HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Newsletter - 03/03/05EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
March 3, 2005
City of Eugene
777 Pearl Street, Room 105
Eugene, Oregon 97401-2793
(541) 682-5010
(541) 682-5414 (FAX)
www.ci.eugene.or, us
GENDER IDENTITY PROPOSED CODE REVISION UPDATE
KIDS VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE BOOKS AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY
VOLUNTEERS BUILD AND IMPROVE TRAILS FROM DELTA PONDS TO SPENCER BUTTE
VOLUNTEERS GRADUATE FROM SENIORS ON PATROL ACADEMY
CITY'S THEME FOR HOME SHOW IS HEALTHY LAWN CARE
Gender Identity Proposed Code Revision Update
The Human Rights Commission is continuing to work on an ordinance that would add gender identity to
the City's anti-discrimination code. Commissioners and Gender Identity Work Group members are
currently contacting Eugene City Councilors to share information about the proposed code revisions,
answer questions, and gather input.
In addition, City Councilors and community members are invited to an information session regarding the
ordinance proposal. The first of two public information and input sessions will be held Monday, March
14, 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 777 Pearl Street, Eugene. The session will be facilitated by
Human Rights Commissioners and Gender Identity Work Group members. Councilor Kelly, as a
commissioner and work group member, will be involved as well. The session will include an overview of
proposed code language, explanation of the public process for adopting code changes, a question-and-
answer session and an opportunity for public input. A second public information and input session will be
held in May.
Draft code language and other information about the gender identity code revision project can be found
at http://www.ci.euqene.or, us/hrc-erac/hrcsite/GI.htm. For more information, contact Greg Rikhoff,
Human Rights program manager, at 652-5177.
Kids Vote for Their Favorite Books at Euqene Public Library
This year, kids' book groups at the Eugene Public Library (EPL), Book Buddies (ages 6 - $) and Tween
Scene (ages 9 - 12), have been reading titles nominated for annual awards. Now it's time to vote! All
kids in Oregon are invited to cast ballots for their favorite books between March 15 and April 1, at EPL or
at school libraries.
Elementary-age kids decide the Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award, sponsored by the Oregon
Educational Media Association. ,Ask a librarian for the nominee list, or find it at
www.oema.net/cleary/index.htm. To qualify to vote, read (or listen to) at least two of the nominated
books.
Students in 4th - 12th grades can vote for the Young Reader's Choice Award, sponsored by the Pacific
Northwest Library Association. The nominee list, which is available at the library, or by visiting
www.pnla.org/yrca, is sponsored by the Eugene Public Library, Friends of the Library, and the Eugene
Public Library Foundation. For more information, call 652-5450.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
March 3, 2005
Volunteers Build and Improve Trails From Delta Ponds to Spencer Butte
On Saturday, February 26, 22 volunteers helped the Volunteers In Parks program build or improve trails
from Delta Ponds to Spencer Butte. Rotarians from several clubs spent the morning completing the first
phase of the new trail in the northern section of Delta Ponds, while volunteers from the Obsidians Club
spent the afternoon building a Icg retaining wall for a segment of the Spencer Butte Trail.
The Rotarians loaded, spread, and compacted gravel
on the Delta Ponds trail. In total, they moved
approximately 17 yards of gravel and five yards of
compost during this work party. The group has been
working on this project since last fall. Their next
project is already booked for May when they plan to
do a general cleanup of the ponds.
The Obsidians placed 40 feet of Icg retaining wall
along a segment of the Spencer Butte Trail and
placed about two yards of gravel to complete the trail
tread surface. This group has volunteered monthly
since October to improve the trails in the Ridgeline
system.
"The efforts of these dedicated groups are making a
tremendous impact on the conditions of our local
trails and the public's ability to access our
community's natural areas," says Volunteers In Parks
Coordinator Matt McRae.
The Volunteers In Parks program supports citizen
involvement in activities such as park beautification, litter Rotarians spread gravel at Delta Ponds
control, trail development and maintenance, weeding, and
other special projects in Eugene's parks. For more information, contact Matt McRae in Parks and Open
Space at 682-4845, e-mail him at volunteersinparks@ci.eugene.or, us or visit the program's webpage at
www.ci.eugene.or, us/PARKS/maint/vip.htm.
Volunteers Graduate from Seniors on Patrol
Academy
Members of the Eugene Police Department's third recruit
class of the volunteer Seniors on Patrol graduated March
1,2005, after completing 80+ hours of academy and
street training. With seven new recruits on board, the
total number of Seniors on Patrol team members has
increased to thirteen.
Members of Seniors on Patrol function as an auxiliary
unit of the department by assisting with neighborhood
crime and safety issues. They serve as extra eyes, ears
and helping hands, allowing officers to devote a greater
amount of time to performing proactive law enforcement
functions that require a sworn officer.
Providing a highly visible presence, these volunteers
observe and report suspicious activity while patrolling Graduates left to right: Jack Weiser, Larry Waddell, Fred
streets, bike paths and parks. Working in pairs, they Meyer, Tony LaMarche, Bill Tabbut and Lori Waddell. Not
drive specially marked, readily identifiable vehicles, pictured is Marguerite Halttunen who was unable to attend.
Bicycles are also available for patrolling bike paths. They wear uniforms that identify them as police
volunteers and,
for their safety, are equipped with police radios. Their Home Vacation Check service, for residents of
Eugene, is becoming increasingly popular. They also stay busy issuing citations to violators of signed
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
March 3, 2005
disabled parking spaces.
As part of a traffic-calming effort, the volunteers use radar guns to Icg speeding vehicles. Educational
letters are mailed to the registered owners of vehicles that are logged traveling 10+ miles over the
posted speed limit.
Seniors on Patrol is a component of the Eugene Police Department's Volunteers In Policing Program
which partners citizens with police to better serve the community. The department is recruiting
volunteers for the next Seniors on Patrol Academy. Retirees who are age 50 and older are encouraged
to apply.
For more information, contact Volunteers In Policing Program Coordinator, Carrie Chouinard at 682-5355
or Seniors on Patrol Coordinator Debbie Janecek at 682-8845.
City's Theme for Home Show is Healthy Lawn Care
The City's Stormwater Education Program will deliver an important message about the link between
healthy lawns and protecting local streams and rivers at the Lane County Home Show, March 10-13, at
the Lane County Fairgrounds. Local residents will be asked to reconsider the use of chemicals
(pesticides and fertilizers), which many people consider to be an acceptable way to care for lawns.
Chemical applications become a problem when they are applied improperly or excessively. Excess
fertilizers and pesticides run off and enter the stormwater system, ultimately ending up in local rivers.
Understanding how to care for lawns in a way that won't hurt the environment can benefit the entire
community.
The Stormwater Education Program booth (#517 in Expo Hall 1) will include a display with information on
key elements needed to maintain a healthy lawn without using chemicals. Staff will be on hand to answer
questions and provide printed materials.
The City's Stormwater Management program focuses on a commitment to protect local waterways while
promoting environmental stewardship. For more information, please call Kathy Eva, public information
specialist for the Stormwater Management Program at 682-2739 or visit the program's website at
www.ci.eugene.or, us/pw/storm.
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March 3, 2005