HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Newsletter - 06/23/05EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
June 23, 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
PARKING TICKET INCREASE
RECREATION SERVICES DIVISION AND EUGENE POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFER CAMP FOR
KIDS
STANDING ROOM ONLY A T DOWNTOWN LIBRARY FIRST FRIDAY EVENTS
MUSIC FOR THE MINIONS PRODUCE BATTLE OF THE BANDS AT THE WOW HALL
NEW VOLUNTEER TREE STEWARDS PRUNE TREES IN BETHEL NEIGHBORHOOD
Parkinq Ticket Increase
On July 1, the bail amount on most parking tickets will increase by $2.00. Eugene Parking Enforcement
issues tickets to parking violators on city streets and in City-owned parking lots and garages. Meter
violations and time zone violations comprise roughly 70,000 or 87% of the total number of parking tickets
issued. Since 1993, the bail on these violations has remained $10.00. On July 1, the new bail for meter
and time zone violations will be $12.00.
To be effective, citation amounts need to be sufficient to act as a deterrent while not being overly
punitive. Rates for meter violations in other comparable cities and agencies in Oregon show that a $2.00
increase is both moderate and appropriate:
Portland $16.00
University of Oregon 15.00
Eugene - Private Lots 15.00 - 20.00
Salem 10.00 (considering an increase this year)
Medford 10.00
Given that Eugene's parking fines have not increased in the past twelve years, and costs to maintain the
City's parking operations have substantially increased over this period of time, Parking Administration
recommended and Municipal Court Judge Allen agreed to increase the meter and time zone violation
bail amounts. Revenue from parking fines paid to the City go into the Parking Fund, which is an
enterprise fund established to operate the City's parking services and make capital improvements to
facilities. The Parking Fund also makes a sizeable contribution to the General Fund each year.
Payment options have recently been expanded to allow individuals to pay parking fines by credit card via
the City's website. Municipal Court staff will also take parking payments at the counter in Room 102 at
City Hall, by mail or by telephone. If a person wishes to contest a parking ticket, he or she may send a
letter with the full bail amount to Municipal Court, or appear before a judge any Thursday morning at 8:30
a.m., for Parking Court in Room 104 at City Hall. For further information, contact Char Mauch at 682-
5088 or George Jessie at 682-5079.
Recreation Services Division and Euqene Police Department Offer Camp for Kids
This week, more than 75 kids participated in the first summer offering of EPAL, (Eugene Police Activity
League) summer camp at Jefferson Middle School. Kids ages 11-13 played basketball and volleyball,
golfed, bowled, danced, created clay art, and learned leadership and decision-making skills under the
mentorship of recreation staff and school resource police officers. The Eugene Police Department and
the Recreation Services Division created the EPAL partnership in order to share resources, skill and
enthusiasm while working with youth to build community.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
June 23, 2005
Kudos to Gina Tafoya, LRCS Recreation program supervisor, and Carl Stubbs, EPD School Resource
Officer for developing a fun and worthwhile experience for kids. For more information contact Gina
Tafoya, 682-6304.
Standinq Room Only at Downtown Library First Friday Events
This spring, First Friday events at the Downtown Library have been
packed with people. In May, an audience of more than 200 gathered
to hear visiting librarian Donna Cohen's stories about Botswana,
which reflected both her own experiences and those in the
bestselling No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels, plus dance,
drums, and songs by the University of Oregon's Dance Africa troupe.
Nearly 300 people enjoyed a tropical June First Friday featuring
Hawaiian tunes played by the He Mele 'Ukulele duo, followed by a
delightful and authentic performance by the Hula Halau O Na
Kaikuahine dancers ("Hula School of the Sisters").
Join the fun at First Friday on July 1, with the Oregon Old Time
Fiddlers Association's toe tappin' hoedowns, waltzes, and cowboy songs (6:00), and a slideshow and talk
on "New Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades" with William L. Sullivan (6:30). On August 5, it's a
"Starry Starry Night" when the Science Factory's traveling planetarium offers night-sky shows (6:00) and
Tamar Mali sings show tunes of the Broadway stars (7:00).
Created to complement and enhance First Friday ArtWalks, each of these evenings offers terrific cultural
entertainment and education at no cost. Additionally, on First Fridays all services at the Downtown
Library are available until 8:00 p.m., two hours later than the usual Friday closing time. For more
information, contact the Eugene Public Library at 682-5450.
New Volunteer Tree Stewards Prune Trees in Bethel Neiqhborhood
Last Saturday, after watching a back injury
prevention video as part of the last segment of
classroom training, a crew of 11 volunteer tree
stewards put their skills to the test and pruned 26
young street trees in the Mangan Park neighborhood
in Bethel over the course of a four-hour session.
Sponsored by the City's NeighborWoods program
and its community partner, Eugene Tree
Foundation, the new program consists of hands-on
sessions in the field, plus two classroom training
sessions that cover all facets of tree care, including
tree biology, tree identification, the science and art
of pruning, and traffic and work safety. The program
was developed to better meet the need for tree
pruning and maintenance in Eugene's growing urban
forest, especially young, recently planted trees, by
forming a crew of trained volunteers that can be mobilized on a regular basis to perform crucial structure
pruning. Funded in part by a Community Forestry Assistance Grant from the Oregon Department of
Forestry, the program provides the comprehensive training in exchange for 20 hours of service.
"The difference between the first and the last trees that the volunteers pruned was amazing," says Rick
Olkowski, the City's NeighborWoods Program Coordinator. "On the first tree, we had to talk the
volunteers through every cut; but, by the time they got to the last tree, they knew what they needed to do
and were very quick and competent about it."
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
June 23, 2005
Volunteers of all skill levels participated in the pilot program's inaugural training. They ranged from
master gardeners to members of the community who just want to contribute to their community by
working with street trees. According to Urban Forester Mark Snyder, one of the certified arborists who
facilitated the training, what all the volunteers had in common was a genuine interest in the health of this
community's trees. "You knew that they were out there because they cared about trees and were
motivated to invest in gaining a better knowledge about trees so they could contribute to the health of our
urban forest, one tree at a time."
The crew is tentatively scheduled for a second tree pruning work session on Saturday, July 16. Another
tree steward training will be held in the fall. The NeighborWoods program works with local businesses,
school groups, community groups, and neighbors to build Eugene's urban forest and improve water
quality by planting and caring for street trees. For more information about the tree steward program, call
Rick Olkowski, NeighborWoods program coordinator, at 682-4831.
Music for the Minions Produce Battle of the Bands at the WOW Hall
Last Saturday, more than 100 youth and their families attended the final
round of the Music for the Minions Battle of the Bands show at the WOW
Hall. First prize went to "Default," a talented nine-member band with a
hip hop funk groove. "Trapped in a Mini Van" with musicians ages 13,
14, and 15, rocked the house and earned second prize. The "PF Flyers"
and "Wetsock" received third and fourth places respectively. Music for
the Minions is a musical project inspired by Sheldon High School student
Ben Merrell. Sandy Shaffer, Recreation program manager for Amazon
and Sheldon community centers, has been working with the Minions to
produce shows and opportunities for youth ages 24 and younger who
want to play and perform music at safe, fun venues. Bands were judged
on content, use of time, originality, musical talent, and crowd response. For more information, contact
Sandy Shaffer at 682-6348.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
June 23, 2005