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Home My WebLink AboutCity Council Newsletter - 03/22/07 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER March 22, 2007 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 ARTSTARS AWARDS RECIPIENTS INCLUDE FORMER CITY COUNCILOR th 11 ANNUAL OREGON GREEN SCHOOL SUMMIT A SUCCESS “KOMEDY 4 DA KIDS” - SPRING BREAK AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY 100% RECYCLED PAPER POLICY SHOWS POSITIVE FIRST-YEAR RESULTS NEW EXHIBIT AT EUGENE AIRPORT GALLERY CREST DRIVE COMMUNITY TEAM BEGINS CONCEPT STREET DESIGNS COLLABORATIVE FIRE TRAINING EFFORTS REGISTRATION BEGINS FOR SPRING/SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAMS MAKE YOUR OWN MOVIES WORKSHOP AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY LIBRARY INTERNET ACCESS FOR BEGINNERS AROUND THE CITY ARTStars Awards Recipients Include Former City Councilor The Lane Arts Council recognized local organizations and former City Councilor David Kelly at its 2007 awards dinner last Friday, March 16, at the Vet's Club in Eugene. David received the annual John Alvord Award, honoring an individual who exemplifies a tradition of service and dedication to the arts and the arts community. An arts advocate for many years, including his eight years as a city councilor, David is currently vice-chair of the Mayor's Cultural Policy Review Committee, whose objective is to collaboratively review current conditions, services and gaps, and identify community-supported options that will assist the City Council in defining the City's ongoing role in the arts and culture. Other ARTStars award recipients included: Eugene International Film Festival, for significant entrepreneurial achievement in the arts; Springfield Renaissance Development Corporation, with the Community Arts Award, for its contribution to community arts with the opening of the Richard E. Wildish Community Theater; and Opus6ix Gallery, with the Business Arts Service Award, for its contribution to the advancement of the arts in Lane County. For further information, contact the Lane Arts Council at 485-2278 or lanearts@lanearts.org. th 11 Annual Oregon Green School Summit a Success Eighty Oregon “Green Schools” from across the state sent delegations of students, teachers, and th recycling educators to the 11 Annual Oregon Green School Summit hosted by the Eugene Faith Center. The one-day conference was an opportunity for schools to learn, share and celebrate their waste reduction and resource conservation successes. Fourteen local schools helped boost attendance, making this year’s conference the largest to-date. Each school group brought a school display touting their school program, and regional exhibitors were on hand throughout the day to provide strategies for greater resource conservation. Students attended educational sessions centered on resource conservation themes. Student favorites included the Oregon Green School showcase, paper-making, waste audits, worm bin composting, recycled crafting and Watt Watchers “Attract to Zap” program. Adult sessions centered on global warming, maximizing school recycling, creating school gardens, Oregon’s current bottle bill legislation, EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 March 22, 2007 sustainable food choices, and roundtable discussions for teens and adults. Adults were inspired by a walking tour of nearby Cesar Chavez and Family School Earth Tub composting program and school garden. The Earth Tub composting program was implemented in 2002 by the City of Eugene Solid Waste and Recycling program and continues to divert cafeteria food waste at that site. The event was organized by the City’s Solid Waste and Recycling staff. The day would not have been possible without the help of all the Oregon Green School coordinators who lent a hand planning the event, and special thanks goes to the Eugene Faith Center staff and volunteers for their help before, during and after the summit. Eugene Faith Center staff provided a delicious and healthy breakfast and lunch using fully biodegradable plates and utensils, and all food waste, utensils and soiled paper were composted after the event. The final performance by EarthCapades Environmental Vaudeville reinforced the summit’s sustainability message in an educational and humorous way. Door prizes provided by coordinators, exhibitors and summit sponsors made it possible for everyone to take home a keepsake from the day. Below are just a few of the many quotes received at the event from teachers and students: “I liked everything about the summit, recyclable-compostable dishes, food, organization, fast lunch pickup, concepts covered in classes, kids involvement. A fantastic conference in every way, and I LOVED the environmental entertainers! Thank you!” “Wow, what a great day for all!! Planting seeds for our future!” “Well run, great logistics with so many people, enthusiastic volunteers and presenters, great variability of topics. Good ideas for implementation in schools, my students were really inspired!” “I liked how organized everything was and how much diversity there was. I want to encourage you (us) to keep up the great work. I had a lot of fun and it was very educational.” “I learned that the “three R’s” are really important. I liked the Watt Watcher class because the electricity made my hair stand up. I really love helping the world to be healthier for everyone, and if everyone does at least one thing, the world would stay for much longer!” For more information on Green Schools, contact Anne Donahue at 682-5542. “Komedy 4 da Kids" - Spring Break at Eugene Public Library Laugh it up at Eugene Public Library during spring break with Angel Ocasio, award-winning comedian and clown. This high-energy variety show includes jokes, physical comedy, juggling, balancing acts, and magic. In 2003, Ocasio was named Clown of the Year by Clowns of America International. Enjoy an English/Spanish bilingual show on Wednesday, March 28, 11 a.m. at Bethel Branch; or, catch the show in English (mostly!) on Wednesday, March 28, 2 p.m., at Sheldon Branch or Thursday, March 29, 2 p.m., at the Downtown Library. Free tickets available 30 minutes in advance. For more information, call the Eugene Public Library at 682-8316. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 March 22, 2007 100% Recycled Paper Policy Shows Positive First-Year Results The City’s new policy requiring the use of 100% post-consumer waste (PCW) recycled content office paper is having the positive environmental effects anticipated. In January 2006, the City of Eugene became one of just a few U.S. cities to mandate use of the fully recycled paper, increasing the standard from the previous 30% recycled content. By March 2006, the policy was fully implemented with every department in the City using the new paper for copies and basic printing needs. Over the last 12 months, the City has used 1,220 cases of the new paper, or the equivalent of 61,000 pounds of paper. The environmental impact has been significant, and statistics on the results are closely aligned with estimated predictions. By changing to 100% PCW recycled content paper, the City has saved:* ? 512 trees ? 186,817 gallons of water ? 104,600 kwh of energy (357 million BTUs) ? 23,990 pounds of solid waste ? 1,789 pounds of air pollution *Environmental impact estimates were made using the Environmental Defense Paper Calculator (www.papercalculator.org ) For more information, contact Patricia A. Scarci, manager, Document and Distribution Services, 682-5059. New Exhibit at Eugene Airport Gallery The history of mankind cannot easily be separated from that of dogs and horses. Artists have explored this relationship as far back as 25,000 BC in the Paleolithic cave paintings of Lascoux, France. This exhibit, A Dog & Pony Show, celebrates through art the role dogs and horses play in our society and lives. The exhibit can be viewed by airport passengers or by appointment beginning March 23 and continuing until June 22, 2007. For additional information or to make an appointment, contact Gallery at the Airport Curator Dena E. Brown, Lane Arts Council, at 744-0909. Crest Drive Community Team Begins Concept Street Designs Members of the Crest Drive Community Upper Crest Concept Team (CDCT) recently completed a major milestone in the Crest Drive context sensitive solutions (CSS) project. During the March 15 meeting, a subcommittee consisting of residents living on or adjacent to the southernmost section of Crest Drive and City Engineering staff presented a concept design for this 1000-foot-long section. Volunteers in this group worked collaboratively to incorporate CDCT- identified values such as ecological preservation and enhancement, safety, functionality, livability, and economic considerations into the concept design. Equally important elements incorporated into the design were public input gathered through community open houses, written comments, and web survey results. The concept design process is segmented into four discrete street sections, each being completed in succession by subcommittees of the CDCT. After completing, presenting, and incorporating feedback on EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 March 22, 2007 each of the four street sections, members of the CDCT will combine all four into one overall concept design capturing all of the CSS project streets. A community open house event is being planned to coincide with the completion of the overall street design concept. Neighbors and community members will be provided opportunities to comment on the concept to ensure it meets their expectations and needs. To see the first concept street section and other project details, visit the Crest CSS website at www.eugene-or.gov/pwprojects (click on Crest Drive). For more information about the project contact Transportation Planning Technician David Roth at Eugene Public Works Engineering, 682-5727 or david.f.roth@ci.eugene.or.us. Collaborative Fire Training Efforts Last week, the Eugene Fire & EMS Department hosted the Medford Fire Department and the Springfield Fire & Life Safety Department to provide additional fire training to each department’s recruit firefighters. nd Training was provided on the drill field at Eugene’s Emergency Services Center (ESC) at 2 and Chambers. Instruction included comprehensive utilization of the drill tower, rescue house, an air pack confidence course, and the forcible entry prop. The burn building was also used to provide live fire training to help reinforce fire suppression skills in a controlled, safe environment. This collaborative training effort was very well-received. Personnel from all three departments received valuable training, in addition to developing good interagency working relationships. For more information, please contact Acting Deputy Chief of Operations Randy DeWitt at 682-7130. Registration Begins for Spring/Summer Recreation Programs Recreation Services will mail 65,000 copies of the 2007 Spring and Summer Recreation Guides to Eugene households next week. The guide describes hundreds of programs, classes, and events— including dozens of summer camps—for children, teens, adults, individuals with disabilities, and seniors, all provided from April 1 through August 31. Fees for the programs vary; many are low- or free-of-charge and scholarships are available. Individuals can register in person by calling City community centers and swimming pools or by signing up online at www.eugene-or.gov/recenroll. The advertisements promoting the online registration, currently airing on selected cable channels, were paid for by Telecom funds. For more information, call Kathy Madison at 682-6342. Make Your Own Movies Workshop at Eugene Public Library Register now for Eugene Public Library's Make Your Own Movies workshop, an extraordinary opportunity to get free, hands-on training with video professionals. Learn to plan, storyboard, script, shoot, and edit with Apple iMovie. Cameras and computers are provided for class use. The class includes group and individual instruction with Robert Lewis and Ken Warren of Metro TV. This six-session workshop for adults starts Thursday, May 3. Make Your Own Movies is free of charge, but space is limited. For more information or to pre-register, visit the 2nd floor Reference Desk at the Downtown Eugene Public Library, or call 682-5450. Library Internet Access for Beginners Patrons who are unsure of how to get started using public Internet access at Eugene Public Library can register now for a free, hands- on class: Library Internet Access for Beginners, Saturday, March 31, 10 a.m.–11 a.m., at the Downtown Library. This one-session class covers the basics of Internet use including how to sign up for Internet computer time, get onto the Web, print from the Web, and more. Participants are encouraged to bring questions. No experience is required. To pre-register, or for more information, call 682-5450 (press 2), or visit the Downtown Library’s 2nd floor Reference Desk. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4 March 22, 2007 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 5 March 22, 2007