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Home My WebLink AboutCC Newsletter - 05/25/06 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER May 25, 2006 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 DOWNTOWN PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC MONITORED TOE-TAPPIN' BLUEGRASS: FIRST FRIDAY @ DOWNTOWN LIBRARY BROCHURES NOTIFY CUSTOMERS OF NEW WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER USER FEES WILLAKENZIE PARK NEIGHBORS INVITED TO PREVIEW DRAFT PLAN FOR PARK STILL SEXY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS SUMMER READING FOR ALL AGES AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY “OUT IN THE ARTDOORS” URBAN ADVENTURE RACE A GREAT SUCCESS RECREATION SERVICES AND USA TRACK & FIELD SPONSOR “BE A CHAMPION” PROGRAM AROUND THE CITY Downtown Pedestrian Traffic Monitored From June 1987 through October 1997, the City regularly tallied pedestrian traffic in downtown Eugene. Four times a year, staff volunteers staked out numerous locations and counted for 15 minutes. Initially, depending on the season and weather, the total counts at five principal locations along Willamette and Broadway totaled between 800 and 1300 people. (A person is counted each time he or she passes a checkpoint). Once Sears closed in 1989 and the Bon Marche closed in 1990, the numbers dropped considerably, ranging from about 400 to 750. In Spring 2005, staff began counting again. The 2005 totals from four seasonal counts, ranged from about 350 to 400. The most recent count in April 2006 showed a rise to about 450. This number was significantly higher than last year. Pedestrian traffic count data and trends are most useful if examined over a long time. Otherwise, weather and other variables could skew the results. For further information, contact Richie Weinman, Planning and Development Department, at 682-5533 or richie.d.weinman@ci.eugene.or.us. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 June 8, 2006 Toe-tappin' Bluegrass: First Friday @ Downtown Library On First Friday, June 2, Lee Highway Bluegrass Band will appear at the Eugene Public Library. Lee Highway is the newest addition to the vibrant Oregon Bluegrass music community. Bringing together five accomplished musicians, the band's sound recalls the excitement, smoothness, and precision of the golden era of Bluegrass. The music is a mix of tight, tuneful vocal harmony supported by sparkling and powerful instrumentals. Featured performers are John Averill (mandolin/vocals), Rich Hoglen (guitar/vocals), Sue Averill (bass/vocals), Mike Eisler (fiddle/vocals) and Mike Stahlman (banjo/vocals). Lee Highway is equally skilled performing fast, driving Bluegrass, close harmony gospel, and 40s and 50s country dance tunes. With each musician bringing decades of experience to the band, it's the classic sound of Bluegrass made new again! Free live music starts at 6:30 p.m., and the Downtown Library is open for business until 8:00 p.m. For more information, contact the Eugene Public Library at 682-5450. Brochures Notify Customers of New Wastewater and Stormwater User Fees The City’s annual wastewater and stormwater rate notification brochures will be distributed via EWEB utility bills beginning in June. The rate notification brochure informs customers of rates and provides an overview of City services supported by these fees. Copies of the rate notification brochure are available in the Council Office. Wastewater fees are applied to all properties connected to the public wastewater system. The purpose of the regional wastewater program is to protect public health and safety and the environment by providing high-quality wastewater management services to the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area. The Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) regional wastewater rate increase is necessary to fund operation and maintenance of the existing wastewater treatment facilities and implement planned capital improvement projects. The local wastewater user fee increase is necessary to maintain current operating service levels and fund necessary capital improvements. The combined effect of the local and regional wastewater fee increases for a typical residential customer is an increase of $1.55 per month, from the current $17.92 per month to $19.47 per month. Of this typical increase, $1.19 is related to the regional portion while $0.36 is from the local portion of the fee. Other user categories will see similar effects in terms of the percentage increase, with dollar amounts varying depending on volume and strength of wastewater discharge. Stormwater fees are applied to all developed properties in Eugene. The fees support services that maintain flood protection and drainage services, maintain and enhance stormwater-related natural resources, and improve water quality. These services include street sweeping, seasonal leaf pick up, maintenance of underground stormwater pipes and efforts to reduce pollutants and adhere to water quality standards. Stormwater customers in the medium residential category, typical of most residential customers, will see an increase of $1.14 per month, to a total of $8.69. The City Manager approved the proposed charges by administrative order on May 11. Rates will become effective in July. For more information about the wastewater and stormwater fee increases, contact Tish Peterson at 682-6087 or by e-mail at tish.a.peterson@ci.eugene.or.us. Willakenzie Park Neighbors Invited to Preview Draft Plan for Park On Tuesday, May 30, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Willakenzie Park neighbors are invited to preview the draft design for improvements to their 4.75-acre neighborhood park. The park is located in Eugene’s Harlow neighborhood at the old Willakenzie School site on Best Lane, off Willakenzie Road. The workshop will be held in the Monroe Middle School cafeteria at 2800 Bailey Lane. Parks and Open Space Division staff based the draft concept plan on the results from the first public workshop held in late March 2006. The proposed improvements include a renovated playground, new park furniture, access improvements, trees and shrubs. The existing athletic fields, which have served EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 June 8, 2006 the school and community for many years, are also incorporated into the park design. In this follow-up session, participants will have the opportunity to review the results of the first workshop, discuss the draft concept plan, and help prioritize improvements. The City of Eugene purchased the property from the 4J School District in 2004. Neighborhood parks, which serve residents within a half-mile radius, include a children’s play area, accessible pathways, open space, and park furniture such as benches, picnic tables, and trash receptacles. They typically do not include restrooms, off-street parking, programmed athletics, skateparks, off-leash dog areas, and other facilities that attract visitors from greater distances. For more information contact Parks Planning Principal Landscape Architect Robin Hostick at 682-4915 or robin.a.hostick@ci.eugene.or.us. Still Sexy After All These Years Leah Kliger, co-author of Still Sexy After All These Years? The 9 Unspoken Truths About Women’s Desire Beyond 50, will read and lead a discussion on Saturday, June 3, 3 – 5 p.m., at the Downtown Eugene Public Library. Based on research of thousands of women ages 50 to 95 across the U.S., Still Sexy dismantles the negative stereotypes about older women’s sexuality and offers "a compassionate roadmap through the mysteries of sexual aging.” Noted sex educator Pepper Schwartz says the book is “a must read for baby boomers like myself.” Explains Kliger, “We want to bring the subject of sex and the older woman out from under the covers, so to speak. It’s vitally important to women to have a modern, real-world view of the complexities of sexual desire and self esteem as we age.” Kliger is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Health Services, School of Public Health at the University of Washington, Seattle, and a long-time health care educator. To learn more about her work, visit www.WomenBeyond50.com. For more information about the free local event, call the Eugene Public Library: 682-5450. Summer Reading for All Ages at Eugene Public Library Summer Reading sign-ups for kids, teens, and adults begin Saturday, June 3, at all Eugene Public Library locations. Free Summer Reading programs for kids and teens are fun and much more: studies show that participation in this program keeps reading skills up while school’s out. Summer Reading introduces youth to new ideas, friends, and things to do, and at sign-up, each kid and teen gets a free book to keep! Summer Reading for Kids jumps into animal adventures with the 2006 theme “Paws, Claws, Scales, and Tales.” The whole family is welcome to celebrate the first week of Summer with hilarious physical comedy at the Henrik Bothe Variety Show, Monday, June 19, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Downtown Library (free tickets available 30 minutes before each show). Then, drop in for Tom Question’s juggling madness and mayhem on Tuesday, June 20, 2 p.m., at Petersen Barn, or Wednesday, June 21, 2 p.m., at Sheldon Community Center. Wind up the week with Rhys Thomas’ fast, funny JuggleMania, on Friday, June 23, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Downtown Library (free tickets available 30 minutes before each show). Weekly performances, creative activities, and live animal visits continue through summer. Teens can dare to check out “Creature Feature," a summer of free, frighteningly interesting arts, films, and people—something new every week, as well as mini-versions of this summer’s workshops at Taste of Creature Features, Thursday, June 22, 2 - 4 p.m. at the Downtown Library. Teens who sign up get a free book and CD case. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 June 8, 2006 Summer Reading for Adults returns for a second year—this time focused on travel-themed titles, book groups, performances, and activities. Starting June 3, official review forms are available at the Downtown Library (3rd floor), and the Bethel and Sheldon Branches. Participating adults will get a $1 coupon good for books at the Friends of the Library's Second Hand Prose book store or a free coffee at Novella Café. Participants who return three reviews get a free journal (while supplies last) and a chance to win a Library book bag filled with great reads and gift certificates from Destinations, the travel store, and LetterHead Fine Papers & Gifts. Watch for Summer Reading First Fridays too! For more information, call the Eugene Public Library at 682-5450. “Out in the Artdoors” Urban Adventure Race a Great Success The Recreation Division’s inaugural “Out in the Artdoors” Urban Adventure Race, held on Saturday, May 20, promoted Eugene as the “World’s Greatest City for the Arts and Outdoors,” built community, encouraged physical activity, and was fun for everyone! Fifteen teams raced through 11 stops from Alton Baker Park to the Spencer Butte Challenge Course and back again. At each stop, they completed tasks that ranged from performing a hip hop dance routine in front of the Hult Center, to rafting across the Willamette, to making art using adaptive equipment at Hilyard Community Center. Organized by Recreation Programmer Kellie Nemke, the race wasn’t just about speed or physical ability. Teams earned “deDUCKtions” to their overall finish time by admiring art along the race route, earning a judges’ “wow” factor for their creativity, working cooperatively with another team, and building developmental assets for youth during the course of the race. And, while the “C-Plus Team” (so named because they didn’t consider themselves the “A-Team”) was the last to complete all 11 challenges, they earned so many deducktions along the way that they ended up with the lowest overall time! Pictured is the Public Works P-We's Team, made up of Katie Blair, Katie Marwitz, Milissa Bateman and Karen Roybal. They “suited up” to compete in the “costumed-in-line-skate-hockey” challenge at Amazon Community Center. For more information, contact Recreation Programmer Kellie Nemke at 682-6324. Recreation Services and USA Track & Field Sponsor “Be A Champion” Program World Championship medalists Bershawn Jackson, Sanya Richards and two-time Olympian Jon Drummond will speak from 9-10 a.m. on Friday, May 26,to hundreds of Madison Middle School studentsaspart of the "Be A Champion"program. Later in the day, World Silver Medalist Wallace Spearmon and Olympian Rose Richmond will speak to students at Jefferson Middle School from 2:15-3:15 p.m. A major initiative byUSA Track & Fieldand the American College of Sports Medicine, “Be A Champion” facilitates direct interaction between Olympic medalists and middle-school-aged children around the country in order to positively impact their lifestyles and decision-making ability. The athletes will address healthy lifestyles, answer questions from the students, and lead them in reciting the "Be A Champion" pledge. City of Eugene Recreation Services is partnering with USA Track & Field to help fight childhood obesity. WECAN The City follows the We Can! (ays to nhance hildren's ctivity & utrition) approach, a new national education program developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to help youth and families maintain a healthy weight. We Can! will provide activities and programs that encourage improved nutritional choices, increased physical activity, and reduced screen time in youth ages 8-13. The visiting medalists represent a wealth of talent and experience: ? The newest “phenom” over the intermediate hurdles, Bershawn Jackson's victory in Helsinki is the first by an American in the 400m hurdles at a world championship since Derrick Adkins won the gold at Gothenburg in 1995. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4 June 8, 2006 ? An NCAA champion while competing at the University of Texas, Sanya Richards won the silver medal at the 2005 World Outdoor Championships. She anchored Team USA to 4x400m relay gold at the 2004 Olympic Games and 2003 World Outdoor Championships, and is the 2003 USA 400-meter champion. ? An elder statesman of American sprinting, Jon Drummond, 37, ran lead-off leg on Team USA's gold medal-winning 4x100-meter relay team at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. He also was a 1996 Olympic silver medalist in the relay, and is a three-time World Outdoor champion in the event. Making youth outreach a priority, Drummond runs the "With Purpose" Foundation. ? A standout sprinter at the University of Arkansas, Wallace Spearmon was the 2005 World Outdoor Championships 200m silver medalist, the 2005 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor 200m champion, and is the American Indoor record holder. He was also the 2004 NCAA Outdoor champion and the 2004 SEC Outdoor champion. ? Rose Richmond, currently pursuing a Masters degree in Sport Marketing and Management at Indiana University, set a Big Ten conference school and track record in 2003, during her senior year, en route to a Big Ten Indoor title. She was a 2004 Olympian in the Long Jump, and the 2005 USA Indoor Long Jump champion. The “Be A Champion” school visit is being held as part of USA Track & Field’s 2006 Visa Championship Series and the Nike Prefontaine Classic, which will be held Sunday, May 28, at HaywardField. For more information on Be A Champion, visit http://www.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?DUid=USATF_2004_09_21_06_42_49 For general information, contact Recreation Services Division Manager Renee Grube at 682-5067. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 5 June 8, 2006