HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/07/08 City Council NewsletterEUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
February 7, 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
FIRE & EMS HOSTS ANIMAL ASSISTED CRISIS RESPONSE TRAINING
“STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS” WORKSHOP AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY
FERNDALE PARK NEIGHBORS INVITED TO PARK DESIGN WORKSHOP
OUTDOOR PROGRAM’S MOVIE NIGHT TAKES VIEW ON AN ADVENTURE
AROUND THE CITY
Fire & EMS Hosts Animal Assisted Crisis Response Training
Thirteen handler/canine teams and two team leaders --
including Eugene Fire Department's own Cody, Official
Fire Safety Dalmatian -- gathered recently at EFD’s
training center for 40 hours of intense classroom and
simulation exercises to prepare for assisting victims
and responders affected by tragedy and disaster.
Animal Assisted Crisis Response teams listen,
comfort, assess, and bridge an emotional gap between
the victims and responders. After a dog calms a
victim, the dog's owner can then listen to the victim
and help determine if a doctor, nurse, emergency
medical technician, or mental health professional can
assist. Often, victims will shut down emotionally, stop
thinking clearly, or lash out in the midst of crisis or
disaster. A dog's presence, and even more so, petting the animal, can help have a calming effect and
help a person think more clearly. The teams also support first responders who often shoulder a great
emotional burden from their exposure to the tragedy and suffering of others. It is AACR’s hope that the
healing and therapeutic power of animals can bring them some comfort as well.
A crucial element in preparing the animals for crisis work is exposing them to the sights, sounds and
smells they encounter at a disaster sight. During the training, EFD provided exposure to blaring sirens,
air brakes, power equipment, back-up alarms and firefighters in turnouts and air packs. Teams also
practiced riding escalators, going through airport security, and boarding an airplane. For more
information, please contact Deputy Fire Marshal Amy Linder at 682-8428.
"Starting a Small Business" Workshop at Eugene Public Library
Many people dream of going into business on their own, but how to turn that great idea into reality? The
first step could be the free workshop Starting a Small Business, on Saturday, February 16, 3:00, at the
Downtown Eugene Public Library.
Encouraging experts from Lane Community College Small Business Center, SCORE (Service Corps of
Retired Executives), and the Library's Business and Career Center share practical information and
answer questions. Topics include writing a business plan; funding a first small business; starting a home-
based or online business; and connecting with helpful local resources and organizations. For more
information, call the Eugene Public Library at 682-5450.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
February 7, 2008
Ferndale Park Neighbors Invited to Park Design Workshop
On Tuesday, February 12, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Ferndale Park neighbors are invited to discuss
improvements to the 4.4-acre neighborhood park located west of River Road in Eugene’s Santa Clara
neighborhood, just off Ferndale Drive. The public workshop will be held at the Spring Creek Elementary
School cafeteria, 560 Irvington Drive, Eugene.
The focus of the first workshop will be to share with the neighborhood some general information about
parks, and gather input from neighbors and interested parties to help inform the design process. No
plans have been made for the park as of yet. Parks and Open Space (POS) staff will host two or three
public workshops aimed at closely involving the neighborhood in setting the direction for the park design.
The process generally takes four to six months, depending on a number of factors.
The City of Eugene POS Division purchased the property in 2004 using funds from the 1998 POS bond
measure. Parks Systems Development Charge (SDC) funding is now available for improvements to
Ferndale Park. Neighborhood parks, which serve residents within about a half-mile walking distance,
include the following: a children's play area, accessible pathways, park furniture such as benches, picnic
tables, trash receptacles, and open space for recreation and relaxation. They typically do not include the
following: restrooms, off-street parking, programmed athletics, skateparks, dog off-leash areas, and other
facilities that attract visitors from a distance greater than the park's service area.
As part of the POS Division’s goal to increase opportunities for public input, an audio/video slide show
and an online questionnaire have been prepared and posted on the project web page at www.eugene-
or.gov/ferndalepark. While it is very important for interested parties to attend the workshop for a live
discussion about park design, the addition of web-based input tools enables neighbors to inform
themselves about the park and offer feedback at their convenience.Comments may also be submitted
any time by phone, email, or post.
For more information or to give input, contact Robin Hostick, Principal Landscape Architect, at 682-4915,
robin.a.hostick@ci.eugene.or.us, or visit the park’s webpage at www.eugene-or.gov/ferndalepark.
Outdoor Program’s Movie Night Takes Views on an Adventure
The popular Movie Night with the Outdoor Program is back,
promising to inspire outdoor enthusiasts for their next great
adventure!
The next featured film is “Being Caribou,” the incredible
story of the husband-and-wife team Karsten Heuer and
Leanne Allison who migrated for five months and 1,500
kilometers across the Yukon and Alaska with the
endangered “Porcupine” Caribou Herd.
The movie is free and will be shown at 7 p.m. on Tuesday,
February 26, at Campbell Community Center. For
information, call Roger Bailey at 682-6323.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
February 7, 2008