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Home My WebLink AboutCC Newsletter - 06/09/05EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER June 9, 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 NEXT SERIES OF PAVEMENT PRESERVATION PROJECTS TO START JUNE 13 SUMMER READING FOR ALL 6th ANNUAL PEOPLE POWERED FRIDAYS - SPIN AND WIN! RIVERPLA Y CONSTRUCTION BEGINS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES HELP RAISE NEEDED FUNDS BOCCE IN MONROE PARK Next Series of Pavement Preservation Projects to Start June ~3 The next series of local pavement preservation projects is scheduled to begin the week of June 13 and th th th th will include repairs to Chambers Street (8 to 11 avenues), City View Street (11 to 18 avenues), and Kevington Avenue (Warren Drive to Brittany Street). Local residents received postcards this week letting them know that work is about to start. Eugene Sand and Gravel was awarded the contract for this series of projects, which include grinding off the paving along the edges of the streets, making subsurface repairs as necessary, and repaving and restriping the full width of the streets. During construction, onstreet parking will be prohibited at times, but no permanent changes will be made to parking or lane configurations. On Kevington Avenue, portions of the sidewalk will be closed for construction of new sidewalk access ramps. General contractor Wildish Construction has completed preliminary work on 28th avenue (Friendly to City View streets), and paving is being done as weather allows. The contract has been expanded slightly to include constructing sidewalk access ramps at the intersections of 28th Avenue and Garfield and City View streets. Wildish Construction also was the successful Iow bidder for repair work to Crescent Avenue (Coburg Road to Tulip Street). That work likely will begin in late June or early July. On June 14, Public Works Engineering staff plans to open bids for the final series of projects - 11th Avenue (Pearl to Charnelton Streets), Willakenzie Road (Coburg Road to Cai Young Road), and Bertelsen Road (Royal Avenue to Roosevelt Boulevard). Work on those streets is not expected to begin until July. In total, this year's pavement preservation projects aim to repair 12 lane miles of Eugene streets at a cost of approximately $3.5 million. The streets selected for repairs are those that have not yet fallen into the expensive-to-fix reconstruction category but that will soon fail unless they receive surface maintenance. The primary source of funding for the paving work is Eugene's local 5-cent-per-gallon motor vehicle fuel tax. For more information about this summer's pavement preservation projects, call Project Manager Matt Rodrigues at 682-6032. Summer Readinq for All This summer take a great book with you on vacation - or take a vacation by reading! Summer Reading sign-ups for all ages start Friday, June 17 at all Eugene Public Library (EPL) locations. Summer Reading programs for youth are free, fun, and more - they keep reading skills up while school's out and introduce kids and teens to new ideas, friends, and things to do. Kids delve into "Dragons, EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 June 9, 2005 Dreams, and Daring Deeds" at the Summer Reading Opening Festival, Friday, June 17, with a magic show at Sheldon Community Center (11 a.m.) and a fabulous Fun Faire at the Downtown Library (1 - 4 p.m.). Pick up special sign-up gifts and a calendar of free weekly workshops created in collaboration with University of Oregon's Youth Enrichment Program. Teens will have the opportunity to try their hands at medieval arts and adventures at the Joust Read Festival, Monday, June 20, 2 - 4 p.m., at the Downtown Library. Free clip-on wallets, a calendar of summer sessions for storytelling, "speed chess," mask-making, catapult-creating, and more will be available. This year, grown-ups can get in on the action with EPL's new Summer Reading for Adults. Read three books, return brief reviews, and get a free coffee at Novella Cafe! Starting June 17, drop in to get official review forms, a 100 Years notebook honoring EPL's centennial, as well as 100-themed booklists, such as 100 Best Mysteries of the 20th Century; news about EPL book groups, and tips for using NoveList, the database that points the way to books users will love. Participants can even win a stay at the literary-themed Sylvia Beach Hotel, with a 100 Years bookbag full of great reads. As always, Library staff is happy to provide visitors of all ages with personal assistance in finding books to match interests and mood -just ask. Come in and sign up for Summer Reading! For more information about Summer Reading programs for all ages, contact Tylar Merrill, Eugene Public Library, 682-6349. 6Th Annual People Powered Fridays - Spin and Win! Spin the wheel and win a prize as part of the first People Powered Fridays celebration event Friday, June 17, from 7 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. on the southeast side of the Ferry Street Bridge near the DeFazio Pedestrian Bridge. Free coffee and bagels from Full City Coffee Roasters and BagelSphere, registrations for People Powered Fridays and an opportunity to win a Fuji Regis commuter bicycle from WheelWorks will be included in the celebration. "People Powered Fridays benefit everyone", says Cindy Clarke, Transportation Options Coordinator for the City of Eugene. "Those who bike and walk benefit from the fresh air and from the exercise, and those who choose not to or cannot participate benefit from the reduction of vehicles on the road, making their commute easier." People Powered Fridays is an opportunity for residents and commuters in the Eugene area to take advantage of the area's wonderful summer weather and find a fun way to avoid traffic congestion, save money, and also improve their personal health by committing to using a non-motorized form of transportation once a week, like biking or walking. Registrations are accepted online at www.ci.eu.qene.or, us, at the Eugene Public Library, or at any of the Grand Prize sponsors retail outlets. Prizes for this year include a Fuji Regis from WheelWorks, a clothing package from REI, a bicycle accessories kit from Collins Cycle Shop, a Raleigh C30 from Paul's Bicycle Way of Life, and two complete sets of rain gear from Burley Design Cooperative. For more information on People Powered Fridays, please contact Cindy Clarke at 682-5285 or Lee Shoemaker at 682-5471. RiverPlay Construction Beqins and Local Businesses Help Raise Needed Funds Construction of Eugene's first regional playground at Skinner Butte Park began this week, and business owners are stepping up to ensure that Phase 1of the playground is as spectacular as possible. On Saturday, June 18, a percentage of all sales at '~ Unique Eugene outlets will be donated to RiverPlay. Participating ,.* businesses include: Dot Dotson's, Blue Moon, Down to Earth, ~ ~!~ Eugene Toy & Hobby, Footwise, Greater Goods, Harlequin Beads ~: & Jewelry, Newman's, Oregon Art Supply, Pacific Winds Music, .' Passionflower Design, Paul's Bicycle Way of Life, Rainbow Optics, Saturday Market, Smith Family Bookstore, Sundance EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 June 9, 2005 Natural Foods, and Tactics Boardshop. Each business will donate a minimum of $100. "Just like the RiverPlay playground at Skinner Butte Park, Unique Eugene members celebrate the unique spirit of Eugene," says Evon Smith, owner of Smith Family Bookstore and member of the Unique Eugene consortium. "By shopping at one of our Unique Eugene stores on June 18, you, too, are investing in our community, both by buying local first and contributing to RiverPlay!" The following Saturday, June 25, from 6 p.m. to midnight, the Eugene Rotary Club and Eugene City Brewery invite the community to a party at the brewery at 844 Olive Street. The party includes live local bands, Fuzz and Android Ethic, raffles, an outdoor barbeque, more than 30 microbrews on tap, and a wide variety of non-alcoholic beverages. Minors are welcome until 10 p.m. For $15 in advance or $20 at the door, partygoers receive an entrance mug, two tickets to try any of the 30 microbrews on tap or unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, and one raffle ticket. Entrance mug packages can be purchased directly at the Eugene City Brewery any time prior to the day of the event. "Now that construction of the playground has begun and it's actually taking shape, everyone's hard work and efforts are beginning to materialize," says Bob Mylenek, the chair of Eugene Rotary's RiverPlay fundraising committee. "However, our job is not complete until the last play structure is in place in this one-acre playground packed with fun for children of all ages and abilities." Proceeds from both events will help Eugene Rotary and the City reach final fundraising goals for Phase 1 of the playground. Phase 1 of the RiverPlay playground includes a mammoth play replica of Skinner Butte, two water features, the millrace and the rain circle, which represents the origins of the Willamette River, a child-operated ferry, stagecoach, and the pioneer village. Subsequent phases will include an ancient history sand dig, miniature Willamette River, old mill play structure, and Kalapuya village. For more information about RiverPlay or either fundraiser, contact Carrie Peterson, park development coordinator, at 682-4907 or visit www.ci.eugene.or, us/parks/riverplay. Bocce in Monroe Park While happy dogs looked on and kids ran off with the target balls, about a dozen neighbors took part last Thursday evening in the first of many summer Bocce sessions, providing an idyllic example of what a neighborhood park can be--a place where friends, families and neighbors can relax and enjoy each other's company. The simple game of Bocce, or lawn bowling, is like a cross between bowling and horseshoes; the goal is to roll or throw a croquet-sized bocce ball as close to a golf-ball sized target ball, or pallina, as possible. Bocce, as we know it today, originated in Italy, though ancient Egyptians using polished rocks played similar forms of the game as far back as 5000 BC. A sport of nobility and peasants alike that required little equipment and could be played anywhere, Bocce spread with the Roman Empire throughout Europe. Though the game suffered many setbacks, it has endured and was brought to the U.S. at the turn of the century by Italian immigrants. Today, millions of players in the U.S. and around the world enjoy the simple game's rejuvenating effects on mind and body. Bocce in Monroe Park is a simple affair--no white leisure suits or Italian accents required. Thursday evening's participants sported a mix of sandals, jeans and baby backpacks, and all seemed to share the goal of bringing fun and community into the neighborhood park. The playing was informal as well, with teams of all ages choosing their challenge level and playing on grass, sand or slopes. Bocce games will occur every other Thursday (June 16, 30, July 14 and 28) from 6:00-8:30 p.m. this summer. No fee or sign-up is necessary. For more information about the Bocce games, check the City of Eugene Recreation Services Spring and Summer Guide, page 23, or call the River House at 682- 5323. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 June 9, 2005