HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Newsletter - 10/26/06
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
October 26, 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
CITY MANAGER ELECTED TO LEAGUE OF OREGON CITIES BOARD OF DIRECTORS
LRCS DIRECTOR APPOINTED AS CHAIR OF NATIONAL SOCIETY
PARK BLOCKS VISION FOR THE FUTURE
EUGENE’S 2006 LEAF PROGRAM BEGINS OCTOBER 30
EPL’S NEW PUBLIC INTERNET AND PRINT SYSTEM EASY TO USE, SAVES TIME AND MONEY
ENCHANCING MEDIA RELATIONS
RIVERPLAY WINS PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
FIRE PREVENTION EDUCATION EFFORTS UNDERWAY
KAKEGAWA DELEGATION VISITS EUGENE
WEATHER SERVICE, PUBLIC WORKS OFFER SAFETY TIPS FOR WINTER WEATHER
AROUND THE CITY
City Manager Elected to League of Oregon Cities Board of Directors
City Manager Dennis Taylor was elected to the League of Oregon Cities (LOC) Board of Directors during
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its 81 annual conference held in Portland on September 28-30. Board members are elected by LOC’s
general membership. Taylor joins 14 other board members who hail from cities across the state.
Founded in 1925 and governed by a 15-member board of directors, the LOC is an association of 241
incorporated cities throughout the state. LOC’s core mission is to work for strong, livable communities.
Its primary functions are to advocate, inform and educate. LOC partners with its member cities to help
local governments better serve citizens of Oregon. Eugene was one of the charter members of the LOC
in 1925. At that time, the group adopted a legislative program that called for submission of a
constitutional amendment that would guarantee cities in Oregon full control of their own affairs and
restrict legislative interference with the home rule prerogatives of other cities. For more information
contact Dennis Taylor at 682-5010.
LRCS Director Appointed as Chair of National Society
LRCS Executive Director Angel Jones was elected as the incoming
President of the National Recreation and Park Ethnic Minority Society
(NRPEMS) at the 2006 National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)
Congress in Seattle earlier this month. Angel will assume presidency at the
2007 NRPA Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana next September.
NRPEMS, an affiliate of the NRPA, is an organization of minority group
members who have joined together to represent the recreation, park and
related leisure service interests and rights of racial and ethnic minorities,
while participating in the mission of the park and recreation profession to
serve the public. NRPEMS extends its resources, energy, and expertise to
the NRPA and to park and recreation programs over the broadest possible range of public needs and
desires.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
October 26, 2006
The primary NRPEMS objectives are:
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Unite all persons concerned with ethnic minorities in the park and recreation movement,
including municipal, private, voluntary, institutional, church, educational, commercial, tourism
and industrial organizations.
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Serve as an exchange medium of information on all ethnic minority matters pertaining to leisure
programs and activities.
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Perpetuate racial sensitivity in all participants to ensure that minorities in influential positions
are represented adequately within the professional association.
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Reflect an accurate history and culture of minorities through leisure action programs.
Ms. Jones’ extensive leadership experience and accomplishment in the areas of minority support, parks,
and recreation will help ensure that the NRPEMS vision and mission will be realized. For more
information, contact LRCS Executive Assistant Maureen Robeson at 682-6065.
Park Blocks Vision for the Future
A Master Plan for the downtown Park Blocks is now available. In development since last spring, the
Eugene Park Blocks Master Plan provides a vision for the future of Eugene’s most vital downtown urban
open space. The Master Plan builds on a series of public involvement and visioning processes,
beginning with the Park Blocks Placemaking process in 2000. The Master Plan is intended to be a
guide that will enable the decisions made concerning improvements to the Park Blocks and surrounding
areas to be consistent, organized, and supporting the future vision for the Park Blocks.
The Park Blocks Master Plan was developed by an advisory committee composed of representatives
from Downtown Eugene, Inc., Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts, Downtown Neighborhood
Association, Lane County Farmers Market, and Saturday Market, as well as staff from Lane County and
the City of Eugene. In addition to meeting with interested groups, the Master Plan benefited from input
received at two public meetings held to inform the planning process. The Master Plan is available
through the City of Eugene web site at:
http://www.eugene-
or.gov/portal/server.pt?space=CommunityPage&cached=true&parentname=CommunityPage&parentid=
0&in_hi_userid=2&control=SetCommunity&CommunityID=210&PageID=1727
For additional information about the Park Blocks Master Plan, please contact Glen Svendsen, Facility
Management Division Manager, at 682-5008 or by email to glen.l.svendsen@ci.eugene.or.us.
Eugene’s 2006 Leaf Program Begins October 30
Each year, the Eugene Public Works Department collects
more than 15,000 cubic yards of leaves in an effort to
keep leaves from plugging the storm drainage system and
degrading water quality in local streams. With that volume
of material on city streets, it’s important that local
residents pay attention to some important leaf disposal
tips:
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Consider using leaves as compost or mulch rather
than piling them in the street.
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Pile leaves well away from catch basins. If a catch
basin does plug, scrape the leaves away from the
grate.
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Remove leaves from sidewalks. Wet, slippery
leaves are a hazard to pedestrians.
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Avoid putting leaves in bike lanes. If leaves are deposited in a bike lane, place them in rows so
they do not block the flow of water, and leave at least half the bike lane clear.
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Place leaves so they do not obstruct the flow of traffic. Piles that even partially block a traffic
lane can cause motorists to swerve into oncoming traffic.
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Leave at least 15 feet between leaf piles and parked cars.
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Keep leaf piles clean. Don’t mix leaves with branches, rocks, or lawn clippings because that
makes it difficult to reuse the leaves for mulch or compost.
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Wait to put leaves in the street until the weekend before the scheduled pickup date. Leaves
placed in the street too early tend to blow around or get washed into storm drains.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
October 26, 2006
Eugene Public Works Maintenance crews follow a regular collection schedule. Improved streets with
storm drainage systems receive first priority for leaf removal. Bike lanes along arterials are picked up
weekly. Eugene’s 2006 leaf collection schedule is as follows:
First Round Second Round
Oct. 30 - Nov. 3 west Eugene Dec. 11 - 15 west Eugene
Nov. 6 - 10 central Eugene Dec. 18 - 29 central Eugene
Nov. 13 - 17 north Eugene Jan. 2 - 12 north Eugene
Nov. 20 - Dec. 1 southeast Eugene Jan. 15 - 19 southeast Eugene
Dec. 4 - 8 southwest Eugene Jan. 22 - 26 southwest Eugene
Fliers about this year’s leaf program are included in today’s council packet. Additional information is
available by calling the leaf program hotline at 682-5383, or visiting the web at www.eugene-or.gov/pw
(click on the leaf link). For more information, call Tony Jobanek, Public Works Maintenance supervisor,
at 682-4835.
EPL’s New Public Internet and Print System Easy to Use, Saves Time and Money
New, integrated technology that facilitates public Internet
access and computer printing at Eugene Public Library
has proven to be a big success with the thousands of
people who use these services each week. The Library
recently installed the new technology at all three locations
to meet rising demand for Internet access, improve
customer service, and save taxpayer dollars.
The increased efficiency of the new system has shortened
wait times, allowing a policy change from "one hour of
Internet access per person per day" to "two hours per day
if no one's waiting."
The Library is also adding 22 new public computers,
doubling the number of computers in the Teen Center at
the Downtown Library from four to eight, and adding two
new computers each at Sheldon and Bethel branches. All
Library locations also provide free wireless Internet
access, as well as a 15-minute Internet computer available
at no charge, no card needed.
Benefits of the new system include:
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Increases convenience: quickly find and reserve the next available Internet computer with the
click of a mouse.
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Use a library card or purchase a Day Use card ($1).
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Stay on the Internet for up to two hours if no one’s waiting at the end of the first hour.
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Adds 22 new computers at the Downtown Library, including four in the Teen Center and two each
at Sheldon and Bethel branches.
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Reduces wait times.
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Pre-load money on a library card for hassle-free printing.
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Ensures fair, maximum use of public Internet access.
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?Saves tax dollars by lowering printing costs, preventing abuse of the system, and making better
Increases staff availability to respond to visitors' other questions and needs.
For more information, visit or call Eugene Public Library: 682-5450 (press 2).
Enhancing Media Relations
Key command staff members from the Eugene Fire & EMS Department met this week with several
members of the local media. Representatives from television, radio, and newspaper participated in a
working lunch with Fire officials to discuss different ways to support each other during emergency and
routine activities.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
October 26, 2006
From the Fire & EMS Department’s perspective, delivering accurate information about emergency
incidents is essential. From the media perspective, receiving timely information about emergencies is
very important. There were a wide variety of discussions, which included topics such as the best way to
deliver Fire & EMS public service announcements, as well as the diverse activities the Fire Department
is
involved in that would be most interesting and newsworthy to viewers and listeners. Overall, it was a
very positive meeting, and all parties agreed to continue working together to build and maintain a
collaborative working relationship. For more information please contact A/Deputy Chief Operations
Randy DeWitt at 682-7130.
RiverPlay Wins People’s Choice Awards
RiverPlay Discovery Village took first place in the landscape
design category at the American Institute of Landscape Architects
of Southwest Oregon People’s Choice Awards. For 17 years, AIA
has invited citizens to choose their favorite designs in three
architectural categories.
The annual public outreach event is held at the Eugene
Celebration with a purpose to present the recent work of architects
and landscape architects and to encourage the public to critically
engage the built environment.
For more information, contact Principal Landscape Architect,
Principal Landscape Architect Robin Hostick
Robin Hostick at robin.a.hostick@ci.eugene.or.us.
accepts People’s Choice Award.
Fire Prevention Education Efforts Underway
A series of fire prevention messages have begun showing at Valley River
Center’s Regal Cinema Theaters. The messages build upon the statewide
campaign to raise awareness on the subject of candle fires, and the need to
replace and maintain residential smoke alarms.
Future messages will include topics such as, home heating hazards, children
using fire inappropriately and wildfire prevention. A similar series sponsored by
Eugene’s Fire & EMS Department has shown at the Cinemark Theaters. The
effort has expanded to the Regal Theaters now that advertising space has
become available. For more information please contact Eugene Fire Prevention
staff at 682-7100.
Kakegawa Delegation Visits Eugene
On November 21, 2006, ten delegates from Eugene’s Sister City, Kakegawa, Japan, will arrive for a four-
day visit to Eugene. Their visit will include a tour of the State Capitol in Salem, a meeting with Mayor
Piercy, and tours of City Hall and the Eugene Public Library. They will also enjoy the sights and culture of
Eugene and share Thanksgiving dinner with local homestay families. The event is being hosted and
sponsored by the Eugene-Kakegawa Sister City Committee on behalf of the City of Eugene. This is the
29th Anniversary of the sister city relationship between Eugene and Kakegawa. A Friendship Dinner to
celebrate the sister city relationship and to honor the guests from Kakegawa will be held on Wednesday,
November 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel. The community is invited to this event. The price is $30
for general admission. To attend the event, please RSVP to (541) 345-0858 by November 13.
The Eugene-Kakegawa Sister City Committee is a group of Eugene area citizens who volunteer time to
further the many relationships between citizens and city governments. For twenty-nine years the group
has been helping coordinate the exchange of delegations and homestays between Eugene and
Kakegawa. The committee is committed to promoting events and activities which lead to greater
understanding between American and Japanese people. For more information about this event and the
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4
October 26, 2006
Eugene-Kakegawa Sister City Committee, contact Mary Walston at (541) 682-5406.
Weather Service, Public Works Offer Safety Tips for Winter Weather
Although the official start of winter is almost two months away, ‘tis the season for winter weather
awareness to begin. The National Weather Service is holding a Pacific Northwest winter weather
awareness campaign this week to help educate the public on winter weather hazards. Media outlets
across Oregon, Washington and Idaho have been asked to participate by running stories on subjects
such as winter weather safety, outlooks/watches/warnings/advisories, snow storms/blizzards/ice
storms/wind chill, floods, and wind storms. More information on winter weather preparedness can be
found at www.nws.noaa.gov/om/winter/index.shtml
Closer to home, the Public Works Department on Sunday will run its annual notification of ice-snow
emergency routes in The Register-Guard on Sunday, Oct. 29. During winter storms – sleet, freezing
rain, or icy weather – or when one inch or more of snow accumulates on streets, the City may ban
parking along priority routes. Prohibiting onstreet parking and towing stranded vehicles on priority routes
allows emergency vehicles to move safety and assists with snow- and ice-removal operations. The
notice also reminds property owners that they are responsible for keeping sidewalks free of ice and snow
in front of their homes and businesses. For more information on Eugene’s ice-snow emergency plan,
contact Public Works Surface Operations Manager Eric Johnson at 682-4904.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 5
October 26, 2006