HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Newsletter - 04/05/07
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
April 5, 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
THIRD FLIGHT TO SALT LAKE CITY
EUGENE’S COMMUNITY SURVEY FEATURED IN NATIONAL PUBLICATION
LOC REPORT CHRONICLES DETERIORATION OF CITY STREETS IN OREGON
ONLINE CITY CODE IMPROVEMENTS
TRAVELSMART PRESENTATION OFFERS INSIGHTS INTO CHANGING TRAVEL BEHAVIORS
CELEBRATE NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY, APRIL 15 - 21
SOUTH RIDGELINE HABITAT STUDY (SRHS) MAP PORTAL HELPS CUSTOMERS
SOUTH RIDGELINE HABITAT STUDY COMMUNITY MEETINGS UNDERWAY
MUNICIPAL COURT IMPLEMENTS 24-HOUR PHONE PAYMENET SYSTEM
ACTION PLAN AT MONROE MIDDLE SCHOOL AIMS AT PROVIDING ‘SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL’
RECREATION SERVICES’ HIP HOP GIVES YOUTH HOPE
AROUND THE CITY
Third Flight To Salt Lake City
Delta Connection is adding a third daily non-stop flight between Eugene and Salt Lake City. Airline
officials say the current popularity of the route led them to add the additional flight. The third flight will
start June 7, departing at 10 a.m. and arriving in Salt Lake City at 12:46 p.m. The return flight leaves
Salt Lake City at 8:30 a.m., arriving in Eugene at 9:26 a.m.
A new “connect bank” structure at Salt Lake City International Airport has 37 inbound connecting points.
This allows for the 8:30 a.m. Salt Lake City departure to serve as a potentially high-volume connection
from business centers in the Midwest. Officials with Delta Connection believe this flight will be very
successful. “We are very pleased to see Delta provide additional capacity,” said Bob Noble, Eugene
Airport manager. “These past two weeks all seats have been sold out and passengers have not only had
challenges getting a seat out of Eugene, but also getting home, regardless of the airline selected. We
have been working with Delta to add either more flights or larger aircraft.”
Delta recently restructured its schedule at Salt Lake City, providing better opportunities for Eugene
passengers traveling east to reach their destination at a reasonable hour. Delta Connection currently has
two daily non-stop flights to Salt Lake City at 6:15 a.m. and 12:41 p.m. The CRJ 200 Bombardier
Canadair regional jets carry 50 passengers. For more information, contact Cathryn Stephens, marketing
and administration supervisor at cathryn.e.stephens@ci.eugene.or.us, or call 682-5430.
Eugene’s Community Survey Featured in National Publication
The audience for Eugene’s annual community survey just got a little bit wider. This month’s Governing
magazine includes an article about cities’ use of citizen surveys that prominently features Eugene’s
experience (http://www.governing.com/manage/pm/perf0407.htm).
The City of Eugene has conducted the community survey for the past dozen years, finding it helpful in
gaining a better understanding of community priorities and perceptions; the survey has become an
integral part of the process of measuring and improving the City’s performance. The most recent survey
can be found at http://www.eugene-or.gov. For more information, contact Terrie Monroe at 682-5412 or
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terrie.e.monroe@ci.eugene.or.us
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
April 5, 2007
LOC Report Chronicles Deterioration of City Streets in Oregon
A new report by the League of Oregon Cities (LOC) makes a strong case for significant state investment
in the maintenance of local transportation systems. The report, titled “City Streets: Investing in a
Neglected Asset,” includes case studies from Eugene and 18 other cities throughout Oregon.
In every case, additional revenue is needed to operate, maintain and preserve local streets. Eugene’s
$2 million to $3 million annual operations and maintenance shortfall and backlog of more than $100
million in pavement preservation projects is comparable to Salem’s problem, where nearly $10 million a
year is needed to address a backlog estimated at $97 million. According to the report, Portland is facing
a backlog of more than $325 million.
A common problem for all cities surveyed is a lack of revenue to keep up with deteriorating road
systems. “Despite enormous efforts by cities, Oregon’s local road system is deteriorating,” the LOC
report concludes. “Facing rapidly rising construction costs and working to accommodate rapid population
and infrastructure growth, local governments cannot make up for the loss of purchasing power in the
state highway fund.”
Eugene Public Works staff worked closely with LOC staff to provide statistical information for the case
study portion of the report. While the report in places struggles to find commonality in complex financial
analyses (for example, comparing Eugene, John Day and North Plains), the overall conclusion is
fundamentally sound: “Without a significant new investment in city road maintenance, this vital
infrastructure asset will continue to deteriorate and create enormous future repair costs.”
The report is available at the LOC website: www.orcities.org. For more information about the Eugene
facts and figures, contact Becky Carlson, Public Works Administration Division manager, at 682-8476.
Online City Code Improvements
After consultation with neighborhood leaders and the public, an alternative version of the
Eugene City Code is now available online at http://www.eugene-or.gov/citycode. While the
official City Code will still be maintained in the Weblink document management system, the
new version in Word provides solutions to needs identified by both groups. The objectives included:
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Download: Provide a lightweight, downloadable file copy of Code chapters;
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Search: Enable Code search using the Word application "find" command;
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Copy/Paste: Provide a vehicle to more easily copy/paste text;
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Quick Link: Provide a short web address to access both versions of Code;
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Maintenance: Ensure that the Word version of Code could be maintained without undue burden
on the City Recorder.
ISD and CMO staff will continue working on ways to improve access to all City materials on its website,
including the City Code. The input from the public and neighborhood leaders was greatly appreciated.
For more information or questions, please contract Randy Kolb, Information Services Director via e-mail
or at 682-5070.
TravelSmarT Presentation on April 12 Offers Insights into Changing Travel Behaviors
An opportunity to learn about one of the most powerful tools for changing individual travel behavior and
encouraging people to walk, bike, carpool and use transit will be offered on Thursday, April 12, at
5:30 p.m. at the Eugene Public Library (Bascom/Tykeson Room). Snacks and drinks will be provided.
TravelSmart is an innovative travel behavior change program that has seen great success internationally
by promoting the use of sustainable transportation options. In October 2005, the Oregon Department of
Transportation hired an international transportation research firm, Socialdata, to conduct individualized
marketing pilot projects called TravelSmart in Eugene, Bend, and Salem/Keizer. In each city,
researchers worked with randomly selected households to encourage a reduction in single-occupant auto
use and encourage more sustainable transportation options. This is accomplished through individual
outreach and assistance by providing project participants with informational brochures, personalized
timetables, maps, incentive items, and an array of transportation option services. The TravelSmart pilot
program in Portland was so successful that the Portland Department of Transportation decided to launch
its own version of TravelSmart targeted to specific neighborhoods.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
April 5, 2007
The City of Eugene partnered with Lane Transit District, Lane Council of Governments, ODOT and
TravelSmart to develop the Eugene program. Public Works staff provided walking, biking, and trail
information to participants and assisted individuals in planning their walking and biking trips.
Werner Brög, managing director of Socialdata, will present the final results from all three pilot projects in
Eugene at the April 12 session. Brög will also give a shorter presentation at the Metropolitan Planning
Committee meeting on April 12 at 11:30 a.m., also in the Bascom/Tykeson Room at the Library. For
more information, contact Cindy Clarke, Transportation Options Coordinator, at 541-682-5285 or
cindy.j.clarke@ci.eugene.or.us.
Celebrate National Library Week at Eugene Public Library, April 15 - 21
Everyone is invited to join in as the Eugene Public Library
celebrates National Library Week, April 15 – 21, with a variety of
great activities:
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Bring 'Em Back: No Overdue Fines!Patrons who
return their forgotten movies, CDs, or magazines to
any Eugene Public Library location—Downtown,
Bethel, or Sheldon—any time, day or night, during
National Library Week, do not have to pay overdue
fines.
"The fine-free period saves taxpayer dollars, since it’s
far more costly for the Library to purchase and
process new copies,” explains Eugene Public Library
Director Connie Bennett. “Also, we want to welcome
back anyone who’s been staying away because of
overdue items.”
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Free storytimes at all Eugene Public Library locations
feature National Library Week.
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Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale, Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15, at Lane
County Fairgrounds. The 29th Annual Book Sale features more than 70,000 gently-used
and new books for all ages and interests, plus DVDs, CDs, and more at amazingly low
prices. Proceeds support and enhance Library programs and services. Free admission and
parking.
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Oregon Poet Laureate Lawson Inada and poet Paulann Petersen visit for the Windfall
Reading at the Downtown Library, Tuesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. Free admission.
Inada is a third-generation Japanese American from Fresno,
California. During World War II, when he was a young child,
the U.S. government incarcerated his family, along with over
100,000 Japanese Americans, in a series of camps around
the nation. Inada’s books of poetry include Before the War,
Legends from Camp, and Drawing the Line. Honors include
an Oregon Book Award, American Book Award, fellowships
from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a Guggenheim
Fellowship in Poetry. Inada is an emeritus professor at
Southern Oregon University.
Paulann Petersen is another of Oregon’s best-known poets.
Her three volumes are The Wild Awake, Blood Silk, and A
Bride of Narrow Escape, which was a finalist for the 2006
Oregon Book Award. A former Stegner Fellow at Stanford
University, Peterson has been honored with two Carolyn Kizer Awards and the 2006 Literary
Arts Stewart Holbrook Award for Outstanding Contributions to Oregon's Literary Life.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
April 5, 2007
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Altered Books Workshop for adults, Saturday, April 21, 1 – 5 p.m. at the Downtown Library.
Teacher and artist Marie Livie introduces this mixed-media method that transforms a used
book into a new work of art. The discarded book becomes canvas and inspiration for
participants' ideas and images. Options include collage, paint, decorative papers, photos,
fabric, words and found objects. The workshop is free, but space is limited; pre-register at
the Downtown 2nd floor Reference Desk or by phone.
For more information, contact the Eugene Public Library at 682-5450.
South Ridgeline Habitat Study (SRHS) Map Portal Helps Customers
The Planning and Development Department and Information Services Division have collaborated to
create a new online Map Portal for the South Ridgeline Habitat Study (SRHS). The new map portal
allows property owners and interested citizens to search for a specific property, and choose to display
one of several map layers related to the SRHS. The map portal displays information about the map
layer chosen for display, and provides an explanation of each item shown on the map for the chosen site.
The user can then create a printer-friendly page and print the map and information. Staff has found the
new map portal to be popular with citizens, and to save time and energy for both staff and citizens. The
SRHS Map Portal can be reached via this link: South Ridgeline Habitat Study Map Portal. Links to the
new SRHS Map Portal can also be found on the Planning portal site, and on the project website at
www.EugeneNR.org. For more information, please contact Neil Björklund, at 682-5507 or via email at
neil.h.bjorklund@ci.eugene.or.us.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4
April 5, 2007
South Ridgeline Habitat Study Community Meetings Underway
The Planning and Development Department has conducted
five of six planned community meetings to hear citizens’
views on conservation of natural habitats along the South
Ridgeline. Meetings have been held in the Laurel Hill
Valley, Churchill, Crest Drive and Southeast neighborhoods,
and a general interested parties meeting was held at the
Downtown Library. So far, about 90 residents have
participated in the meetings, where they learn more about
the habitats along the ridgeline, and the trade-offs faced by
the City in deciding how to address the remaining
unprotected natural areas. The meetings have also
included discussions in which citizens share their views on conservation and conservation measures with
each other, before providing written input to the City. Feedback on the meetings from participants has
been very positive. The Eugene Planning Commission will review the input from all six meetings on
April 30. For more information, please contact Neil Björklund, at 682-5507 or via email at
neil.h.bjorklund@ci.eugene.or.us.
Municipal Court Implements 24 Hour Phone Payment System
Effective April 2, Eugene Municipal Court implemented a credit card phone payment system to provide
greater access to customers by accepting payment of court fines and fees 24 hours a day. The system
provides an alternative for many court customers who are unable to contact or appear at court during
regular business hours. The phone payment system has been translated to provide access to Spanish-
speaking customers. More than 40 people have utilized this new phone payment alternative since
implementation.
The system will accept payments for minor traffic and ordinance violations and adjudicated
misdemeanor charges. The phone payment option cannot be used when the court has taken further
action due to non-compliance. Some examples of further action are a warrant, license suspension, or
external collection status. Callers can access the system using their date of birth along with a summons
number, docket number, and, in some cases, a driver’s license number to retrieve account information.
The system will confirm the caller has charges eligible for payment and provide them with appropriate
information. The caller can choose to make a payment or listen to a list of all charge descriptions and
amounts owed to the court. The call flow provides an opportunity for the caller to transfer to a court staff
member during regular business hours.
Completion of this two-year project is due to the combined efforts of Central Services staff in Municipal
Court, Information Services and Finance. Several staff members from the three divisions worked
together with the vendor to successfully implement the phone payment system. For further information,
please contact Kristie Hammitt at 682-5019.
Action Plan at Monroe Middle School Aims at Providing ‘Safe Routes to School’
A generation ago, about 50% of children routinely walked or biked to school. Today, far fewer children
are walking and biking and more parents are driving their children to school. This has resulted in
increased vehicular congestion around schools. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that nationally
fewer than 15% of students walk or bike to school today.
At Monroe Middle School, a Safe Routes to School planning committee has developed an action plan to
encourage more students to walk, bike, or take the bus. The plan is designed to improve safety around
the school and promote physical activity during trips between home and school. The steering committee
consists of staff from Monroe Middle School, the City’s Public Works, Police, and LRCS departments,
Lane Transit District’s Commuter Solutions program, Paul’s Bicycle Way of Life, Bicycle Transportation
Alliance, and the University of Oregon. Funding for the program comes from an Alliance for Community
Traffic Safety (ACTS) Oregon mini-grant awarded to Lane Transit District’s Commuter Solutions
program.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 5
April 5, 2007
The Safe Routes to School Program includes:
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conducting school-wide surveys to identify current ways students get to school and factors
that affect their decision;
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teaching safe bicycling and bike maintenance in the classroom and after school;
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conducting weekend bike clinics for parents and students;
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identifying barriers to walking and biking, evaluating solutions, and developing funding
options;
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developing routes that are appropriate for youth cyclists and leading biking and walking
groups to school;
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collecting traffic data near school;
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providing families with information about Lane Transit District’s bus service and Smart
Ways to School program;
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providing police patrols to enforce traffic safety laws; and
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holding in-class focus groups to aid in developing the City’s Pedestrian and Bicycle
Strategic Plan.
A “How Do You Get to School?” contest will be conducted to encourage participation and make the
program fun for the students. Students who walk, bike, ride a bus, or carpool to and from school can
enter a contest for prizes. Winners will be drawn each week for six weeks from April 23 to May 29.
The partners involved in the project will also consider submitting an application for an Oregon Safe
Routes to School grant to help fund education, encouragement and engineering improvements. For
more information, contact Lee Shoemaker, pedestrian and bicycle coordinator, at 682-5471 or
lee.shoemaker@ci.eugene.or.us.
Recreation Services’ Hip Hop Gives Youth Hope
Spring Break has concluded, and Eugene has 23 teens who can now say they helped create a new Hip
nd
Hop CD. The 2 annual Hip Hop Hope – Eugene spring break camp was a tremendous success this
year. The camp, a partnership between the City’s Recreation Division, the Oregon Country Fair, and
Jefferson Middle School, uses facilitators from the Power of Hope organization. It provides a creative
and supportive environment for youth to tap into their hearts and minds and share through their words
and voice. Local Hip Hop artists and musicians are brought together to help teach the teens how to
express themselves in a positive and healthy manner, eliminating the negative stereotypes of the Hip
Hop music industry.
The teens were up to the task during this very busy week. As staff built a trusting and supportive
environment, the participants were encouraged to take personal risks in sharing their thoughts and
experiences by writing songs, poetry, and spoken word pieces. They participated in writing workshops,
beat making, music construction, and artistic expression. One outcome of the project is the creation of
the “Hip Hop Hope – Eugene” CD, but the greatest outcome is the positive reinforcement and personal
growth experienced through the discovery of appropriate methods of self-expression, and the self power
developed by doing so. The week was definitely a Developmental Asset-rich experience.
The City of Eugene also supports the Oregon Country Fair in its ongoing creation of “Culture Jam Youth
Camp.” Culture Jam is an overnight summer camp where many forms of artistic, theatrical and musical
methods of expression are used to empower youth to share their experiences and to express themselves
in healthy ways. For your own copy of the “Hip Hop Hope – Eugene 2007” CD, and for more information
on these programs, contact Peter Chavannes, youth leadership coordinator, Recreation Services,
682-6359.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 6
April 5, 2007