HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/25/16 - City Council Newsletter
City of Eugene
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Eugene, Oregon 97401
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www.eugene-or.gov
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
February 25, 2016
IN THIS EDITION
CITY OF EUGENE FEATURED IN OPPORTUNITY@WORK VIDEO
COMMUNITY ARTS GRANT PROGRAM FUNDED BY CITY OF EUGENE CULTURAL SERVICES
NEW LOOK AT LTD ROUTES DRIVES PUBLIC CONVERSATION
AROUND THE CITY
City of Eugene Featured in Opportunity@Work Video
The City of Eugene was featured in a video showcasing the new Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation
(NEDCO) Opportunity@Work program which was shown at the 2016 United Way Community Celebration. The
Opportunity@Work program, a workplace-based financial literacy program, was offered to City employees and their
spouses or partners last fall as part of NEDCO’s pilot program, and was a tremendous success.
The program covered savings, debt, credit, long-term financial planning, and included one-on-one financial counseling.
A NEDCO Financial Fitness training was also included in last year’s City Manager’s Activity Challenge. The
Opportunity@Work program was made possible by a grant from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
Investor Education Foundation through a partnership with United Way Worldwide.
For more information, contact Myrnie Daut, Central Services Department, at 541-682-5790.
Community Arts Grant Program Funded by City of Eugene Cultural Services
The Community Arts Grant is seeking applications through May 6, for accessible, affordable and inclusive projects for
local communities with limited exposure to the arts due to ethnicity, economics or disability. The grant program is
funded by the City of Eugene Cultural Services Division and administered by Lane Arts Council. More than $50,000 will
be awarded this year.
“We are grateful for the City of Eugene’s ongoing investment in the arts. These projects make Eugene a creative and
dynamic place to live,” says Liora Sponko, executive director of Lane Arts Council.
The Community Arts Grant recognizes the expanding role that the arts play in the broader, cultural, social, educational
and economic areas of community life. Grant funding will help to ensure diverse and accessible arts opportunities and
experiences for Eugene artists, audiences and participants.
Competitive applications include partnerships between arts organizations and community-based organizations that
strengthen communities by connecting arts with local issues and opportunities. Project strategies may include events or
programs that highlight the art and culture of a community, events or programs that give under-served artists increased
outlets to promote their work, and programs that serve and provide access to under-served and under-represented
communities.
For complete details and application materials, visit http://lanearts.org/community-arts-grants/.
New Look at LTD Routes Drives Public Conversation
Lane Transit District (LTD) staff is currently engaged in a robust outreach effort to gather input on how proposed
service changes will affect bus riders, operations and the community as a whole. Part of delivering high-quality service
is a process in which routes are evaluated for efficiency and effectiveness on a yearly basis. Input from riders, bus
operators, and the general public, plays a critical role in developing a proposal that improves the system for everyone.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
February 25, 2016
In previous years, the feedback has resulted in more frequent service, rural service additions, increased hours of
service, and a pilot Eugene Airport Connector service.
LTD staff will continue to collect and evaluate the information received through tabling events, onboard surveys, and an
electronic survey available on the LTD website through the end of February. It can also be found at
https://www.ltd.org/annual-route-review. A public hearing will be held on Mar. 16, in conjunction with a regularly
scheduled LTD Board meeting at 5:30 p.m., in the Bascom-Tykeson Room in the Eugene Public Library. A final
recommendation will be presented to the LTD Board of Directors for adoption on Apr. 20.
LTD’s Service Planning staff developed a proposal with consideration of the long-range vision, goals, and plans of LTD
and the community. LTD staff specifically designed this service package to improve service for their existing passengers
and to make service more attractive for potential users. The concepts will simplify service, create new connections, and
provide more travel options that will enhance the already high level of service that LTD delivers every day. Below is a
summary of concepts that are being proposed:
More Trips, More Often: LTD staff have several proposals that would improve frequency along key corridors in the
network and fill in service gaps of several urban routes. For example, most of River Road would have 15-minute
service to downtown via Routes 51 and 52 and Coburg Road would have 15-minute service via routes 66 and 67.
Sunday Service: LTD staff developed service proposals that would improve service on Sundays, which is currently
limited and varies drastically from Saturday and weekday service.
Improve Connectivity: LTD staff has proposed to restructure routes in a way that increases connectivity and
expands system coverage.
Each weekday, LTD boards nearly 40,000 passengers on its buses.
For more information, please contact City of Eugene Transportation Planning Manager Rob Inerfeld at 651-682-5343 or
rob.inerfeld@ci.eugene.or.us or LTD Service Planner Tim Simon at 541-682-6194 or Tim.Simon@ltd.org.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
February 25, 2016