HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Newsletter - 11/02/07EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
November 2, 2007
City of Eugene
777 Pearl Street, Room 105
Eugene, Oregon 97401-2793
(541) 682-5010
(541) 682-5414 (FAX)
www.eugene-or.gov
IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION
EUGENE TAKES TOP HONORS FOR PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT
MEDICARE BUS COMES TO CAMPBELL CENTER
FIRE PREVENTION HOSTS OPEN FORUM FOR DEVELOPERS
VOLUNTEERS COME TOGETHER TO MAKE WAY FOR NEW WEST UNIVERSITY PARK
FIRE OFFICIALS PARTICIPATE IN FIREMED SYMPOSIUM
"AFTERSHOCK: HANDLING A DEVASTING DIAGNOSIS” TALK AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY
AROUND THE CITY
Eugene Takes Top Honors for Performance Measurement
The City of Eugene was awarded a Certificate of
Distinction by the International City/County Management
Association (ICMA) Center for Performance
Measurement. The Certificate of Distinction, the highest
honor the ICMA bestows for performance measurement,
recognizes Eugene for its exceptional use of performance
information in the management of local government.
“Performance management helps us increase our
effectiveness and accountability,” said City Manager pro
tem Angel Jones, who received the award at the ICMA’s
annual conference in Pittsburgh. “I’m proud to see our
work recognized.”
The award is the result of a rigorous assessment of
jurisdictions’ performance management activities using a set of best-practice-based objective criteria to
identify top performers. The City has a well-developed performance measurement system, collecting data
across 38 services, and using it to inform management decisions and report on the City’s performance.
Eugene benchmarks its performance against 229 communities through the ICMA’s Center for
Performance Measurement, using that information to look for top performers and best practices. The City
has also been working with the National Center for Civic Innovation to develop ways of making
performance information more accessible and useful to the public.
In addition to using performance measurement effectively to manage its own services, Eugene has taken
a leadership role in improving the practice of performance measurement in the region. The City co-
founded an organization that brings Oregon state and local government staff together to address key
performance management issues. Eugene helped launch a performance consortium that gives Oregon
communities access to regional comparative data for a broad range of local government services.
Additionally, the City is part of an effort that brings together government and non-profit agencies in the
Pacific Northwest and British Columbia to look for innovative ways of measuring and reporting on the
outcomes the public cares most about. The City’s performance measurement work has been highlighted
in national publications and conferences, and other communities frequently seek advice from Eugene on
how to improve their own efforts.
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November 1, 2007
Joining Eugene in receiving the Certificate of Distinction, using the ICMA’s most demanding criteria for
performance measurement, were: Bellevue, WA; Coral Springs, FL; Dallas, Texas; Fairfax County, VA;
Gainesville, FL; Henderson, NV; Long Beach, CA; Miami-Dade County, FL; Palm Coast, FL; Phoenix, AZ;
Prince William County, VA; Reno, NV; San Jose, CA; Santa Barbara, CA; Sarasota County, FL; Sterling
Heights, MI; University Place, WA; Vancouver, WA; Washoe County, NV; Westminster, CO. The
jurisdictions receiving the Certificate of Achievement, which uses less exacting selection criteria, were:
Des Moines, Iowa; Fishers, IN; Las Cruces, NM; North Las Vegas, NV; Orlando, FL; Peoria, AZ;
Sammamish, WA; Tacoma, WA.
For more information, contact Terrie Monroe at terrie.e.monroe@ci.eugene.or.us or 682-5412.
Medicare Bus Comes to Campbell Center
The “Medicare Bus” came rolling into the Campbell Community Center parking lot Thursday afternoon,
November 1. The bus is a service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is touring
America to promote the preventive benefits available to Medicare beneficiaries.
While the bus was at Campbell Center, representatives of Medicare and its health partners distributed
information on preventive benefits and provided information on how to access and use the
MyMedicare.gov website. The site helps beneficiaries track preventive services and learn about the
services they may be eligible to receive to manage their healthcare.
The bus is intended to help Medicare beneficiaries make good enrollment choices for 2008 during the
upcoming enrollment period and save money on prescription drugs (via the low income subsidy - or LIS)
for Part D. While the bus was at Campbell Center, seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries had the
opportunity for one-on-one counseling and enrollment assistance with the Part D prescription drug
benefit. For more information, call Yvaughn Tompkins, 682-5318.
Fire Prevention Hosts Open Forum for Developers
On October 29, the Fire Marshal's Office (FMO) held its semi-annual Open Forum for architects,
engineers, fire protection system designers, contractors and installers. There were 14 attendees who
elected to attend either the morning or afternoon session. The agenda included the status of the FMO "to
do" list from the last forum, what drives the FMO to request new information during plan review, fire
protection engineering, existing building requirements, site review process, emergency generators, and
general discussion. The exchange of information and opportunity for attendees to share their perspective
on needed process improvements was substantive, respectful, and insightful. For more information,
please contact Fire Marshal Mike Thrapp at 682-8360.
Volunteers Come Together to Make Way for New West University Park
On Saturday, October 20, volunteers spent the day
fencing off West University Park to get it ready for new
park construction that will begin in summer 2008.
Volunteers included students from Design Bridge at
the University of Oregon, cooperative housing
residents, and the City of Eugene Volunteers in Parks
Program (VIP).
VIP organizes volunteers to work on projects to
enhance parks and natural areas by constructing
trails, removing invasive species, and revitalizing
parks. For more information please contact VIP
Coordinator Lorna Baldwin at 682-4845 or
lorna.j.baldwin@ci.eugene.or.us.
Fire Officials Participate in FireMed Symposium
Fire & EMS Chief Randy Groves and Deputy Chief of Administration Denise Giard served as faculty
members at the 2007 FireMed Symposium, "Focus on Survival," at Lane Community College last week.
About 65 emergency medical service professionals from throughout Oregon participated in sessions
including "The Medicare/Medicaid Challenge," "Strengthening Memberships through Strategic
Partnerships," and a panel discussion moderated by Chief Giard, "Overcoming the Obstacles."
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November 1, 2007
Steep reductions in Medicare reimbursement levels are threatening the future financial stability of
ambulance service providers across the United States. The symposium was an opportunity for staff
representing ground and air ambulance agencies to understand the challenge and explore possible
solutions. For more information, please contact Deputy Chief Denise Giard at 682-7111.
"AfterShock: Handling a Devastating Diagnosis" Talk at Eugene Public Library
Jessie Gruman, Ph.D., director of the Center for the Advancement of Health, visits from Washington, D.C.
to talk about her book AfterShock: What to Do When the Doctor Gives You - or Someone You Love - a
Devastating Diagnosis.The free talk is Saturday, November 3, 3:00 p.m., at Eugene Public Library,
Downtown. In addition to her professional expertise, Dr. Gruman is herself a survivor of serious illnesses
including cancer.
Gruman's work addresses both the emotional and practical challenges of coping with a frightening
diagnosis, including learning about the condition and treatments, finding the right doctors, deciding how to
involve family and friends, negotiating the health care system, handling demands at work and home, and
dealing with insurance and finances.
AfterShock provides supportive guidance grounded in solid research to help
people handle these tasks during those first overwhelming days and weeks.
“Receiving a life-altering diagnosis can cause tremendous emotional and
spiritual upheaval -- but you still have to figure out the mundane details of
getting the care you need and arranging your life to accommodate this new
reality," Gruman explains.
She also shares advice and insights drawn from scores of interviews with
patients, family members, friends, doctors, nurses, clergy, social workers,
psychiatrists, psychologists, insurance administrators, clinic staff, and
employers.
AfterShock has received praise from medical leaders such as David Nathan,
MD, president emeritus of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Harold
Varmus, MD, president and CEO of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Dr. Gruman’s work has also been widely reported on by the national media. According to Tom Brokaw of
NBC News, “The plain language and easy-to-follow instructions make this a ‘must have’ for every family,
healthy or otherwise.” Jane E. Brody, The New York Times Personal Health columnist, writes “I consider
this book so valuable, I plan to keep it on my bedside table should I need it later on.”
Books for purchase and signing provided by the University of Oregon Bookstore. For more information,
contact the Eugene Public Library at 682-5450, or www.eugene-or.gov/library
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