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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Newsletter - 02/19/04EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER February 19, 2004 City of Eugene 777 Pearl Street, Room 105 Eugene, Oregon 97401-2793 (541) 682-5010 (541) 682-5414 (FAX) www. ci.eugene.or, us DOWNTOWN FIRE STATION GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY MONDAY TAX-AIDE RETURNS TO DOWNTOWN EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY MWMC LAUNCHES REGIONAL WASTEWATER WEB SITE TASK FORCE SPREADS THE WORD ABOUT THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT CONCRETE STREET AND ALLEY REPAIR PROGRAM BEGINS DRAFT PLAN FOR MARCHE CHASE PARK TO BE DISCUSSED FEBRUARY 26 ELECTIONS 2004 UPDATE WALl(ABLE COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS SCHEDULED IN MA Y Downtown Fire Station Groundbreakinq Ceremony Monday Councilors, staff, and the public are invited to the groundbreaking ceremony for Eugene's new Downtown Fire Station on Monday, February 23, at 11:30 a.m. at 13th & Willamette. Mayor Torrey and Councilor Bettman will offer remarks, and will then be joined in turning ground by City Manager Dennis Taylor, Fire Chief Tom Tallon, Dave Hilles from Chambers Construction, and Curt Wilson from WBGS Architects. Upcoming steps in the construction process include site utility installation, curb and sidewalk replacement, and foundation system installation. Actual framing work will begin this summer. The new station is expected to go into service in the spring of 2005. For more information, please contact Deputy Fire Chief Matt Shuler at 682- 7111. Tax-Aide Returns to Downtown Euqene Public Library Tax season is upon us and once again, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is providing trained Tax- Aide volunteers to assist middle-and Iow-income people of all ages with basic federal and state tax form preparation. The Downtown Library is one of 17 locations in Lane County where this help is available, free of charge. Drop-in appointments at the Downtown Library are on Fridays, from 10:00 - 4:00, and Saturdays, from 10:00 - 3:00 through Saturday, April 10. Appointments are held on a first-come, first-served basis in the Singer Room on the 2nd floor. Taxpayers need to bring last year's tax return and current year's records. A Spanish-speaking volunteer will usually be available on Saturdays. For do-it-yourself tax-preparers, all three Library locations stock IRS forms. At the Downtown Library, they are located on the counter behind the second floor Reference Desk. Intemet-access computers at any Library location can also be used to view IRS forms and publications (www.irs.gov). EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 March 17, 2004 "Tax-Aide is a valuable service to the community," says Pamela Roberts, the librarian who coordinates the program with AARP. "As an added benefit, it brings some people to the Library who may not have visited before. We hope newcomers will be pleasantly surprised by all that the Library offers to relax with once those tax forms are filed -- books, of course, and also audio books, compact discs, DVDs, and videos in both English and Spanish,." Tax-Aide is co- sponsored by the Eugene Public Library and AARP. For more information, including other locations, dates, and hours, call AARP toll-free at 1-888-227-7669 or visit the AARP website at www.aarp.org/taxaide. For Library information, call 682-5450. MWMC Launches Reqional Wastewater Web Site The Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC), the governing body which manages the regional wastewater (sewer) system, now has its own web site: www.mwmcpartners.org. The site includes information about MWMC, commission members, and the regional wastewater system and its components and facilities. MWMC is an entity created by Lane County and the cities of Springfield and Eugene to manage regional sewerage facilities shared by the two cities. MWMC contracts operations and maintenance of the regional system to the City of Eugene Public Works, Wastewater Division, and administration to the City of Springfield Public Works, Environmental Services Division. Staff from the two agencies worked together to develop the web site. For more information, contact Rachael Dillman at the City of Springfield, 726-3695 Concrete Street and Alley Repair Pro.qram Be.qins The concrete street and alley repair program will begin February 23 and will continue through May 28. This annual Public Works Maintenance program, funded by the road fund operating budget, uses a combination of site inspections and data from the Pavement Management System (PMS) to determine which repairs will be performed and how the work will be prioritized. Last season, Maintenance crews poured more than 643 cubic yards of concrete to repair 22,792 square feet of concrete streets. During this winter and spring, concrete street repair will occur at locations throughout the city, th th th including West 18 Avenue at Polk, Friendly, Jefferson and Adams streets; Polk Street at 4 , and 8 and 10th avenues; and Kincaid Street from 11th to 14th avenues. Maintenance repair crews will work with property and business owners in these areas to minimize any impact repair work might create. For more information about this program, contact Street and Surface Supervisor Tony Jobanek, at 682-4800. Task Force Spreads the Word About the Earned Income Tax Credit Last fall, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Task Force was formed to coordinate an intensive public outreach effort in the community concerning a valuable, yet little known tax benefit. The EITC is for workers who earn Iow or moderate incomes. Individuals or families can receive a maximum return of up to $4,000 depending on income and family size. An estimated $2.8 million dollars in tax credits went unclaimed in Lane County in 2001, and only 22 percent of qualified Lane County families filed for the EITC that year. Spearheaded by Councilor Nancy Nathanson and Commissioner Bobby Green, the task force is staffed by the City of Eugene and Lane County. In addition to Councilor Nathanson and Commissioner Green, the group is comprised of representatives from the Internal Revenue Service, AARP, Centro LatinoAmericano, the Eugene and Bethel school districts, United Way of Lane County, White Bird Clinic, St. Vincent de Paul, Goodwill Industries, University of Oregon, Lane Community College, EWEB, and Head Start of Lane County. Communication efforts thus far include the following: distribution of thousands of brochures and fliers via county utility bills and school information packets; an interview on KPNW's morning show with Commissioner Green; a segment on KEZI's Water Cooler; LTD bus posters; a conversation with the Register-Guard editorial board and Op-Ed by Councilor EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 March 17, 2004 Nathanson and Commissioner Green; and a Tax-Aide site media kick off on February 5. Radio ads are forthcoming, thanks to an airtime donation by Eugene Area Radio Stations (EARS). Qualified applicants simply need to file a return. Free tax preparation assistance is available through the AARP- sponsored Tax-Aide sites, such as the one at the Eugene Public Library (see article), and are now open throughout Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County, offering help in preparing returns and filing for credits. For more information contact Lynda Rose at 682-5017 or via email at lynda.l.rose@ci.eugene.or, us. Draft Plan For Marche Chase Park To Be Discussed February 26 Neighbors of all ages are invited to review and give input to the draft concept plan for Marche Chase Park, a 2.75-acre, undeveloped neighborhood park located south of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard at the intersection of Chevy Chase Street and Regent Avenue. The workshop will be held at Washington Elementary School Cafeteria, 3515 Harlow Road, on Thursday, February 26, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The public workshop is a follow-up to a session that took place in October in which City park planners met with a group of interested neighbors to discuss improvements to the park. The draft concept plan for the park reflects the input gathered at this meeting. Highlights of the plan include preserving the stand of large firs and oaks in the park, providing access to the park in the form of sidewalks and paths, and including a small play area for parents and children to gather. "There was strong consensus that the park is a special place and that neighbors want to restore and enhance it," says Philip Richardson, the park's planner. Parks maintenance crews recently serviced the park, removing blackberries, brush piles, and other debris in response to input received at the October meeting. Construction is anticipated to start in 2005. Improvements will be funded in part by the parks and open space bond measure voters approved in 1998. For more information or to give input, call Park Planner Philip Richardson at 682-4906 or e-mail philip.s.richardson@ci.eugene.or, us or visit www.ci.eugene.or, us/parks/marchechase. Elections 2004 Update Recent filings: On February 13, Kitty Piercy filed her completed petition for Eugene Mayor. On the same day, Ruth Duemler filed a prospective petition for the EWEB Ward 2 and 3 position. Anthony "Tony" Chelemedos became the ninth prospective mayoral candidate on February 17. Paul Conte began the filing process for the EWEB Ward 1 and 8 position on February 18. At this point, four prospective mayoral candidates, four prospective council candidates, and three prospective EWEB candidates have filed preliminary paperwork but not returned to complete the process. With the filing deadline two weeks away, the City Recorder's Office expects to see a flurry of last-minute activity. The City's Elections website will have the latest information within a few hours of any candidate's filing: www.ci.euqene.or, us/cityreco/Elections. For more information, contact City Recorder Mary Feldman at 682-8353. Walkable Community Workshops Scheduled in May Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) has received a grant to sponsor four Walkable Community workshops in Eugene and Springfield. These half-day interactive events are designed for elected officials, citizens, and staff to help shape the community into a pedestrian-friendly place. The workshops will offer information on techniques used to improve design, safety, education, enforcement, and encouragement for pedestrians. A walking audit of the study areas will help participants understand and identify obstacles specific to each study area. Two Eugene sites have been chosen for study: Willamette Street (between 24th and 29th avenues) on Tuesday, May 11, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.; and the LTD Downtown Station vicinity on Wednesday, May 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The other two workshop areas are in Springfield: Main Street (Mill Street to 10th Street), and Gateway Street. City councilors and the public are invited and encouraged to attend any or all of these events. Contact Jeff Krueger at LCOG (682-4122, jkrueger@lane.cog.or, us) to register or Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Diane Bishop, at 682-5471, diane.l.bishop@ci.eugene.or, us for more information. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 March 17, 2004 02/20 F 9am-4pm All Council Planning & Goals Setting Mtg. Hilton Hotel & Conf. Center 02/21 S Noon-4pm All Council Planning & Goals Setting Mtg. Hilton Hotel & Conf. Center 02/23 M 5:30pm All Council Dinner Work Session McNutt Room 02/23 M 7:30pm All Council Meeting Council Chamber 02/25 W Noon All Council Lunch Work Session McNutt Room 02/26 Th Noon G Poling CVALCO Board Meeting DAC, Ballroom March ....................................................................................................................................................... 03/04 - 3/08 BT, NN National League of Cities Washington, DC 03~08 M Noon G Pap(~ Housing Policy Board County Comm. Conf. Rm. 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 03/25 Th Noon G Poling CVALC© Board Meeting Lane Events Center, Room 1 Council Break: March 11 -April 6 ** Denotes changes or additions to calendar Torrey: February 29 - March 4 Pape: February 29 - March 6 Meisner: February 28 - March 4 Nathanson: March 4 - 7 Taylor: March 5 - 8 (will be arriving late to 5:30 work session) Kelly: April 24 - 28 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4 March 17, 2004