HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Newsletter - 05/03/07
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
May 3, 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
WALNUT STATION MIXED-USE CENTER OPEN HOUSE
HIKE EUROPE AT DOWNTOWN LIBRARY
EUGENE FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE CONDUCTS OPEN FORUM
WORKSHOP TO IDENTIFY PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE IDEAS
THREE GRADUATE FROM EUGENE FIRE ACADEMY
‘TAKE YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO WORK’ DAY
NATIONWIDE DISABILITIES RIGHTS BUS TOUR ARRIVES IN EUGENE
RECREATION SERVICES OUTDOOR PROGRAM CELEBRATES ART AND THE OUTDOORS
LA CORTE DE ADOLESCENTES
AROUND THE CITY
Walnut Station Mixed-Use Center Open House
The City of Eugene Planning and Development Department is inviting neighbors, property owners,
business owners, and the general public to an open house to hear more about the Walnut Station Mixed-
Use Center.
The Walnut Station Mixed-Use Development Plan process has been underway since June 2005. The
first part of the process focused on creating a vision for the area that would guide future redevelopment,
land uses, building form, and street improvements. That process resulted in an “Emerging Vision” of the
area as a mixed-use neighborhood with a higher density, pedestrian- and transit-friendly development
pattern, and concepts for improvements to Franklin Boulevard.
The open house will provide an opportunity to learn more from City staff and the Walnut Station project
team about progress on the plan through displays and other information on the following issues:
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Future land uses, densities, and building form
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Design options for Franklin Boulevard and nearby streets
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Parks, open space and recreational opportunities
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Connections to the Millrace and the river
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Habitat restoration and stormwater treatment priorities
The open house will be held on Wednesday, May 9, at the Eugene Public Library Bascom-Tykeson
Room between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Please contact Allen Lowe at 682-5113 or via e-mail at
allen.d.lowe@ci.eugene.or.us if you have questions or need additional information.
Hike Europe at Downtown Library
The Windfall Reading Series features local author and hiking guru William L. Sullivan at the Downtown
Eugene Public Library, Tuesday, May 15, at 7 p.m. The program is free.
Sullivan will read from his latest work, The Case of Einstein’s Violin. The novel begins with Ana Smyth
inheriting the great scientist’s violin case. When she sells it on eBay, she finds herself in the midst of
international intrigue that takes her from Oregon to a Greek monastery, an Italian cyclotron, the
Slovenian Alps, and the German city of Einstein’s birth.
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May 3, 2007
The evening features a slideshow of places highlighted in the book. See some of Europe’s most
interesting and least-known hiking trails, from Greece and the Pyrenees to Norway and the Alps. Learn
what to expect at an alpine "hut” -- and where to stay on an island with active volcanoes.
Sullivan is the author of a dozen books, including the popular 100 Hikes series, Oregon: Trips & Trails,
and Cabin Fever. His journal chronicling a 1000-mile hike across Oregon, Listening for Coyote, was
chosen by the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission as one of the state’s 100 most significant books.
The Windfall Reading Series is sponsored by the Eugene Public Library, Lane Literary Guild, Friends of
the Library, the Eugene Public Library Foundation, and the Cultural Services Division of Lane Arts
Council. For more information, call Eugene Public Library at 682-5450.
Eugene Fire Marshal’s Office Conducts Open Forum
The Eugene Fire & EMS Fire Marshal's Office conducted
three open forums last week for architects, fire protection
system designers and installers, and contractors. The
overall goal was to seek participants’ input, ideas, and
feedback about customer service, as well as for the Fire
Marshal’s Office (FMO) to attain a better understanding
of the attendees’ business needs and concerns. Each
session was well-attended with about 12 persons
representing all disciplines. The first hour provided
insight on what is new in the FMO, including a review of
new codes that took effect on April 1, 2007, the
customer service philosophy of the FMO, and the authority limits and structure of the FMO. The
remainder of the time was spent in open discussion listening to process improvement proposals,
frustrations experienced during plan review and field inspections, and explanations of the impacts
created by FMO decisions on the attendees’ bottom line. The participants expressed a great deal of
interest in continuing these open forum sessions. The next set of forums will occur within the next six
months. For more information, contact Acting Fire Marshal Doug Perry at 682-7100.
Workshop to Identify Pedestrian and Bicycle Ideas
As part of the year-long pedestrian and bicycle strategic planning effort, City staff is holding a community
workshop on the topic of education and encouragement on Thursday, May 9. This workshop is part of a
series of outreach efforts designed to gather input on a wide variety of pedestrian and bicycle-related
topics. Efforts completed thus far include workshops on bicycle parking, theft, seniors and accessibility,
and focus groups on youth engagement, facility infrastructure and design. The goal of the year-long
planning process is to identify tangible methods for making Eugene a more walkable and bikeable
community.
Members of the Eugene community are
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encouraged to attend the May 9 workshop to
provide feedback on existing educational and
encouragement programs in the Eugene area and
to suggest fresh ideas for new programs. Ideas
generated at the workshop will lead to strategic
plan actions that can be taken on by City staff,
local community partners and individual citizens.
The evening agenda includes a presentation on the
City’s current educational and promotional efforts,
interactive small group discussions centered on the
themes of community culture, increasing use, safety, connectivity and accessibility, and opportunities to
suggest and comment on new educational and promotional ideas. The event runs from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
at the First United Methodist Church located at 1376 Olive Street in Eugene. Refreshments will be
provided.
For more information about the workshop and the pedestrian and bicycle strategic plan see www.eugene-
or.gov/walkbike, or contact Lee Shoemaker, bicycle and pedestrian coordinator at 682-5471 or
lee.shoemaker@ci.eugene.or.us.
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May 3, 2007
Three Graduate From Eugene Fire Academy
Eugene Fire & EMS celebrated the graduation of three
new firefighters from the department's recruit academy
last week. Graduating were (from left) Wally St. Julian III,
Nathan Kunasek, and David Thaut. The ceremony in front
of friends, family, and firefighters marked the graduates’
successful completion of the department's rigorous 13-
week training program in firefighting techniques, survival
skills, emergency medical treatment, and physical fitness.
The new graduates will now be assigned to fire stations as
probationary firefighters, and must complete a one-year
probationary period under the watchful eyes of their
respective Captains and Fire & EMS Training staff. Congratulations and welcome to Wally, Nathan, and
David! For more information, please contact Training Captain Rich Hill at 682-7130.
Take Your Sons and Daughters to Work Day
Thursday, April 26, was ‘Take Your Sons and Daughters to Work Day’ and many City of Eugene
th
employees took advantage of this 15 annual event. The following paragraphs are a look at how some
of our employees spent their day.
In Payroll and Accounts Payable, staff’s sons were too
old, too busy, and/or too cool to be able to come, so in an
office of five women and two men, another six girls were
added to the group and great fun was had by all. The
daughters ranged in age from eight to sixteen and to
everyone’s surprise, they actually worked. Their jobs
included testing new timesheets, entering information
into an Excel spreadsheet, and even helping to
straighten up the area. They were more accomplished
than expected in completing their assigned tasks. In the
end, the girls thought, “We have lots of fun, fun, fun at
work.” Mirinda Villegas probably said it best, “it was a lot
more fun than running around the track 100 times in
P.E.” with which they all agreed.
A record number of children of Police and Fire & EMS
employees were treated to guided tours of the departments
last Thursday. The two emergency response departments
make special accommodations for this event because it is not
possible for children to accompany response personnel on
the job. The 55 children traveled in groups to a number of
sites, and participated in live fire demonstrations,
fingerprinting and identification, tours of the forensics lab and
communications center, and demonstrations of the fire
rescue house, bomb disposal robot, and K-9 unit, among
numerous other activities. The list of staffers who helped
make the event successful is long, but special credit goes to
the tour guides: Police Officer Dale Dawson, Police Officer
Bob McDermed, Police Sergeant Jerry Webber, Medic Amy
Kline, Firefighter Wayne Morris, and Fire Captain Craig
Shelby.
Asia Wooten, a third grader from Prairie Mountain School accompanied her cousin Rayna Luvert from
Recreation Services. Asia reports, “It’s very exciting to come to work with Rayna because I have never
been to work with her before and I knew it would be really fun and cool. Rayna and I have done a
lot of things today like taking a tour of the library, meeting Rayna’s co-workers, getting checks,
organizing files and mail-outs, and I visited Angel Jones and the mayor. “
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May 3, 2007
She also said, “When I get older I want to be a pediatrician because they are really cool and I like to help
people and I think I want to do what Rayna does too. Right now I’m on the swim team, I play piano, I
used to play softball, and I used to take Spanish class, and pottery class. The best part of the day was
hanging out with my cousin Rayna.” She added that she couldn’t wait to tell her friends about her day!
For more information about this annual ‘Take Your Sons and Daughters to Work Day,’ please call Human
Resources at 682-5061.
Nationwide Disabilities Rights Bus Tour Arrives in Eugene
The Road to Freedom Bus Tour, a project of ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights,
is aiming to engage audiences across the United States in the story of the Americans with Disabilities Act
and the history of the disability rights movement. On Tuesday, May 8, the bus will be parked at the LTD
Eugene Downtown Station from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Live music, performances, presentations and
exhibits will take place throughout the day, and the event will close with presentations by Eugene Mayor
Kitty Piercy, Springfield Mayor Sid Lieken, and Lane County Commissioner Pete Sorenson.
The local event has been organized by Lane Independent Living Alliance in cooperation with the City of
Eugene, Lane Transit District, Lane Individual Practice Association, and MindFreedom International. For
more information, contact Karen Hyatt, Human Rights program specialist, at 682-5619.
Recreation Services Outdoor Program Celebrates Art and the Outdoors
The second annual “Out in the Artdoors” Urban
Adventure Race will be held on Saturday, May 19,
beginning at
10 a.m. at Alton Baker Park. This race is for people of all
ages and ability levels, and a great team-building
experience for school and sports clubs, business and
work groups, families and friends.
Sign up to participate by May 12 or plan to watch as the
contestants navigate the urban race course—kept secret
to enhance team creativity and spontaneity—and
compete in a series of mental and physical challenges.
Patterned after the Amazing Race television show, “Out
in the Artdoors” focuses on positive outcomes, such as connecting with the community and environment.
Festivities at the finish, which include a barbecue, celebrate all participants.
Sign up in teams of four, or sign up individually and a team will be created for you. The cost is $20 for
each team member. For more information or to register, go to www.eugene-or.gov/adventurerace or call
Challenge Course ProgrammerKellie Nemke at 682-6324.
La Corte de Adolescentes
Eugene Teen Courts, a Recreation Services program for first time offenders, is occasionally referred a
Spanish-speaking defendant whose command of English is limited. In order to provide a fair and
informed peer hearing, the Teen Court reaches into its own resources and those of the community.
Recently, a high school girl appeared before the West Eugene Teen Court on a misdemeanor charge. A
native Spanish-speaking attorney was scheduled that evening to be the judge. She brought along her
office administrator, also bilingual, to assist as interpreter. A Spanish-speaking youth from the Teen
Court acted as the Defendant Advisor. She and other bilingual members of the court helped prepare the
family for the hearing. The Bailiff and two members of the youth jury were also Latino.
At different points of the hearing, information was presented or questions were asked in either English or
Spanish with translations provided appropriately. When the jury’s sentence was accepted by the
defendant, both English and Spanish versions of the written contract were drawn up by the Court Clerk
and Defendant Advisor. A bilingual representative of a local human services program attended and
offered to provide a community service opportunity for the youth in a Spanish-speaking setting. Outreach
such as this helps enable the Teen Court to better serve diverse members of the community. For more
information, please contact Bruce Steinmetz, Eugene Recreation Teen Court supervisor, at 682-6376.
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May 3, 2007