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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Newsletter - 06/15/06EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER June 15, 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 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND SCHOOLS BUSY CONSTRUCTION SEASON INCLUDES OVERLAYS, STORM DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS HOUSING POLICY BOARD FORMS COMMITTEE ON MANUFACTURED HOME PARKS NEW SIGNAL OFFERS SAFER ACCESS TO POOL AND COMMUNITY CENTER GUIDE TO CITY’S “FUN FOR ALL” SUMMER PROGRAMS NOW AVAILABLE TH AVENUE WORKSHOPS EXPLORE ENHANCED WALKING AND BIKING ENVIRONMENT ON 18 th ANNUAL ‘WE ARE BETHEL’ CELEBRATION PROVIDES A FULL DAY OF FAMILY FUN 5 AROUND THE CITY Neighborhood Associations and Schools Three neighborhood associations made special efforts to collaborate with their local schools. The South University Neighborhood Association (SUNA) Board works closely with Principal Tom Maloney of Edison Elementary. Edison students made presentations sharing their core values at the last two SUNA General Meetings. For the second year, SUNA sponsored a neighborhood garage sale, with the proceeds going to the school. Checks amounting to more than $1300 were presented to Edison Elementary School at an all-school assembly on Wednesday, June 7. The funds will be used for the school’s literacy program. For the future, SUNA and Edison are discussing other cooperative projects, such as having students help with neighborhood Edison Principal Tom Maloney accepts $1300 check improvement projects and writing stories for the SUNA at school assembly from SUNA Garage Sale newsletter. organizers. The Friendly Area Neighbors (FAN) has had a liaison to Adams and Hillside Elementary school site councils for the last four years. Their spring General Meeting, which focused on school issues, began with a concert by the school choir. The schools and FAN also collaborate on their annual neighborhood picnic, which this year will be held on July 16. Last January, the River Road Community Organization’s (RRCO) meeting focused on neighborhood schools. Principals from the neighborhood elementary, middle, and high schools spoke about changes taking place in their schools. The information was also included in the RRCO newsletter. For more information on Neighborhood Associations, please contact Beth Bridges or Steve Norris in Planning and Development. Beth can be reached at 682-5272 or via e-mail (beth.b.bridges@ci.eugene.or.us). Steve can be reached at 682-5009 or via e-mail (steve.d.norris@ci.eugene.or.us). Busy Construction Season Includes Overlays, Storm Drainage Improvements In addition to the reconstructions of portions of Hilyard Street and the Fern Ridge Path, early summer Public Works projects include two pavement preservation overlays, a storm drainage enhancement th project, the realignment of Airport Road, and repairs to a one-block section of 10 Avenue. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 June 19, 2006 Polk Street and Oakway Road Resurfacing Like the Hilyard Street reconstruction, the Polk Street and Oakway Road resurfacing projects will begin June 19 as part of Eugene’s 2006 pavement preservation program. However, the work is much less intensive, and at least one travel lane will remain open at all times. The work on Polk thth Street from 12 to 18 avenues includes grinding off the top layer of deteriorated asphalt paving and constructing a new asphalt surface called an overlay. The same grinding and overlay work will be done on Oakway Road from Fairway Loop to Coburg Road. Subsurface repairs will be made near Coburg Road where tree roots have damaged the concrete curbs and gutters. Eugene Sand & Gravel was awarded a $394,000 contract to repave the two streets. Both jobs are scheduled to be completed by the end of July. rd Stormwater System Upgrade on 43 Street and Donald Street Work begins Monday on a project to make repairs and increase the capacity of the storm rd drainage system on 43 Avenue between Donald Street and Fox Hollow Road and on Donald thrd to 43 Avenues. The work involves installing new 36-inch-diameter concrete Street from 46 pipe, upgrading and repairing manholes, and repairing and repaving the street. Due to the extent rd of the work, 43 Avenue will be closed to through traffic at times during the project. The rd and Fox Hollow is scheduled to be closed for approximately 14 days in mid- intersection of 43 July. All streets in the project area will be cleared of construction equipment and open for the Butte to Butte Race on July 4. The project is scheduled to be completed by late August. Wildish Construction has been awarded a $1 million contract to do the work. Project funding is coming from stormwater systems development charges, stormwater user fees, and local gas tax revenues. Airport Road Realignment Work began June 12 on the final phase of the parallel runway project at the Eugene Airport. This phase includes realigning Airport Road, moving it outside the new runway protection zone. Funding for the $2.5 million project includes a 95% grant from the FAA. During the first eight weeks of the project, traffic impacts should be minimal. The project will require a two-week closure of Greenhill Road from Clearlake Road to Airport road in mid-August. The new alignment of Airport Road should be open for traffic on September 7, with final project completion scheduled for October 15. Wildish Construction Company is doing the work. th 10 Avenue, Pearl to High th A two-week project starts Monday to complete repairs on 10 Avenue between Pearl and High streets. The project includes reconstructing the eastbound lane, repairing curbs, and adjusting th utilities, during which the one-block section of 10 will be closed. The City is working cooperatively with LTD and Qwest on the project. Crack Sealing Under Way This week, crews from Public Works Maintenance began crack sealing more than 20 miles of city streets. A hot tar material is poured into cracks to seal the surface and prevent water from seeping through the asphalt and eroding the subsurface. Streets typically remain open while crack sealing takes place, but motorists and cyclists should anticipate lane detours and occasional brief delays. For more information on these and other Public Works projects, contact City Engineer Mark Schoening at 682-5291. Housing Policy Board Forms Committee on Manufactured Home Parks The Intergovernmental Housing Policy Board has formed a committee on Manufactured Home Parks. The committee will examine issues related to the conversion and closure of these parks and make policy recommendations for consideration by the City of Eugene, City of Springfield, and Lane County. There are 33 parks with over 2,700 spaces located within the city of Eugene. There are 139 parks that contain almost 7,000 spaces for manufactured homes in Lane County. The Manufactured Home Park Committee, chaired by Eugene City Councilor Jennifer Solomon, includes seven Lane County residents. They represent the Housing Policy Board, park tenants, park owners and EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 June 19, 2006 managers, and at-large members. The committee met for the first time on June 5. The next meeting will be held on August 2. The committee expects to meet monthly and develop a set of recommendations by the end of 2006. Committee meetings are open to the public. As part of this process, there will also be specific opportunities for public comment. For further information, please contact Stephanie Jennings, Planning and Development Department, at 682-5529. New Signal Offers Safer Access to Pool and Community Center th A new traffic signal at the corner of East 26 Avenue and Hilyard Street is scheduled to go into operation next Tuesday, June 20, weather permitting. The new signal will replace a mid-block pedestrian signal located a half block to the south. The relocated signal will provide improved access to Amazon Park, Amazon Pool, and Hilyard Community Center. The new path connecting the Amazon Pool area with the Amazon multi-use path is in line with the new signal location and will provide a direct route for neighbors east of Hilyard Street to access the multi-use path and other park amenities. A dedicated northbound left turn lane will help accommodate higher traffic demand in the summer and fall when pool use is high. Additional design features include construction of new sidewalk access ramps at all four corners of the intersection, separation of the southbound bus and right-turning movements, and audible pedestrian signals to assist people with visual impairments. The northbound bus stop on Hilyard Street near the mid-block crossing th and Hilyard intersection to provide more convenient bus access. Nine will move to just north of the 26 parking spaces on the east side of Hilyard were removed to accommodate the improved design. Eugene Public Works staff worked with closely with neighbors on the signal relocation project, which resulted from public input during the Amazon Park master planning process. Cherry City Electric was the contractor on the $152,000 project. Funding came from the 1998 park and open space bond measure and from local transportation system development charges. For more information, contact Project Manager Matt Rodrigues at 682-6036. Guide to City’s “Fun For All” Summer Programs Now Available The resource guide to the Recreation Division’s drop-in Fun For All program is now available at City community centers and online (A copy is provided in the City Council packet.) Funded by the 2002 Youth Levy, Fun For All offers dozens of free recreational programs, events and fun for kids ages 7 and up (under 7 years, if accompanied by someone at least age 15) at 11 neighborhood parks from June 26 through August 25. As with all other Youth and Family Service programs, Fun For All employs the 40 Developmental Assets as a foundation, building on the concept that young people need positive external support and internal strengths in order to succeed in life. Youth need their community to help nurture these assets. Some activities on tap this year include the Roving Story Teller, featuring celebrity readers (including Mayor Piercy), Team Adventure raft trip and bike program, U of O Roving Artist and the Library’s Summer Reading Program. In FY05, Fun For All attendance was 26,983 with 16,850 free meals provided by the Food For Lane County Summer Food Program. The guide also lists information on many other free and low-cost Recreation Division summer activities. For more information about Fun For All, contact Petersen Barn Recreation Programmer Raquel Wells at 682-6380, or Recreation Program Assistant Peter Chavannes at 682-5521. Workshops Explore Enhanced Walking and Biking Environment on 18th Avenue An upcoming pavement preservation project on 18th Avenue between Hilyard and Agate Streets presents an opportunity to enhance the pedestrian and bicycling environment on this street. Public Works Engineering transportation planning staff will hold two workshops -- on June 20 and 29 -- to engage the community in developing a plan for making improvements. It is anticipated that the outcome of this planning effort will result in a grant application to the ODOT Pedestrian and Bicycle Program later this summer. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 June 19, 2006 The section of 18th between Alder and Agate is the only part of 18th Avenue without bicycle lanes and was identified in TransPlan as a priority bikeway project that would entail adding bike lanes. There is also a poor pedestrian environment on the north side of 18th, especially between University and Agate streets where a narrow sidewalk, parking meter posts, and a chain link fence create an uncomfortable walking environment. At the June 20 workshop, transportation planning staff will ask members of the public to discuss their perceptions of 18th Avenue and make suggestions for pedestrian and bicycle enhancements. At the June 29 workshop, staff will present a draft plan for improvements and ask for feedback. Both workshops will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Agate Hall Auditorium, located on Agate Street across from the intersection with 18th Avenue. For more information, please contact Pedestrian and Bicycle Coordinator Lee Shoemaker at 682-5471 or . lee.shoemaker@ci.eugene.or.us th Annual ‘We Are Bethel’ Celebration Provides a Full Day of Family Fun 5 th More than 2,000 adults and children attended the 5 annual ‘We Are Bethel Celebration’ on Saturday, June 3, at Petersen Barn Community Center, 870 Berntzen Road. Recreation Services Division staff organized and presented the free event for the first time without the assistance of the Bethel Weed and Seed Program, which provided staff and financial support in previous years. Tickets for the Club Bethel Youth carnival were just 25 cents and raised $2,000 that will be used for future special events for the after school program. The celebration featured a full line up of entertainment, including the first of the Summer Concerts in the Park by local favorite, The Sugar Beets, and a demonstration by Border Collies International in which world-class canine champions caught Frisbees and baseballs on the fly. Community booths included information and activities, such as the Recreation Services’ water safety booth and dunk tank and the Eugene Public Library's Summer Reading sign-up and crafts booth. For more information, contact Petersen Barn Recreation Activity Coordinator Ray Cole at 682-6042. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4 June 19, 2006