HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/15/08 City Council NewsletterEUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
May 15, 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
PUBLIC WORKS RECEIVES GRANT FROM ODFW TO HELP RESTORE DELTA PONDS
THE MINOR CODE AMENDMENT PROJECT UPDATE
MAKE-UP ARTIST ASSISTS WITH MASS-CASUALTY DRILLS
HULT CENTER SPECIAL SEATING NOW AVAILABLE ON THE WEB
EUGENE 08 NEIGHBORHOOD GRANTS
RECREATION SERVICES OFFERS FUN, ADVENTURE AND 100 SUMMER CAMPS
AROUND THE CITY
Public Works Receives Grant from ODFW to Help Restore Delta Ponds
With regular sightings of bald eagles, osprey,
river otters, and a wide variety of other bird and
wildlife species, Delta Ponds is one of the best
places in the Eugene area for wildlife viewing.
The City’s on-going habitat enhancement
project at Delta Ponds was just awarded an
$81,000 grant from the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to continue
enhancing the riparian area of the ponds. The
funding from this grant will be used to plant
9,500 native trees and shrubs over the next two
years. This work will complement the upcoming
riparian slope construction work that the City
and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be
undertaking at Delta Ponds this coming
summer.
ODFW’s “150 Grant Program” is a one-time funding source aimed at projects that enhance habitat for
one or more of Oregon's state symbols (Chinook salmon, American beaver, Western meadowlark, and
th
Oregon swallowtail) in preparation for Oregon's 150 birthday celebration in 2009. The Delta Ponds
project benefits two of the four state symbols: Chinook salmon and American beaver.
Over the past several years, the City of Eugene has collaborated with local, state, and federal partners to
restore this side-channel habitat of the Willamette River. The primary goals of this effort are to re-
establish hydrological connections between the mainstream Willamette River and the Delta Ponds so that
the Delta Ponds system serves as a side-channel to the Willamette River (as it did historically), improve
in-stream and riparian habitat for a wide variety of species including Chinook salmon, American beaver,
Western pond turtle, river otter, and neo-tropical migratory birds, and provide appropriate levels of
interpretation and public access to the Delta Ponds.
For more information about the grant or the Delta Ponds Restoration Project, please contact Eric Wold,
Natural Resources Manager, at 682-4842 or Scott Milovich, Principal Landscape Architect, at 682-6086.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
May 16, 2008
The Minor Code Amendment Project Update
The Minor Code Amendment Project is reaching the next important milestone. A public hearing before
the Planning Commission on the minor land use code amendments is scheduled for Wednesday May 21,
2008, at 6:00 pm in the Sloat Room of the Atrium Building, providing an opportunity for interested parties
to comment on the proposed amendments.
The Minor Code Amendment Project was initiated by the City Council to address land use code
amendments raised by community members. As a result of extensive community input and thorough
review by the Planning Commission, 18 proposed amendments were selected to move forward to the
formal code amendment process and will be the subject of the upcoming public hearing. Nearly all of
these amendments were rated as high priorities by various community members and organizations, and
address such topics as residential lot configuration, residential development standards and land use
application processes.
Following the Planning Commission public hearing, the Planning Commission will meet on June 2, 2008,
to deliberate and forward a recommendation on the minor code amendment package to the City Council.
The amendments will be the subject of a work session with the City Council scheduled for June 11, 2008.
The City Council will hold a public hearing on June 16, 2008, and will make a decision on the
amendments on July 14, 2008.
For more information on the Minor Code Amendment Project, please visit the:www.eugene-
or.gov/codeamendments. For additional information, please contact Alissa Hansen, Planning Division at
682-5508 or via email at alissa.h.hansen@ci.eugene.or.us.
Make-up Artist Assists with Mass-Casualty Drills
Most fire departments conduct practice drills.
Many even use volunteer "victims" to make the
scenarios more realistic. But few have the
services of a make-up artist who has worked
with the likes of Charlize Theron and Robert
DeNiro. To say that David Pratt is a
hairdresser at Le Salon in Springfield is to tell
only a small part of the story. Pratt, 63, spent
part of his career as a union (IATSE) make-up
artist and hairdresser, working with big-name
producers and stars on feature films shot in
Oregon such as The Hunted and Men of
Honor, as well as segments for The Dr. Phil
Show,America's Most Wanted, and others. A
year and a half ago, through a client at his
current business, Pratt learned about the City's
Citizen Emergency Response Training (CERT)
Program, and volunteered his talents in support. Recently the Fire & EMS Department, which was
preparing a series of mass-casualty-incident (MCI) drills, asked for his help in applying make-up to
dozens of "victims" to create the appearance of various types and levels of injuries. Firefighters who
participated in the drills described Pratt's work as "very, VERY realistic."
Using everyday objects such as cellophane and styrofoam cups, plus a large and eclectic assortment of
cosmetic products, Pratt created abrasions, contusions, compound fractures, and other effects best left
unspecified. The MCI drills simulated three different types of incidents -- a bus bombing, plane crash,
and motor vehicle accident -- all with multiple casualties. In the drills, which combined Eugene and
Springfield response crews, firefighters were able to gain experience with new triage equipment and
procedures and to raise their level of preparedness for the possibility of a real mass casualty incident (the
upcoming US Olympic Trials being only one of many potential venues). Pratt was there for the six-day
duration, devoting more than 40 volunteer hours to help make the training successful. Even though he's
through with feature films ("been there, done that," he says), the Eugene Fire & EMS Department is
grateful to have that Hollywood realism on its own drill field. For more information, please contact EMS
Instructor Karen Anderson at 682-7134.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
May 16, 2008
Hult Center Special Seating Now Available on the Web
The opportunity to offer accessible seating assistance via the web has been on Cultural Services and the
Hult Center’s work plan for a long time. Most venues approach this challenge through language on the
web directing patrons to call the box office; however, this does not immediately assist the patron. New
technology is becoming available every day, and the Hult Center’s ticket software provider, Tickets.com,
has developed one solution. The Hult Center is happy to have been able to implement this solution
immediately.
The online buying page now offers the following language: “Click here or call (541) 682-5000 for
Accessible Seating Requests.” The click-through brings patrons to a form explaining the process to
purchase accessible seating. It offers help for wheelchair seating, mobility-impaired seating, or sight-
impaired seating. The submitted form is then emailed to the Ticket Office Manager for immediate
attention. This opportunity is available for all shows sold on the internet through the Hult Center ticketing
system. Each form is customized to the 170 paid-admission events per year plus many off-site events for
resident companies, the UO Chamber Music Series, and others that were ticketed through the Hult
Center’s system. For more information, please contact Hult Center Ticket Office Manager
Marcia James Gluz at 682-2859.
Eugene 08 Neighborhood Grants
In May 2007, the Budget Committee passed motions to make $12,000 of the funds allocated for the FY08
Olympic Trials available to the neighborhoods most directly impacted by the event. These neighborhoods
include: South University, Fairmount, Harlow, West University and Amazon neighborhoods.
The following is a summary of the projects approved for funding by the City Council:
,
Adidas Amazon Trail and Rexius Running Trail Signage (Amazon and Harlow Neighbors
$2,500):This project will add signage with maps and training mileage information to two of the
premier running trails in Eugene. It is anticipated that these facilities will see extensive use by the
athletes and visitors during the Olympic Trials.Two of the signs are to be located at the north
and south entrances to the Adidas Trail in Amazon Park. The third sign is to be placed at the
northern end of the Rexius Trail, near Amazon Drive East and Hilyard Street.
Placement of Mid-Block Street Lights (South University Neighborhood Assoc., $3,000):This
project will place six to ten street lights along routes that are currently not well lit and expected to
experience increased traffic from the Olympic Trials. Lights will use existing poles and conform
to City outdoor lighting regulations.
Alton Baker Park Kiosk (Harlow Neighbors, $1,500):Nearby Nature, Inc. proposes to construct a
covered wooden kiosk in the vicinity of the Alton Baker Park Host Residence that will provide
valuable information for both Olympic Trial visitors and community residents, such as park maps,
rules and contact information, park and neighborhood events and volunteer project information.
Kiosk information will help ensure Olympic Trial visitors enjoy the park safely and respectfully.
For further information, please contact Michael Kinnison, 682-5009, or
michael.j.kinnison@ci.eugene.or.us.
Recreation Services Offers Fun, Adventure and 100 Summer Camps
The City of Eugene Recreation Guide to dozens of summer activities will arrive in
Eugene household mailboxes next week. Some of the fun activities offered this
summer include a swim-bike-run triathlon in June for youth of all ages; a class in
July to teach children in grades K-3 how to ride a bike and be safe doing it; and a
beginning fly fishing class in August. Recreation Services will also offer the free,
summer playground activity, Fun For All, Monday through Friday, June 30 – August
29, at eight local parks. Free lunches, provided by Food For Lane County, are
offered at six of those sites.
The Guide also lists more than 100 summer camps for kids age 2 ½ - 18, and
includes a pull-out supplement with information about family fun events at the
Eugene 08 Festival to be held during the Olympic Trials.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
May 16, 2008
Three free neighborhood festivals, presented by Recreation Services, will also be held this summer.
They are the We Are Bethel Celebration, 12:00– 6:00 p.m. on June 7, at Petersen Barn Park; Whiteaker
Neighborhood River Festival, 4:00– 7:00 p.m. on July 18 at Maurie Jacobs Park; and, the Multicultural
Festival, 3:00–7:00 p.m. on August 2 in Sheldon Community Park. All three festivals will feature games,
live music, family activities, food and more. For more information, call Sarah Medary at 682-5334.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4
May 16, 2008