HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/10/08 City Council Newsletter
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
July 10, 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
WALNUT STATION MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN FINAL PHASE
LAUGHS & INSIGHTS WITH BETH LISICK AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY
RIVER FESTIVAL BRINGS COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR FUN
RESTORATION WORK TO BEGIN IN WHILAMUT NATURAL AREA
FIRE PREVENTION PROVIDES SAFE DIMENSION TO OLYMPIC TRIALS
ELMIRA ROAD AND MAPLE STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT OPEN HOUSE
AROUND THE CITY
Walnut Station Mixed Use Development Project in Final Phase
Planning for a walkable, transit-
oriented neighborhood in the Walnut
Station area is starting to move into its
next phase. With the release of the
remaining project funds by the Oregon
Department of Transportation, City
staff and consultants have begun work
on the core technical products as well
as the draft plan that will guide
development in this key 73-acre area
east of downtown. Located on a major
transit corridor and strategically located
between the University of Oregon and
downtown, the Walnut Station area of
Visual representation of potential Franklin Boulevard streetscape as implemented by the Walnut
Franklin Boulevard is well positioned to
Station Mixed Use Center Development Plan
become a showcase for a pedestrian-
friendly urban village in Eugene. The remaining technical products will be completed later this summer. The next
phases of the project include writing a draft plan, evaluating form-based code concepts, and recommending key
capital improvements. Work will start this fall and include stakeholders and many opportunities for public input.
For additional information, contact Jason Dedrick, associate planner at 541-682-5451.
Laughs & Insights with Beth Lisick at Eugene Public Library
Catch the Eugene debut of San Francisco writer and performer Beth Lisick at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, at
the Eugene Public Library. It's a free evening of smart, laugh-out-loud tales and reflections by the bestselling
author of Helping Me Help Myself: One Skeptic, Ten Self-Help Gurus, and a Year on
the Brink of the Comfort Zone.
According to People magazine, Lisick’s real-life stories are “not only hilarious but
enlightening . . . . If a woman in a banana suit can clean her closet and pay off her
credit card debt, surely you can too.” Kirkus Reviews describes Lisick as “sharp,
irreverent, and endearingly screwed-up.” The Seattle Times calls her “a wildly funny
cross between David Sedaris and Susan Orlean.”
Lisick began her experiment in personal growth one New Year’s morning. A creatively-
fulfilled “alternative” type, she realized she was nevertheless sick of facing the same
problems year after year. No savings account, despite artistic success. No exercise since her last high school track
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July 11, 2008
meet. A household that’s fun – and chaotic enough to possibly qualify as a health hazard. So despite profound
doubts about the self-help industry and a general dislike of “anything slick, cheesy, or empowering,” she decided it
was time to make changes. Never one for half-measures, Lisick immersed herself in advice from big name
experts, criss-crossing the nation to consult them in person. With good intentions and a wry wit, she turned to Suze
Orman on money, sought guidance from Oprah’s favorite home organizer, and even took to the high seas with
Richard Simmons for a week-long “Cruise to Lose.” Lisick’s previous works include the New York Times
bestseller Everybody Into the Pool and contributions to This American Life and McSweeney's. In addition to her
writing, she is a popular performer and a co-founder of Porchlight, a monthly story-telling evening for adults in the
Bay Area. The evening is part of the Library’s summer reading program, this year highlighting the theme
“Metamorphosis.” Books for purchase and signing will be provided by the University of Oregon Bookstore/Duck
Store. For more information, contact the Eugene Public Library at 682-5450 or www.eugene-or.gov/library.
River Festival Brings Community Together for Fun
Recreation Services’ Whiteaker Neighborhood River Festival
will be bigger and better than ever this year. In addition to the
activities held in past years, including Oregon’s largest “slip ‘n
slide,” kayak try-outs, Fun For All Zone, music, and free food,
this year the free community festival includes a bike parade
and circus acts, and beginning at 7:30 p.m. in nearby Sladden
Park, a youth concert, including local ACT-SO youth, and a
movie. Hosted by Recreation’s Youth and Family Program, the
annual event is held in Maurie Jacob’s Park, behind the River
House Community Center at 301 N. Adams St., from 4:00-7:00
p.m. with live music by Kudana Marimba. The showing of the
movie “Labyrinth” (NR) will begin at 9:00 p.m. The River
Festival is one of four free community events presented by
Eugene recreation services each year. The other events are
April Pools Day, held in late April, We Are Bethel, held in early June, and the Multicultural Festival, held this year
on August 2. For more information about the River Festival, call 682-5329 or go to www.eugene-or.gov/recoutdoor.
Restoration Work to Begin in Whilamut Natural Area
Durbin Construction will begin grading work early next week as a first step of a native prairie restoration project on
a gravel parking lot within Alton Baker Park. The project area, which is south of and abutting Leo Harris Parkway,
has previously been under an intergovernmental agreement with the University of Oregon for parking during home
football games. In March 1996, the council adopted the East Alton Baker Park Plan, which noted that the two
gravel parking lots south of Leo Harris Parkway were not compatible with the visions and goals for East Alton
Baker Park. When the Eugene City Council reviewed the University of Oregon's plan for stadium expansion and
the associated transportation demand plan in January 2001, councilors voted not to extend the parking agreement
with the university for this area past the end of 2007.
The first phase of the restoration will include removing approximately 900 cubic yards of gravel and using that
gravel to flatten some slopes next to Leo Harris Parkway which will facilitate the ability to maintain the slopes. The
second phase will consist of placing a small lift of topsoil and native grass seed in late summer or early fall, and
planting approximately 40 trees during the winter months. Members of the Whilamut Natural Area Citizens
Planning Committee have expressed interest in being involved in the tree planting as a volunteer project. A small
parking area will be retained in the northwest corner to serve the canoe canal users and the abutting dog off-leash
area.
For more information, please call Johnny Medlin at 692-4800 or e-mail at johnny.r.medlin@ci.eugene.or.us.
Fire Prevention Provides Safe Dimension to Olympic Trials
Like all City departments, Fire & EMS was actively involved in preparing for the recent Olympic Trials in Eugene
and was active during the meet itself. A safe venue served as a foundation for the enjoyable experience that was
shared by many. Fire Prevention staff made four site visits prior to the meet to review suppression apparatus
access, access to fire hydrants and fire department connectors, and the location of any propane. Following
inspections and required corrections, the office issued permits both for the event itself and for the fireworks display
on July 4. Of particular concern was code-compliant fire-resistance for the fabric used to cover the grandstands.
After flame-testing, and subsequent application of a fire-resistive product, the fabric was allowed. Cooking areas
within the festival were also inspected. The department had fire suppression and medical response personnel on-
site throughout the event, but only after an exhaustive series of briefings and drills. Medical response statistics
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during the Trials are still being compiled. Overall, the Fire & EMS Department's involvement in the many months
of preparations, and in the event itself, has resulted in better preparedness for many different types of large-scale
incidents that could occur in the community, whether natural or human-caused. The department is pleased to
have contributed to this successful event, and is equally pleased that its services were not required for any major
emergencies. For more information, please contact Deputy Chief of Special Operations Joe Zaludek, at 682-7103.
Elmira Road and Maple Street Improvement Project Open House
City engineering and transportation planning staff worked closely over the past two years with neighborhood
residents on Elmira Road and Maple Street to develop a proposed street design which addresses the expectations
and desires of the neighborhood while also meeting City
standards. This project will bring these two unimproved
neighborhood collectors up to City standards. The final
public meeting for the project will be an open house on
Tuesday, July 15, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Fairfield Baptist
Church (3991 Elmira Road). Refreshments will be served
and the event is open to all.
Residents will have an opportunity to view the final design
concept for the project and give feedback. City staff will be
on hand to answer questions regarding the proposed street
design. Staff will also be available to provide information
and answer questions about assessments and financing, tree
preservation and removal, and landscaping of the planting
View of existing Maple-Elmira intersection
strips, including new street trees. Please contact Lindsay
Selser, transportation planning technician, with any questions at 682-5094 or lindsay.r.selser@ci.eugene.or.us.
More information is available at the project website: www.eugene-or.gov/elmiramaple.
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