HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Newsletter - 12/07/06
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
December 7, 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
TH
WESTTOWN ON 8 AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
FIRE PREVENTION STRATEGIES
SHELDON POOL AND FITNESS CENTER CLOSED FOR ANNUAL MAINTENANCE
RECREATION GUIDE OFFERS WAYS TO KEEP NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
FAMILIES FLOCK TO PETE BARN’S FIRST FAMILY FUN NIGHT
FIRE STATION TOURS
CONNECT WITH KIDS: FREE WORKSHOPS AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY
AROUND THE CITY
WestTown on 8th Affordable Housing Development
The WestTown on 8th affordable housing development
received State approval for bond financing on December
1, 2006. The developer for WestTown on 8th,
Metropolitan Affordable Housing Corporation, will
proceed with the sale of bonds and hold a
groundbreaking ceremony on December 15 at 10:30 am.
WestTown on 8th will provide 102 housing units
affordable to households with incomes below 60% of
area median income. The development will also include
9 market-rate live-work units along West 8th Avenue.
The WestTown on 8th development supports multiple
City goals related to downtown development, affordable housing, and sustainability. Metropolitan
Affordable Housing Corporation has also worked closely with the WOW Hall and other neighbors. The
City of Eugene assembled and acquired the property using federal CDBG funds and provided multiple
additional subsidies to support the development including federal HOME funds, local funds, and waivers
of charges and fees. For more information, please contact Stephanie Jennings, Housing Finance
Analyst, at 682-5529 or stephanie.a.jennings@ci.eugene.or.us.
Fire Prevention Strategies
As winter looms and the very real possibility of power interruptions exist, the
Eugene Fire & EMS Department takes this opportunity to remind the community
to take care with alternative heat and light sources. By now, ageing smoke
alarms should have been replaced with newer ten-year technology, and furnaces
and chimneys should have been cleaned and serviced. If candles are used this
winter, please remember to never leave them unattended, as candle fires
continue to be a major fire problem in Oregon and throughout the Eugene
community. Fireplaces and woodstoves provide traditional ways to supplement
heating needs. However, please do not store your wood or paper beside them.
One stray ember can result in a disastrous fire for a family. For more
information on fire prevention strategies please contact A/Fire Marshal Doug Perry at 682-7100 or go to
the City’s Website www.eugene-or.gov , then click on Fire & EMS, Fire Prevention.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
December 7, 2006
Sheldon Pool and Fitness Center Closed for Annual Maintenance
Sheldon Swimming Pool and Fitness Center will be closed for annual maintenance from Sunday,
December 17, through Monday, January 1, 2007. The closure affects the pool, fitness center and front
desk. Sheldon Pool and Fitness Center is located at 2443 Willakenzie Rd.
Echo Hollow Pool and Fitness Center at 1655 Echo Hollow Rd. will be open during the closure and all
passes will be honored while Sheldon is closed. For more information, contact Doug Smith at 682-5314.
Recreation Guide Offers Ways to Keep New Year’s Resolutions
The winter Recreation Guide will begin arriving in Eugene mailboxes this
weekend. In it are dozens of ways to help citizens keep their New Year’s
resolutions to get fit, have more fun and learn something new. Programs
offered January through March include aquatics, child care, outdoor
adventures, adaptive recreation, team athletics, arts, youth and family,
and adult education.
Non-Eugene residents can pick up a copy of the Recreation Guide at any
Eugene community center or swimming pool, or at the downtown or
branch libraries.
New classes this winter include Yoga for Kids age 3-5, Hip Hop Eugene
spring break camp for youth ages 14-18, Gotta Dance for ages 16 and up,
a Dog and Pet Therapy Training seminar, free Movie Nights with the
Outdoor Program for families, bus service to the ski slopes, classes on
how to get Restful Sleep, and Good Morning Qigong exercise classes.
Many offerings are free, and scholarships are available for many others.
Citizens may register for Recreation programs online through RecEnroll at
www.eugene-or.gov/rec, or by calling or visiting the facility offering the program. For information, contact
Sarah Rankin at 682-5333.
Families Flock to Pete Barn’s First Family Fun Night
Full stomachs, fresh smiles, and frolicking families marked the inaugural First Friday Free Family Fun
Night at Petersen Barn Community Center. The event packed the Barn with over 100 people gathering
for an evening that started with a spaghetti dinner, peaked with some fantastic local youth entertainment,
and concluded with some good old family board games.
Recreation Programmer Lizz Zitron, who coordinated the event, felt the fever of the evening and (in
keeping with the multiple “Fs” in the event title) exclaimed her “fascination at the foaming response by
local families.”
The highlight of the night was the youth entertainment provided by the Jefferson Hip Hop class taught by
Recreation Staff Member Collette Ramirez, and the singing and poetry provided by “Youth 2 Make It
Happen” members Takana Thomas and Mcque Linder. “FFFFF Night” will occur each month through
May. For more information, contact Lizz Zitron at 682-6042.
Fire Station Tours
There have been 16 fire station tours so far during the last quarter of 2006, with a total of 358 visitors.
Visiting organizations have included Patterson Pre-School, Beth Israel Pre-School, Boy Scouts,
Newberry Child Care-DAC, Pearl Buck, Tiny Tots, Thurston High School, Willamette Family Child Care,
Cub Scouts, Churchill Child Development, Eugene Child Parent Pre-School, Life Lutheran Pre-School,
Brownies, Edison Kindergarten, in addition to a couple of citizen groups. As always, thank you to the
crews and staff that take the time to coordinate, schedule and host these tours. For more information or
to schedule a fire station tour please contact Administrative Specialist Karen Orr at 682-7100.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
December 7, 2006
Connect with Kids: Free Workshops at Eugene Public Library
Registration starts in December for free workshops to help early childhood educators and parents put
ideas into action. Come to one or all three Connect With Kids sessions at Eugene Public Library,
Downtown.
Creative
On Saturday, January 13, 1:00 – 3:30, Rachael Carnes of Sparkplug Dance teaches
Movement as a Tool for Learning
. Discover how movement enhances brain development and
language learning, and take home practical activities that engage and benefit kids.
ASL for Babies
is set for Saturday, January 20, 1:00 – 5:00. Learn a basic vocabulary in American Sign
Language to allow for early two-way communication with infants and toddlers. Taught by Dawn
Prochovnik of Smalltalk Learning.
Broadening the Learning Community: A Workshop
On Saturday, January 27, 1:00 - 2:30, the topic is
in Inclusion and Special Needs Populations
. Use movement to make learning accessible and fun for
preschoolers of all abilities, so everyone can participate. With Rachael Carnes. For more information or
to pre-register for limited spaces, call Eugene Public Library: 682-8316.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
December 7, 2006