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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Newsletter - 06/30/05EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER June 30, 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 EUGENE NAMED ONE OF BEST NATURE-FRIENDLY CITIES IN U.S. OUTREA CH UNDERWAY TO GA THER IDEAS FOR RIVER A VENUE IMPROVEMENTS CREWS BEGIN 'PULL-IN' PROGRAM TO CLEAN WASTEWATER LINES IN EASEMENTS SUMMER TIME! LOCAL RUNNING CLUBS WORK TOGETHER TO RESTORE PREFRONTAINE TRAIL IMANI WINDS - JULY 8 AND 9 Eugene Named One of Best Nature-Friendly Cities in U.S. Eugene has been named one of the most nature-friendly communities in the United States, in a new book released last week by Island Press. The book, Nature-Friendly Communities, highlights nineteen communities that lead the nation in safeguarding local landscapes, natural resources and wildlife. Mayor Kitty Piercy announced the recognition at the Checkmallow Access to the West Eugene Wetlands. "Being identified as one of the 19 most nature-friendly communities in the nation is a true tribute to our efforts and confirms what we all know - that Eugene is one of America's greatest cities for the arts and the outdoors," said Mayor Piercy. "This book calls us the 'shining star of wetlands preservation' for our West Eugene Wetlands Plan and points to us as a national model which other communities can follow." Eugene's innovative wetlands program is praised in the book as an excellent example of a collaborative and transparent process that has led to the successful acquisition and preservation of 3,000 acres of wetlands and the restoration of over 700 acres of rare wet prairie habitats, while allowing development to proceed. Mayor Piercy agreed that Eugene's success is based on two key factors cited in the book: solid planning which focuses on balancing economic, social, and environmental values, and strong partnerships with state and local government and private non-profit partners. One vital partnership lauded in the book is the United Front, the annual federal lobbying effort in which Eugene, Lane County, LCOG and other local jurisdictions collaborate to acquire funding for common priorities including the wetlands. The West Eugene Wetlands partners include the Nature Conservancy, US Bureau of Land Management, US Army Corps of Engineers, US Fish and Wildlife Service, McKenzie River Trust, Oregon Youth Conservation Corps and education and volunteer partners, Willamette Resources and Educational Network (WREN) and the City's Stream Team program. "Eugene is leading by example. Its nature-friendly programs are an impressive mix of initiatives, including wetland restoration, pest management, stormwater management and wastewater treatment, that set it head and shoulders above the vast majority of communities around the country," said authors Chris Duerksen and Cara Snyder in the book. "It is a crucial, ongoing challenge to balance environmental protection with economic and social concerns. This is acknowledgement that with committment and collaboration, we can do it," said Mayor Piercy. "1 am pleased and gratified that the book also recognizes our other ongoing efforts," Piercy added. "These include our management of resources on public lands through our Parks and Open Space Division, our dedicated natural resources staff in both the Public Works and Planning EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 June 30, 2005 Departments and our inderpartmental Environmental Policy Team, which has been the catalyst for many initiatives. Other communities cited in the book include Austin, TX; Baltimore County, MD; Ft. Collins, CO; Sanibel, FL; Dane County, WI; Pima County, AZ; Placer County, CA; and Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. Nature-Friendly Communities is available at the University of Oregon Bookstore, Borders and Barnes and Noble and should be available at smaller bookstores soon. For more information on this book, visit www.naturefriendlytools.org. For more information about the West Eugene Wetlands or other programs cited in the book, contact Eric Wold at 682-4888. Outreach Under Way To Gather Ideas for River Avenue Improvements An outreach process is under way in response to direction from the council in April that Public Works staff continues working with the community on the design of River Avenue improvements. The first River Avenue outreach meeting was held Thursday, June 23. It drew 11 attendees, mostly property owners, who offered numerous comments and suggestions on both the outreach process and the initial design of River Avenue improvements. That same evening, City Engineer Mark Schoening met with the River Road-Santa Clara Transition Task Team to explain the process that will be used to gather input and formulate recommendations on improvements. Additional outreach meetings are scheduled in the coming month. At the recommendation of the River Road Community Organization, more than 6,000 postcards are being mailed this week to River Road area residents to let them know about a City-sponsored session on July 11. Each meeting will include a summary of the project to date, a review of the stakeholder process currently under way, a brief staff presentation on a design concept previously prepared for River Avenue, and plenty of time for comments on specific design elements and questions about the project. The meeting schedule is as follows: · Thursday, July 7, 7:30 p.m. - Santa Clara Community Organization, Santa Clara Civic Center, 2615 River Road · Monday, July 11, 7 to 9 p.m. - River Road area residents and interested parties, River Road Park District Annex, 1055 River Road · Monday, July 18, 7 to 9 p.m. - Eugene Bicycle Coalition, Eugene Public Works Building, 858 Pearl Street After these meetings, a group of stakeholders will convene, and the comments and suggestions received during the input phase will be reviewed. The stakeholders and staff will work toward consensus on a preferred design alternative. In October, the council will be presented with the results of the outreach to the community and a recommended design for River Avenue improvements. For more information, contact Project Manager Joe Ramirez at 682-5228, or by email at joe.f, ramirez@ci.eugene.or, us. Crews Beqin 'Pull-In' Proqram to Clean Wastewater Lines in Easements Public Works Maintenance wastewater crews have begun what has become a rite of summer: cleaning sewer lines in easements located on private property. This summer, two four-person crews are scheduled to clean approximately 850 wastewater collection segments. The annual work effort is called the "pull-in" program because to get 600 to 800 feet of cleaning hose into an easement behind a house or down into an undeveloped ravine in the south hills requires pulling the hose off a truck-mounted reel and dragging it through gates or fences and around landscaping. Over the years, crew members have designed and built a variety of specialty tools, mainly rollers, to keep the sewer-cleaning hose from chafing on fences and foundations as well as preventing damage to landscaping and shrubbery. The program starts in May with the identification of maintenance needs and matching up manhole locations with house addresses in the various drainage basins around the city. A computerized maintenance management system is used to map off-street lines, track sewer cleaning and repair work, and develop "pull-in" schedules that maximize the efficient use of staff and equipment. Before cleaning segments, the "pull-in" program operators contact property owners for entry. If a property owner is not available, a door hanger is left asking the property owner to call Public Works Maintenance. If the manhole is located in an undeveloped area, the area may need to be cleared of blackberries or EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 June 30, 2005 brush. A tall, bright orange fence pole is driven into the ground following the completion of cleaning activities and helps staff to locate the manhole in the future when brush has grown back up. The actual cleaning process, known as hydro-cleaning, uses high-pressure water to scour pipe walls as well as turn a water-powered rotary root saw. The circular blades cut away roots and grease, enabling the line to flow properly. For more information about the summer "pull-in" program, contact Russ DeLess, Wastewater Maintenance supervisor, at 682-4838. Summer Time! During the summer, many neighborhood associations host picnics, potlucks, ice cream socials, or other events. Building community is part of the mission of neighborhood associations. Last Sunday, June 26, the Friendly Area Neighbors (FAN) had its annual summer picnic. FAN Board members Bob Johnson and Marv Glover greeted over 100 neighbors who came to enjoy the picnic, listen to some neighborhood musicians, and try their luck at winning door prizes and silent auctions. Because the picnic was sponsored by the association, participants were asked to sign in. A popular activity for participants (especially kids) is to find their home on the map of the neighborhood and "pin it." The event also featured tables with information from other organizations in the neighborhood and equipment and personnel from the City's Police and Fire and Emergency Services departments. For more information on this or other neighborhood association events, contact Steve Norris, neighborhood liaison, Planning and Development Department, 682-5009 or via e-mail at steve, d. norris@ci, eugene, or. us. Local Runninq Clubs Work Toqether to Restore Prefontaine Trail Last Saturday, June 25, a new running club joined the campaign to restore the Prefontaine Trail in Alton Baker Park. Volunteers from Eugene Running Company Club came out in the morning to help upgrade a segment of trail near the Cuthbert Amphitheatre, and the Oregon Track Club, the running club that has spearheaded the effort in partnership with the City of Eugene, took over the effort in the afternoon. Between the two clubs, 386 feet of trail to the north and 200 feet to the south of the amphitheatre was finished. Now, the only task that remains is topping the sturdy gravel base and crown of the trail with bark mulch. The two clubs are appealing to other interested community members to help with this ongoing effort to restore this popular, but worn, running trail that winds four miles through Alton Baker Park. "We are very enthusiastic that the Eugene Running Company Club wants to be a part of the Pre's Trail restoration effort," says Bill Brigmon, Oregon Track Club and City parks volunteer (pictured at right on a newly renovated segment of Pre's Trail). "Literally, people by the thousands run out here. In order to continue to ensure that it remains usable, it is critical that we broaden the community participation in this project." For more than a decade, Oregon Track Club has helped pay for and lay the bark for the Prefontaine Trail; but unfortunately, due to the increased needs of the trail, the funds are beginning to dwindle. Now, the group and the City are looking to extend the partnership to all trail users, including runners, joggers, and walkers, high school track programs, run organizers, and dog owners, in order to develop a long- term solution to the trail's ongoing maintenance needs. Other efforts to raise funds for the restoration EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 June 30, 2005 effort include a benefit walk/run this Labor Day, September 5, called the "Restoration Run" in honor of the trail's inaugural run 30 years ago. For more information about the race or efforts to improve the Prefontaine Trail, call Turf and Grounds Supervisor Rob Hallett at 682-4935 or visit the Oregon Track Club's website at www. oregontrack club. org. Imani Winds - July 8 and 9 Imani Winds joins the Bach Festival for an evening concert on July 8 in the Soreng Theater and a children's concert on July 9 in Silva Hall. The five accomplished musicians of Imani Winds joined forces in 1997 to expand the boundaries of the traditional wind quintet and explore the links between European, African and American music traditions. The name Imani, meaning "faith" in Swahili, embodies this mission. In their time together, the young members of African/Latin American heritage have already established a distinct presence in the classical music world for their dynamic playing, innovative programming and inspirational outreach programs. "An ensemble of one voice and a collection of strongly expressed personalities," says The Philadelphia Enquirer. For more information, contact the Hult Center Ticket Office at 682-5000. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4 June 30, 2005