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Home My WebLink AboutCity Council Newsletter - 06/29/06 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER June 29, 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 SMOKE TESTING OF SEWER LINES BEGINS JULY 5 JULY-IN-MOTION CELBRATES BICYCLING, WALKING IN EUGENE ART-O-MAT® TAKES SUMMER VACATION AT THE HULT CENTER YOUTH RECREATION SERVICES AND POLICE—A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP AROUND THE CITY Smoke Testing Of Sewer Lines Begins July 5 Approximately 40 miles of sanitary sewer lines in Eugene are scheduled to be smoke tested beginning Wednesday, July 5. The testing locates defects and improper connections that allow stormwater runoff and groundwater to enter the public wastewater collection system. A secondary goal of this pilot project will be to assess the effectiveness of the methods and materials of recent collection system improvements. The smoke testing results will also provide some insights into the conditions of private building service lines, which are the lines that connect homes and businesses to the public system. This year's testing includes portions of the wastewater collection system in the Friendly, Amazon, th Southeast, Jefferson Westside, and Fairmount neighborhoods. Testing will begin in the area of 26 Avenue and Tyler Street and is expected to take several months to complete. During the tests, which are endorsed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nontoxic, white smoke is released into sanitary sewer lines to identify problems. Residents are notified before testing begins in their neighborhood. The smoke will not harm plants or animals and will quickly dissipate, leaving no residue or stains. After smoke is blown into a sewer line, crew members watch for tell-tale signs of deteriorated lines or improper connections. White smoke rising from the ground generally indicates a crack or other defect in a sewer line. Smoke coming from a roof gutter, downspout or area drain indicates that a storm drain is improperly connected to the wastewater collection system. Deteriorated sewer lines and improper stormwater connections cause a problem called inflow and infiltration. The region's wastewater collection and treatment system is designed to carry only so much water and sewage. Inflow and infiltration of stormwater runoff and groundwater can overload the system, increasing the difficulty and cost of transporting and treating wastewater. If smoke testing reveals a defect in the public portion of the wastewater collection system, the defect is corrected as soon as possible. If extensive defects are found, capital rehabilitation projects are planned, funded and completed to correct the problem. If smoke testing identifies a stormwater connection prohibited in the City code, such as a roof drain connected to the sanitary sewer, the property owner is notified and is required to correct the problem. If the testing indicates a defect in the private portion of the sewer (usually in the line that connects the building to the public sewer), the owner is notified of potential problems with the sewer, and repair or replacement of the defective line is recommended. For more information about the City's smoke testing program can Carla Spangler, I/I investigation project manager, at 682-4800, or carla.y.spangler@ci.eugene.or.us EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 June 29, 2006 July-in-Motion celebrates Bicycling, Walking in Eugene Celebrate walking and biking in Eugene throughout the month of July. July-in-Motion is comprised of a number of activities throughout the month, including bike rides geared toward riders of varying skill level, walking tours, and other fun and educational events. Highlights include Bike Fest 06 – A Weekend of Bike Themed Films sponsored by DIVA, a public lecture on bicycle laws by attorney Ray Thomas, and the People Powered Festival on July 27. Most rides and walks are coordinated by leaders from local clubs such as the Greater Eugene Area Riders (GEARs), Obsidians, and other community groups. A complete calendar of July-in-Motion events can be viewed by going to www.eugene-or.gov and clicking on the People Powered Festival link. All who register on the July-in-Motion website will have a chance to win prizes offered by local businesses. Residents and commuters in Eugene may register by entering online and making a commitment to utilize non-motorized transportation at least once each week during the month of July. Registration information is also available at WheelWorks, Paul’s Bicycle Way of Life, Collins Cycle Shop, Blue Heron Bicycles, Hutch’s, Bike Barn, and REI. July-in-Motion will culminate with the People Powered Festival on July 27, from 4 to 7 p.m. on the East Park block in downtown Eugene. The festival event includes live music by local band Riffle, an exhibition by the McCornack Unicycle Club, the Maltese Fulcrum Kinetic Sculpture, free ice cream from Prince Pucklers, and information and prizes from local bike shops and manufacturers. The Center for Appropriate Transportation (CAT) will be on hand to provide free valet bicycle parking. July-in-Motion and the People Powered Festival are sponsored by the City of Eugene, Commuter Solutions, and PeaceHealth to encourage biking and walking in our community. For more information, please contact Transportation Options Coordinator Cindy Clarke at 682-5285 or cindy.j.clarke@ci.eugene.or.us. Art-o-mat® Takes Summer Vacation at the Hult Center Cultural Services staff is excited that the Hult Center will be the summer home for Lane Community College’s (LCC) Art-o-mat. While at the Hult this summer, enjoying the Bach Festival (June 30 – July 16) or the Oregon Festival of American Music (Aug. 3-12), any patron who dares to spend $5 for Art-o- mat art might wind up purchasing a masterpiece. Art-o-mat machines are retired cigarette vending machines that have been converted to vend art. Over 80 Art-o-mat machines across the country are loaded with original works by 400 artists from the U.S. and abroad. Artists in Cellophane (A.I.C.) is the sponsoring organization of Art-o-mat. Founded in 1997, the organization used the concept of taking art and “repackaging” it to make it part of our daily lives. The mission of A.I.C. is to encourage art consumption by combining the worlds of art and commerce in an innovative form. The LCC Art-o-mat includes art by LCC students. Choices include pieces such as “Family Jewels” or “People in My Neighborhood,” or for the adventurous—the “?Mystery Slot.” The experience of pulling the knob alone is quite a thrill, but purchasers will also walk away with an original work of art. For $5, it’s an easy way to become an art collector. The Art-o-mat will reside at the Hult Center until Thursday, September 21, 2006, and regular hours are Tuesday – Friday, 12:00 noon – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., and one hour before performances. For more information, contact Billie Rathbun-Moser, marketing and public relations manager at 541.682.8380. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 June 29, 2006 Youth Recreation Services and Police—A Successful Partnership Eugene's second Eugene Police Activity League (EPAL) camp was a smashing success for the first week of summer. EPAL, a partnership between the Police and Youth Recreation, encourages cops and kids to build community together through recreation. On the first Monday after school ended, 94 kids, ages 8- 14, converged on Jefferson Middle School to have nonstop fun. Hard-working and creative recreation instructors led 10 police officers and their teams of 8-12 youth in a series of diverse activities. Every participant had the opportunity to try something they had never done before; activities ranged from art projects to football. The Spencer Butte Challenge Course was a special favorite, where teams got to balance on the Log Jam and climb high up in the trees for the High Circuit. The Amazing Mini Race challenged the teams to work together to solve puzzles and race in timed event relays. Community Service Officer Harlow Meno taught a series of classes on leadership and how to develop good decision- making skills. Special thanks to: OSU Extension's Nutrition Education Program, Food for Lane County, 4J and EPD volunteers for helping to make this camp a truly unique and fulfilling community experience. Everyone went home tired, happy and asking when the next camp begins. For more information, contact Recreation Programmer Gina Tafoya at 682-6304. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 June 29, 2006