HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Newsletter - 03/10/05EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
March 10, 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
COURT VIDEO PRODUCED TO ASSIST SPANISH SPEAKERS
EUGENE SYMPHONY PRESENTS DVORAK'S NEW WORLD SYMPHONY
CONSOLIDA TED PLAN PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION A T FIRST FRIDAY ARTWALK
BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT BETHEL
PROGRAMS
EUGENE PUBLIC WORKS TO HOLD SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT OPEN HOUSE
REGISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY GARDENS BEGINS MARCH 17
APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR WHILAMUT NATURAL AREA CITIZEN PLANNING COMMITTEE
Court Video Produced to Assist Spanish Speakers
Spanish speakers who come to Municipal Court for Paso a Paso Spanish arraignment sessions, held
twice each month, will now have more up-to-date information. In addition to having a Spanish-speaking
volunteer advocate available to help people through the court process, Paso a Paso also offers a
Spanish informational video. The current video shows the court process from the time someone gets
cited through fine payment, explaining each step as well as a person's legal rights. Unfortunately the
video is 10 years old; the people, scenes and information are all outdated.
Through the cooperation of various City departments, Metro TV, area business and service
organizations, and many community members, a new Spanish informational video about the court
system has been filmed and is in the process of being edited. The planning, scripting and filming of the
video was coordinated by Court Operations Supervisor Kristie Hammitt, who was assisted by Heidi
Dotson from Court and Francisca Leyva-Johnson of the Human Rights staff. The filming took place at
the University of Oregon bookstore, Centro LatinoAmericano, Whiteaker Public Safety Station, on the
street, and in the courtrooms and offices of Municipal Court at City Hall. The Metro TV team and various
actors spent over eight hours setting up the various scenes and doing the actual filming. Nine City staff
members were involved in the production of the new video, as well as including two police officers; two
interpreters; one attorney; one judge; and over 14 community members.
The new video is expected to be completed and ready for use in April. Paso a Paso court sessions are
nd th
held every 2 and 4 Monday at 8:30 a.m. For more information, or to view the video, contact Kristie
Hammitt at 682-5019.
Eugene Symphony Presents Dvorak's New World Symphony
On March 17, the Eugene Symphony presents a concert of best-loved works. Under
the direction of guest conductor, Sergio Benal, the symphony will perform three all-
time favorites - The New World Symphony and Carnival Overture by Antonin Dvorak
and Joaqin Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez.
Dvorak's journey to America inspired two of his landmark pieces: The New World
Symphony, an enchanting, quintessentially American work, with two of the most
gorgeous slow movements ever written; and the Carnival Overture, a piece on the
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March 17, 2005
equanimity of nature and the happy soul of a human being, which has consistently charmed audiences
since its composition. Both pieces were written during Dvorak's stay in America (1892-1895) while he
was the Director for the National Conservatory in New York, and have a distinctive American sound.
The highly evocative Concierto de Aranjuez will be performed by guest soloist David Tanenbaum and is
the most popular guitar concerto around the world. Concertgoers flock to hear these pieces. Don't miss
your chance. For more information, contact the Hult Center Ticket Office at 682-5000.
Consolidated Plan Public Information Session at First Friday ArtWalk
The cities of Eugene and Springfield have drafted a new
Consolidated Plan to guide the use of federal HUD funds to
benefit Iow-income persons over the next five years.
The plan is an inter-jurisdictional effort to identify needs and
formulate a five-year strategic plan to address needs for
housing, homeless, and community development. As part
of the outreach effort, the two cities sponsored a kids' art
competition for images to be used on the cover of the
Eugene-Springfield Consolidated Plan 2005 and
subsequent one-year action plans. Kids living in affordable
housing projects were asked to submit entries. At the ~
March 4th First Friday Art Walk, all of the kids' art was on
display in a Willamette Street storefront. The young artists
came with their families to view the art and receive their
awards. Copies of the draft Consolidated Plan were
available and a 30-day public comment period is now open. The plan comes to the City Council for
action in May. For more information, contact Linda Dawson, Planning and Development Department,
682-5071.
Businesses and Community I_eaders Come Toqether to Support Bethel Proqrams
On March 14, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Petersen Barn Community Center (870 Berntzen Road),
a special dinner event will be hosted by the Bethel Weed and Seed Initiative for Bethel area businesses
and community leaders. The purpose of the dinner is to raise awareness of
and support for Bethel Weed and Seed's three main programs: The Bethel
Public Safety Station, RecZone@Club Bethel, and the We Are Bethel
Celebration. These programs were identified as priorities in a 2003 survey
of the Active Bethel Citizens and Trainsong Neighbors neighborhoods. The
programs provide public safety and police services, programming for at-risk
youth and families, and community-building for the Bethel/Trainsong area.
The Bethel Weed and Seed Initiative provided a series of grants from the
federal Department of Justice to help establish these programs. However,
Weed and Seed's portion of funding for these programs will be ending in
September 2005.
The dinner's attendee list includes Mayor Kitty Piercy, City Councilors
Andrea Ortiz, Jennifer Solmon, and Chris Pryor, Police Chief Robert Lehner,
and numerous Bethel area businesses, including three local area banks. A special effort was made to
invite local banks interested in opportunities to invest their Community Reinvestment Act dollars to the
dinner. Presentations will be given on all three programs and opportunities to support them will range
from volunteering and in-kind goods and services to cash contributions.
For more information, contact the Bethel Weed and Seed Coordinator in the Planning and Development
Department. Lorna Flormoe may be reached 682-5293 or via e-mail, Iorna. flormoe@ci, eugene, or. us.
Eu.qene Public Works to Hold Seasonal Employment Open House
The Public Works Department will hold a seasonal employment information session on Wednesday,
March 16, at 5:30 p.m. in the Building 2 conference room at Public Works Maintenance, 1820 Roosevelt
Boulevard. The open house is an opportunity for potential candidates to learn more about the
department and seasonal employment opportunities, meet and network with hiring supervisors, and pick
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March 17, 2005
up application packets for these seasonal positions. Approximately 12 Public Works supervisors from
the hiring work areas participate in the annual open house which will include a PowerPoint presentation
highlighting stormwater, parks, wetlands, wastewater, transportation, and tree and street maintenance
opportunities, as well the application process and job requirements.
Each summer, Eugene Public Works hires
between 35 and 50 seasonal employees who
perform services such as parks, grounds and
wetlands maintenance, building and custodial
maintenance projects, concrete and asphalt
projects (see photo at right), bike path
maintenance, street striping, and curb
painting. Applicants must be at least 18 years
of age, and the pay ranges from $8 to $11 per
hour. While the seasonal positions are
temporary, they do provide on-the-job
experience and can help those employed in
this capacity be more competitive in future,
entry-level, permanent employment
application processes. For more information
about the upcoming open house or other
Public Works employment opportunities, call Della Diller, Public Works human resource specialist, at
682-5076. For more information about seasonal postings, call Human Resource and Risk Services at
682-5061 or visit ~overnmentjobs.com/eu egene. Applications are available in the Human
Resource and Risk Services offiice at City Hall, 777 Pearl Street, Room 101.
Registration for Community Gardens Beqins March 17
Bring your rake and hoe and sign-up for a piece of fertile ground at one of Eugene's six community
gardens. Registration begins Thursday, March 17, at the Parks and Open Space Division office at 1820
Roosevelt Boulevard and will continue Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the plots are
filled. There are plots available at the following garden sites:
· Amazon at 27th and High (4 plots),
· Mathews at 15th and Hayes (22 plots),
· Whiteaker at the end of North Polk (33 plots),
· River House at 301 North Adams (4 plots), and
· Skinner City Farm at the west end of Skinner Butte Park.
In the last year, close to 70 plots were created with
the addition of Skinner City Farm and the
expansion of Alton Baker Community Gardens.
Also, new amenities were added such as
wheelchair-accessible plots at the new Alton Baker
site and larger, organizational sites, gardening
demonstrations and educational programming at
Skinner City Farm.
"With the addition of more plots and a whole new
garden, we're hoping to give even more people
the opportunity to join the community gardens
family," says Matt McRae, the program's manager.
Rent is $60 per year for a 20-by-30-foot plot and
includes access to tools and water and a garden
site manager. Eugene's Community Gardens
Program has been offering residents the
opportunity to cultivate a plot of land since 1978.
For more information, call Matt McRae, Community Gardens manager, at 682-4845 or visit the program
on the web at www.ci.eugene.or, us/parks/howto/commgardens.htm. For information about the
availability of plots at specific locations, call 682-4800.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
March 17, 2005
APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR WHILAMUT NATURAL AREA CITIZEN PLANNING COMMITTEE
Applicants are being sought for four positions on the Citizen Planning Committee for the Whilamut
Natural Area of Alton Baker Park. The committee, comprised of 15 citizens from Eugene and
Springfield, is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the East Alton Baker Park Plan.
Applicants for these four positions must be residents of Eugene. Prior experience is not required, but an
interest in park planning and activities is desirable. The Mayor of Eugene nominates candidates for
membership and the City Council confirms the appointments. The terms are for three years. Committee
meetings are held once every three months, with additional sub-committee meetings scheduled as
needed.
Applications are available online at www.ci.eugene.or, us or at the City Manager's Office at Room 105,
777 Pearl Street, Eugene. A supplemental questionnaire is also required. Both the form and
supplemental questionnaire can be downloaded here. The deadline for submission of applications is
Friday, March 18 at 5:00 p.m. The final appointments are expected on April 11.
For more information on the Whilamut Natural Area of Alton Baker Park and on the Citizen Planning
Committee, visit www. ci. eugene, or. us/PARKS/altonbaker/WHIL_park, htm
For additional information on the application process contact Mary Walston, City Manager's Office, at
682-5406, or email mary. f. walston@ci, eugene, or. us.
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