HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Newsletter - 04/12/07
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
April 12, 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
DOWNTOWN EUGENE PARK BLOCKS “LIT UP”
CITY/SCHOOL COLLABORATION PROVIDES SAFETY AND EXERCISE
EUGENE POLICE EXPAND SENIOR PATROL VOLUNTEER TEAM
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE: APRIL 14 AND 15
OREGON TRACK CLUB AND RUTH BASCOM HONORED AS COMMUNITY HEROES
NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK OBSERVED
FIRE PLAN REVIEW CERTIFICATION TEST PREPARATION COURSE
RECREATION SERVICES’ ALPINE ADVENTURES PROGRAM
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT COMMAND TRAINING
VOLUNTEERS PLANT TREES DOWNTOWN IN CELEBRATION OF ARBOR DAY
SMART LANDSCAPING AND PAINT SAVVY TIPS FEATURED IN NEWSLETTER
AROUND THE CITY
Downtown Eugene Park Blocks “Lit Up”
The availability of free, public, wireless Internet access has been expanded to include the downtown park
blocks. Launched in time for the season opening of the Saturday Market, the free WiFi covers the park
blocks and the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza. In addition to these sites, free wireless Internet access
is available at the Hult Center, Eugene Airport terminal, all three Library locations, McNutt Room, City
Council Chamber and City Hall courtyard area. Wireless infrastructure has also been placed at West
University Park during construction and will be fully connected after its opening.
In FY08, ISD staff will enable free public WiFi at community centers and pools as part of the strategy to
provide WiFi in and around City facilities throughout the community. The WiFi deployment is funded by
the Telecommunications Tax Fund. Lane County and LCOG are assisting in the Park Blocks WiFi
deployment by providing network facilities and antenna sites. For more information, please contact
Randy Kolb, ISD Director, at randy.c.kolb@ci.eugene.or.us or 682-5070.
City/School Collaboration Provides Safety and Exercise
Faced with dangerous traffic congestion when students are dropped off and picked up at Roosevelt
Middle School (RMS), parents found a solution at the Hilyard Community Center and Amazon Pool
parking lots. Recreation Services has partnered with the school to make the lot available to parents for
drop-off and pick-up of their children. The lots are a safe alternative, and give the students some
exercise as they walk the short distance through Amazon Park to and from school.
Roosevelt was constructed at a time when more than 80% of students walked or biked to school. Today,
more than 50% of the students arrive and depart by automobile; the school’s parking lot is inadequate in
size, making the area hazardous. The recreation facilities’ parking lots allow easy, off-street access—a
safe alternative to Roosevelt’s crowded lot. RMS parents and City staff collaborated on a “kick-off”
celebration April 6 to publicize the new traffic plan, and encourage parents and students to use the safer
location.
This new agreement supplements a long-standing arrangement which allowed Amazon Pool patrons and
staff to use the RMS parking lot for overflow parking during the very busy summer months. For more
information, contact Tim Patrick, youth and family services manager, 682-6347.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
April 12, 2007
Eugene Police Expand Senior Patrol Volunteer Team
The Eugene Police Department has recently expanded its
Senior Patrol volunteer team. The eight seniors who most
recently completed the Eugene Police Department’s
Senior Patrol one-week training academy were recognized
in a graduation ceremony on Thursday, April 5. After
completing the 40-hour academy and prior to beginning
their independent patrol duties, the five men and three
women underwent 40 additional hours of street training
with seasoned Senior Patrol volunteers. With the new
recruits on board, the total number of Senior Patrol team
members has increased to 17.
Senior Patrol team members function as an auxiliary unit
of the department by assisting with crime prevention and community policing efforts. Except in very
limited circumstances, they do not take enforcement action. These volunteers provide a highly visible
presence as they observe and report suspicious activity, patrol bike paths and streets, conduct home
vacation checks, and assist sworn officers with nonhazardous duties. Working in pairs, they drive
specially marked, readily identifiable police vehicles. They wear uniforms that identify them as police
volunteers and, for their safety; they are equipped with police radios. In addition to their general patrol
duties, some Senior Patrol members focus on projects such as finding stolen vehicles, identifying
disabled parking violations, or helping residents catalogue their property in case of a burglary.
The Senior Patrol is a component of the Eugene Police Department's Volunteers In Policing Program,
which partners citizens and police to better serve the community. In 2006, Senior Patrol team members
volunteered 4,278 hours, valued at more than $77,000 (based on a calculation involving the national
average wage), to serve the community. Retirees aged 50+ who are interested in joining the Senior
Patrol program are encouraged to apply. For more information, community members may contact the
Volunteers In Policing Program Coordinator, Carrie Chouinard, at 682-5355, or Senior Patrol Coordinator
Debbie Janecek at 682-5642.
Friends of the Library Book Sale: April 14 and 15
Booklovers can indulge themselves for a good cause once again at the 29th Annual Friends of EPL Book
Sale! Join in on Saturday, April 14, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday, April 15, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., at the Lane
County Fairgrounds' Performance Hall. Parking and admission are free.
The Friends Book Sale offers some 70,000 gently- and never-used books of all kinds, for all ages and
interests. Most books are only $1.50—small paperbacks are just $1. There are rare and specialty items
in the “Individually-Priced” section and recent bestsellers in the “Good-As-New section.” The “Oregon”
section expands this year to include the whole Northwest, featuring fiction, travel, history, natural history,
regional cookbooks, and more. There are DVDs and CDs, too. In order to keep the browsing rolling
along smoothly—and fairly—the Friends of EPL have instituted a new policy: each visitor may fill up one
box at a time to review.
The 2006 Friends Book Sale took in more than $80,000 to support and enhance EPL programs and
services, especially programs for children and families. Says organizer Carol Hildebrand, "This book
sale is made possible by the whole community's generosity and commitment to Eugene Public Library."
Year-round, the public donates books, and more than 300 community members volunteer on the project.
For more information, call the Eugene Public Library at 682-5450.
National Telecommunicators Week Observed
This week is National Telecommunicators Week, and the leadership of Eugene’s Fire and EMS
Department has taken the opportunity to express the department's appreciation for the 9-1-1 call takers
and dispatchers whose dedication and professionalism do so much to make emergency response
effective in Eugene and the surrounding area. "I want to formally recognize your role in our system and
express my sincere appreciation for the invaluable service you provide," Fire Chief Randy Groves wrote
in a memo to the Central Lane 9-1-1 staff. “Every day your actions touch real people's lives and
contribute to a safer and healthier environment; people know that when they call 9-1-1 or the non-
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
April 12, 2007
emergency line, you will help them. That is why you hold our community's trust and why we all support
you.” During this week, the fire service profession extends sincere thanks to telecommunicators across
the country. For more information, please contact Glen Potter at 682-7130.
Oregon Track Club and Ruth Bascom Honored as Community Heroes
On March 22, over 200 guests attended the second
annual Eugene Parks Foundation Community Hero
Awards dinner. Each year the Eugene Parks
Foundation and the City’s Parks and Open Space
and Recreation divisions honor two community
heroes who have made an outstanding commitment
to parks and recreation in Eugene.
This year’s awards were presented to the Oregon
Track Club (OTC) and Ruth Bascom. Oregon
Track Club’s mission is to promote track and field
and running for all facets of the community. In
addition to hosting a fourth Olympic Trials next
year, OTC’s more than 1,000 members will be
th
celebrating the club’s 50 anniversary. Former Eugene mayor Ruth Bascom’s decades-long persistence
ultimately led to the creation of Eugene’s highly popular 12-mile riverbank trail system named in her
honor. In addition, she was instrumental in creating the Hayes Memorial Tree Garden. The 2006
Community Hero Awards were presented to Judge Darryl Larson and former Eugene mayor Jim Torrey.
For more information, contact Kelly Darnell, marketing and outreach manager for the Parks and Open
Space Division, at
682-4814.
Fire Plan Review Certification Test Preparation Course
As part of its commitment to seek opportunities to improve fire service and associated partnerships,
Eugene Fire and EMS share their expertise with others. Last week, the Washington Association of
Building Officials asked Acting Deputy Chief Mike Thrapp and another fire instructor from Tualatin Valley
Fire & Rescue to teach a four-day plan review class to 55 building and fire officials. The evaluation of
the course was excellent and many attendees expressed their appreciation for the information and
materials received. The same class will be hosted a total of four times throughout the year by the
Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office. It is intended to help prepare Oregon fire service officials to take a
new national Fire Plan Review certification test and improve their competency. For more information
please contact Acting Deputy Chief of Administrative Services Mike Thrapp at 682-7130.
Recreation Services’ Alpine Adventures Program
The Alpine Adventures Program, which runs in partnership with the
City of Eugene’s Outdoor and Adaptive Recreation programs, and in
collaboration with Hoodoo Ski Area and Oregon Adaptive Skiing in
t
h
Bend, successfully finished its 38 season. As one of only three
adaptive ski programs in the state, Alpine Adventures serves people
with physical disabilities by providing transportation, adaptive
equipment, ski lessons, and volunteer support throughout each ski
day. The program runs January – March, and this year utilized2,369
hours of volunteer support.
For the first time ever, some key Alpine Adventures staff and
volunteers, including Kellie Nemke, program director, obtained a
national certification in Adaptive Ski Instruction through Professional
Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) at the beginning of the season. At
the end of the season, staff and volunteers participated in a fundraiser
for Alpine Adventures that involved a relay team inner-tube race. The
two teams representing Alpine Adventures placed first and third, and were awarded about $1,500 for the
program, which will go toward a new youth adaptive ski (average cost $3,000 per ski). Congratulations
to our participants and thanks to our volunteers! For more information, contact Recreation Programmer
Kellie Nemke at 682-6324.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
April 12, 2007
Hazardous Materials Incident Command Training
The Eugene Fire & EMS Department will be conducting Hazardous Materials Incident Command training
for the department’s District Chiefs and hazardous materials team members this week. This valuable
State training will help the department's team members work with Chief Officers to better enhance their
response and mitigation abilities at hazardous materials incidents. In addition, the increased knowledge
base and awareness will help better prepare department personnel for assessing all emergencies and
major events, such as the 2008 Olympic Trials. For more information, please contact Acting Deputy
Chief of Operations Randy DeWitt at 682-7130.
Volunteers Plant Trees Downtown in Celebration of Arbor Day
On Saturday, April 7, community members gathered
to celebrate Arbor Day in downtown Eugene.
Volunteers from the Boy Scouts and Eugene Tree
Foundation planted more than 20 trees in areas
where the City of Eugene had removed portions of
th
sidewalk on 16 Avenue from Olive to Oak streets.
Councilors Alan Zelenka and Bonny Bettman helped
th
kick off the celebration by accepting Eugene’s 28
consecutive Tree City USA award from the Oregon
Department of Forestry. Tree City USA, a program of
the National Arbor Day Foundation and sponsored by
the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF),
recognizes cities that have developed programs that
plant and care for trees. The “Trees for Concrete”
project in honor of Arbor Day was organized by the
City’s NeighborWoods program and the Eugene Tree Foundation in an effort to create a more livable
and green downtown by replacing concrete with trees and flowers. For more information, contact Mark
Snyder, urban forester, at 682-4819 or mark.r.snyder@ci.eugene.or.us.
Smart Landscaping And Paint Savvy Tips Featured In Newsletter
Warmer weather and sunny skies encourage many residents to tackle gardening and other outside
projects. Making smart choices about yard and home improvements can have important benefits to area
streams and rivers by keeping problem pollutants away from storm drains. Look for these and other
articles in the spring issue of Stormwater Connections, due to arrive in Eugene area mailboxes over the
next week.
There’s plenty more to read about. Looking for an easy, in-town
adventure for yourself or visitors? A short trip to the west side of
town via bike, bus or car will get you to a well-marked wetland
area with interpretive signs to guide your tour. Learn more about
two projects aimed at reducing vehicle pollutants: fish-friendly car
wash kits, and an eco-biz program for auto shops. You’ll also find
an invitation to the upcoming Earth Day celebration on April 21 –
an event with something for everyone.
Educating and informing community members about stormwater
pollution and ways to protect local waterways is a best
management practice in the City’s Stormwater Management Plan
(SWMP). Articles in Stormwater Connections typically address seasonal or current issues and cover at
least one subject of interest to younger citizens.
The information provided in this semi-annual newsletter has been produced by the Stormwater
Management Program since 1994 to increase awareness of surface water and natural resource issues in
the community. Copies of the newsletter have been placed in the Council Office. For more information
or additional copies of the newsletter, contact Kathy Eva, public information specialist for the Stormwater
Management Program, at 682-2739.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4
April 12, 2007