamette to Willamette scavenger hunt. Those who complete both the survey and scavenger hunt can enter a drawing to win a river raft float trip for six on the Willamette River offered by the City of Eugene River House Outdoor Program. The survey and scavenger hunt will be open until Nov. 16. A summary of the survey results and collected input will be posted on the website in early December. To learn more about the W2W project, visit www.eugene-or.gov/w2w, where there is also a historic walking tour brochure with information about the history of Eugene along 8 Avenue. For more th information, contact Will Dowdy at 541-682-5561or will.g.dowdy@ci.eugene.or.us. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 October 15, 2015 Squad Car Maintenance Team Honored with Governor’s Volunteer Award The Eugene Police Department’s volunteer Squad Car Maintenance Team (SCMT) was honored this week as Regional Winner of the 2015 Governor’s Volunteer Awards for Community Based Volunteer Programs. The team was recognized at an awards luncheon at the Salem Conference Center on Monday, Oct. 12. The SCMT is an invaluable asset to the EPD. The team members are positive, energetic and willing to take on any task, even those outside their normal duties. Since 2004, the SCMT has contributed over 44,000 hours of service. Forty-six percent of the current volunteers have served on the team for more than seven years. The SCMT operates as a self-sufficient, well- oiled machine. The volunteers wrote their own training manual, developed forms, and even designed a database for their tracking purposes. Seasoned volunteers take responsibility for training new volunteers. The volunteers suggest agenda items and take the lead in presenting the material at team meetings. They take the initiative to improve processes, always with the goal of keeping police cars clean, well equipped, organized and functioning well. Volunteer Cliff Flesch, who has served on the SCMT since its formation, said, “The members of the Squad Car Maintenance Team are dedicated to providing the utmost service in order to assist the men and women of the Eugene Police Department. It is always appreciated when we receive recognition for our hard work. Our patrol officers let us know daily how much they appreciate what we do. Having this award presented by the Governor’s office tells us that others also value our service, and increases our sense of pride in our team and our work, and we wish to thank all involved in making this award possible.” Opportunities for citizens to join the Volunteers in Policing Program exist in a variety of areas of the department. For more information, visit www.eugene-or.gov/policevolunteers or contact Program Manager Carrie Chouinard at 541.682.5355 or carrie.f.chouinard@ci.eugene.or.us. Finalists Announced for Mayor’s Bold Steps Award Three Eugene businesses have been named finalists for the 2016 Mayor’s Bold Steps Award - Essex General Construction, Mountain Rose Herbs, and PIVOT Architecture. About the finalists:  Essex General Construction is a forward-thinking, sustainability-focused general contractor specializing in mid-sized, complex commercial projects in Oregon and Washington; some of their most recent projects include constructing new schools in the Bethel School District as well as the Eugene Airport expansion.  Mountain Rose Herbs is a “Fair for Life” certified company that is guided by the principle “People and Planet before Profit.” They operate a zero waste and salmon safe-certified facility, in addition to having many other sustainable practices.  PIVOT Architecture is a full-service firm that specializes in inspired architecture, planning, and interior design. In addition to certifying their office as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) “Platinum” level certification, their employees have contributed over 15,000 hours to professional organizations and community service. The Bold Steps Award recognizes Eugene-based sustainable businesses and represents a partnership between the City of Eugene, Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, and BRING’s RE:think Business program. The 2016 winner will be announced on Jan. 6 at the Mayor’s State of the City address held at the Hult Center. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. For more information, please visit www.eugene-or.gov/boldsteps or contact Stephanie Scafa at 541-682-5652. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 October 15, 2015 7th Annual Housing Proclamation and Grand Opening of Bascom Village Phase I Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 10 a.m., the 7th Annual Housing Proclamation for Lane County will be held at the site of the newly completed Bascom Village Phase I development. Mayor Kitty Piercy will read the Housing America Proclamation, which is part of a national campaign to recognize the importance of a home, increase housing opportunity and eliminate disparity. Together, Lane County housing partners will acknowledge the need for affordable housing and honor the partnerships and collaborations that work together to address housing needs in the community. Terry McDonald and St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) are excited to host this event at the grand opening of their newest housing development. Bascom Village Phase I is a 53-unit, affordable family housing development located at Park View Drive and Matt Drive in northeast Eugene. The City of Eugene provided the land and development assistance including $410,274 in HOME funds, $750,000 in an interim construction loan, infrastructure funds to extend water and electric on Matt Drive, systems development charge exemptions, and a 20-year low-income rental housing property tax exemption. The affordable homes will target very-low-income households earning at, or below, 50 percent of the area median income. The development also has an Earth Advantage Certification for green building and sustainable design features which will help keep utility costs low for residents. Bascom Village includes a community garden, a community building with laundry facilities, a secure bike storage building, and a large playground. The development will also provide services for residents to help strengthen community connections, support youth, and build skills and resources. Phase II of Bascom Village, developed by the Housing and Community Services Agency (HACSA), broke ground in September. The additional 48-unit housing development is expected to be complete in October 2016. Please join SVDP, project partners, and elected officials, on Oct. 20, to celebrate affordable housing in the community. For more information, contact Ellen Meyi-Galloway at 541-682-5532. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 October 15, 2015