HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Newsletter - 01/15/04EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
January 15, 2004
City of Eugene
777 Pearl Street, Room 105
Eugene, Oregon 97401-2793
(541) 682-5010
(541) 682-5414 (FAX)
www. ci.euqene.or, us
MAYOR DELIVERS 2004 STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
EUGENE FIRE MARSHAL PROVIDES PROTECTION SYSTEMS INSTRUCTION
NEW PARKS AND OPEN SPACE SITE ON THE WEB
STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO SPRAY FOR GYPSY MOTH THIS SPRING
HONORS HANDED OUT FOR COMMUNTIY WORK
EUGENE RADIO COMMUNICATION SERVICES (ERCS) RECEIVES NARTE CERTIFICATION
Mayor Delivers 2004 State of the City Address
More than 200 people, including local dignitaries, community
leaders, and City of Eugene staff attended Mayor Torrey's 2004
State of the City address on January 7 at the Eugene Hilton and
Conference Center. The event provided an opportunity for the
Mayor to reflect on last year's successes and articulate priorities
for the coming year, as well as to honor those whose work in the
community was deemed exemplary.
Following opening remarks and introductions by Council President
Gary Pap(~, the Mayor recognized two community leaders and
three City staff. Recipients of the Community Service Award,
Lance Lowell and Greg Ewert, are both involved with the area's
youth population, and have been instrumental in creating
programs designed to assist young people who may not otherwise
have a safe place to recreate. This year's Employee Recognition
Awards went to Diane Bishop, Public Works/Bicycle and Pedestrian Program; Rusty Foster, Eugene Police
Department/Traffic Enforcement Unit; and Greg Rikhoff, Central Services/Human Rights Program.
In his State of the City address, the Mayor outlined his three priorities for 2004: 1) create an economic development
strategy; 2) work collaboratively with Lane County and the City of Springfield to arrive at transportation/road maintenance
solutions, specifically the construction of a new Willamette/I-5 bridge that includes easier access to both Eugene and
Springfield via Franklin Boulevard; and 3) take a visionary look at the construction of governmental civic center facilities.
For further information, please contact Beth Forrest, City Manager's Office, 682-5882.
Eu.qene Fire Marshal Provides Protection Systems Instruction
At the request of the Oregon Fire Marshals Association, Eugene Fire Marshal Mike Thrapp this week conducted a two-
and-a-half-day class for fire prevention personnel in the region, based on his 300-page "yellow book," which is officially
titled "Inspection, Maintenance, and Testing of Fire Protection Systems." Thrapp developed the book himself, beginning
in 1985. Each update takes into account the newest fire safety codes and technological innovations. Topics covered
include fire sprinklers, emergency lighting and exit signage, alarm systems, fire extinguishers, gas cabinets used in high-
tech applications, and kitchen hoods. Eighteen fire safety professionals from jurisdictions as far away as the coast and
Keizer attended the class. For more information, please contact Fire Marshal Mike Thrapp at 682-8360.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
March 17, 2004
New Parks and Open Space Site on the Web
The City of Eugene Parks and Open Space Division
launched a redesigned website earlier this week at
www.ci.eugene.or, us/parks/index.htm. Based on input from
citizens and staff, it was determined the site was in need of
a redesign because the organization, aesthetics and layout
of the site and key information, such as park maps, were
lacking or out of date.
The new site sports a clean look with bright, vivid .
photographs and consistent formatting and graphic , "~' '" i"
elements, and a new organizational structure that offers
several navigational paths to help visitors more readily
access the information they're looking for. One of the new
features available on the site includes "Find a Park by
Amenities," which allows visitors to select specific amenities
and geographical regions to find a park that meets their
needs. Another new feature is a calendar of events that
includes all Parks and Open Space-sponsored events, such
as park planning workshops, volunteer projects, and special
events .....
Visitors to the site can find out about a diverse array of
information, ranging from park rentals, dog parks, community gardens, and individual parks, to native plants, volunteer
programs and opportunities, the 1998 parks bond, and planning, construction and acquisition projects at parks and open
space throughout the city. For more information about the redesign of the Parks and Open Space website or to give your
feedback, contact Public Information Specialist Therese Picado at 682-4814 or therese.m.picado@ci.eugene.or, us.
State Department of Agriculture to Spray for Gypsy Moths this Spring
The Oregon Department of Agriculture (aDA) plans to combat a small outbreak of gypsy moths by spraying a biological
insecticide in the Crest Drive neighborhood some time this spring. State officials anticipate it will take three days to
cover the 183-acre area and are hopeful that the program will result in successful eradication of the insect that infested
central Lane County 20 years ago and prompted a massive spraying program, aDA has scheduled a public information
meeting about the spraying program on Monday, January 26, at 7 p.m. at Crest Elementary School, 1155 Crest Drive.
The aDA recommended intervention after trapping a cluster of gypsy moths in an oak tree off Crest Drive last summer
and finding evidence that the colony may represent a breeding population. The moth typically infiltrates a new area when
its eggs migrate with humans traveling across country. It is suspected that this recent outbreak was brought to the area
by a family who moved from the northeast where infestations are widespread. The gypsy moth can literally defoliate
oaks, willow and other vegetation at an alarmingly fast pace and cause devastating environmental damage.
The insecticide that the aDA will use this spring to eradicate the recent outbreak is called Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki,
or Btk. State officials say Btk has an excellent safety record for humans and is commonly used on commercial and even
some organic produce. For more information about the gypsy moth and the upcoming Oregon Department of Agriculture
(aDA) spraying program, call (541)689-8893 or visit www.oda.state.or, us/Plant/ppd/Ent/Gypsy_moth.html, or call Natural
Resources Section Manager Scott Duckett at 682-4842 or scott.duckett@ci.eugene.or, us.
Honors Handed out for Community Work
At the January 12, 2004, City Council meeting, the City presented one honor and received two others. Mayor Torrey
read a proclamation expressing the deep gratitude of the community to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for its
work on the West Eugene Wetlands. In honoring the BLM, Mayor Torrey noted the long-term relationship between the
City of Eugene and the agency and its role in the acquisition of approximately 1400 acres of wetlands in West Eugene.
Further, the Mayor's proclamation noted that the BLM has played an integral part in fostering the growth of environmental
education related to wetlands. Public Works staff member Scott Duckett presented the award to local BLM
representative Julia Dugan. Ms. Dugan accepted the award and announced that a copy of the framed proclamation will
be delivered to the BLM headquarters in Washington D.C.
On the receiving end of awards was Airport Manager, Bob Noble, and Human Rights Program Manager, Greg Rikhoff.
Noble accepted an award to the City of Eugene from the Oregon National Guard, the National Reserve and the
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
March 17, 2004
Department of Defense for its support of employees' participation in the Oregon National Guard.
The national director of the civil rights division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) presented an award to the
Eugene Human Rights Commission and staff for their work supporting individuals and protecting the civil rights of
members of Middle Eastern communities in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11,2001.
For further information about the presentation of these awards, please contact Mary Walston, City Manager's Office,
682-5010.
Eugene Radio Communication Services (ERGS) Receives NARTE Certification
Eugene Radio Communication Services (ERCS), a section of Public Works Maintenance Division, Fleet and Radio
Communication Services, recently received certification as a National Association of Radio and Telecommunications
Engineers (NARTE) employer. NARTE is responsible for the nationwide testing and certification of technicians and
engineers in the telecommunications industry. The NARTE certification process is rigorous, and is recognized worldwide
as proof of expertise and professional competence. In order to receive this certification, 80% of ERCS staff have
received the necessary training and obtained the necessary skills to become NARTE-certified.
ERCS staff supports communications in City departments, such as Police, Fire, and Public Works, and the Regional
Lane 911 Communications Center by providing mobile radios and preventative maintenance services. In addition, staff
supports the communications system by maintaining radio tower sites, working with Regional Lane 911 Communications
Center staff to support dispatching services, and working with other communications systems, such as the video and
computer equipment in Police vehicles. For more information about NARTE certifications or Radio Communication
Services, please contact Fleet Manager Carlos Davis, at 682-4800 or by email at carlos.a.davis~ci.eu.qene.or, us.
01/19 M Martin Luther King Jr. Day- City Offices Closed
01/20 DK 6:00pm DK Human Rights Commission McNutt Room **
01/21 W Noon All Council Lunch Work Session McNutt Room
ABSENT: Torrey
01/21 W 5:30pm Council Budget Committee EPL- Bascom/Tykeson Room
01/22 Th Noon G Poling CVALCO Board Meeting River Ranch Conf. Ctr.
01/26 M 5:30pm All Council Dinner Work Session McNutt Room
01/26 M 7:30pm All Council Meeting Council Chamber
01/27 T 4:00pm JT Mayor's One-on-One Council Chamber
01/28 W Noon All Council Lunch Work Session McNutt Room
February ...................................................................................................................................................
-02/09 M 5:30pm All Council Dinner Work Session McNutt Room **
02/09 M 7:30pm All Council Meeting Council Chamber **
02/10 T 5:30pm All Joint mtg. w/Lane Co., Springfield EPL - Bascom/Tykeson Room **
02/11 W Noon All Council Lunch Work Session McNutt Room **
02/11 W 1:30pm SM, DK,GP IGR Committee HRRS Conference Room **
02/12 Th 5:30pm BB, JS Police Commission McNutt Room **
02/17 T 6:00pm DK Human Rights Commission McNutt Room **
02/18 W 5:30pm Council Budget Committee EPL - Bascom/Tykeson Room **
02/20-21 TBA All Council Process & Goal Setting TBA **
02/23 M 5:30pm All Council Dinner Work Session McNutt Room **
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
March 17, 2004
02/23 M 7:30pm All Council Meeting Council Chamber **
02/25 W Noon All Council Lunch Work Session McNutt Room **
March .......................................................................................................................................................
03/08 M 5:30pm All Council Dinner Work Session McNutt Room **
03/08 M 7:30pm All Council Meeting Council Chamber **
03/10 W Noon All Council Lunch Work Session McNutt Room **
03/11 Th 5:30pm BB, JS Police Commission McNutt Room **
03/16 T 6:00pm DK Human Rights Commission McNutt Room **
Council Break: March 11 -April 6
** Denotes changes or additions to calendar
Torrey: January 19 - 23
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4
March 17, 2004