HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/03/08 City Council NewsletterEUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
January 3, 2008
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
NEW YEAR'S EVE INSPECTIONS YIELD POSITIVE RESULTS
DOWNTOWN LIBRARY PARTY: CELEBRATE FIVE YEARS
FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS LEND A HELPING HAND TO TOYS FOR TOTS CAMPAIGN
GREEN WRITERS AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY
AROUND THE CITY
New Year’s Eve Inspections Yield Positive Results
It was another safe year for Eugene nightclub partygoers on New Year's Eve, and, as the saying goes,
this was no accident. Deputy fire marshals and line fire crews again conducted inspections -- both during
December and on the big night itself -- of about 30 night spots around town to help educate proprietors
regarding fire and life safety codes and, as necessary, to abate violations.
During the pre-holiday inspections, common violations found included burned-out exit signs, non-
compliant exiting hardware, fire protection systems overdue for servicing, and the use of non-compliant
temporary electrical cords. The evening inspections focused on safety issues such as overcrowding,
clear paths to exits, unlocked doors, and proper candle usage. Among on-the-spot abatements, fire
marshals required one establishment to post a security guard at a door that required too much force to
open, and also addressed three cases of improper candle use (candles failed to return upright from a 45-
degree angle). Reports from inspection personnel were uniformly positive: business owners and
managers, as well as patrons, generally expressed appreciation for the service and were pleased to have
the Fire & EMS Department's assistance in providing safe party venues. For more information, please
contact Assistant Fire Marshal Doug Perry at 682-5887.
Downtown Library pARTy: Celebrate Five Years
Join the "pARTy" on First Friday, January 4, and celebrate
five years in the new Downtown Library!
The First Friday ArtWalk starts at 5 p.m. with local artist
John Rose, the creator of the new stained glass window, on
hand to answer questions. His beautiful design adds color
and energy to the Library’s 1st floor. On the 2nd floor,
revisit more than 100 years of EPL history with a
photographic display on the walls of the Magazines and
Newspapers Room.
At 6 p.m., it’s a free, all-ages dance fueled by party band
RIFFLE, with up-on-your-feet rock & roll, pop, blues,
Motown, disco, and more. The group features Timothy
Patrick on guitar, Michael "Axel" Fleming on drums, Ralph
Vaughn on bass guitar, Jon Light on keyboard and trumpet, Katrina Renee on percussion – and the
whole band on vocals. No “shushing” tonight – dance your socks off in the Library! For more information,
contact the Eugene Public Library at 682-5450, www.eugene-or.gov/library.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
January 3, 2008
Fire and Police Departments Lend a Helping Hand to Toys for Tots Campaign
This year's local Toys for Tots campaign, sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve with assistance
from local fire and police agencies, collected over $40,000 worth of toys and approximately $20,000 in
monetary donations, thanks to the generosity of the community. The distribution event assisted more
than 7,000 Lane County families with their holiday toy needs.
Although all of the totals were down slightly from last year, it was still a successful effort, according to
Marine Corps Reserve 1st Sgt. Edward Woodfork, one of the principal organizers. Participation in the
campaign was county-wide, Woodfork said, with significant assistance coming from the Eugene Fire &
EMS Department, Eugene Police Department, Springfield Fire & Life Safety Department, and Oakridge
Fire Department. All of these agencies, and some commercial establishments as well, will have the
familiar Toys for Tots barrels available again when next holiday season approaches. For more
information, please contact Fire & EMS Engineer Matt Reger at 682-7100.
Green Writers at Eugene Public Library
The latest edition of the Oregon Library Association Quarterly includes articles by Eugene Public Library
Director Connie Bennett, "Institutionalizing Sustainability: An Emerging Trend" and Eugene Public Library
Technical Services Supervisor Mo Cole, "From Worthless to Worthy: Turning Media Trash into Recycling
Treasure”. Read more at http://www.olaweb.org/quarterly/vol13/no4.pdf.
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January 3, 2008