HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Newsletter - 06/07/07
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
June 7, 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
ANOTHER BUSY SUMMER OF ROAD WORK BEGINS IN EUGENE
SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER HIRED
TH
WE ARE BETHEL CELEBRATES 6 YEAR OF HELPING TO BUILD COMMUNITY
ECHO HOLLOW POOL CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE
RIVERPLAY FEATURED IN SUNSET MAGAZINE
GET A CLUE! SUMMER READING FOR ADULTS AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY
AROUND THE CITY
Another Busy Summer of Road Work Begins in Eugene
The summer road work season got underway this week in Eugene, with
more than $5 million in paving repairs scheduled to be done on city
streets this season. A total of 20.5 lane miles on 10 city streets are
scheduled to get new overlays this summer as part of Eugene’s annual
pavement preservation program. Additionally, more than 17 lane miles
of residential streets in two areas in southeast Eugene will get slurry
seal treatments.
The goal of Eugene’s pavement preservation program is to bring
Eugene’s streets back into relatively good condition and prevent streets from falling into such a state of
disrepair that they must be dug up and completely reconstructed. Currently, Eugene has a backlog of
approximately $170 million in needed pavement repairs, including more than $125 million in streets that
need to be reconstructed. The principle sources of funding for the 2007 pavement preservation program
are local gas tax revenues, a portion of the fees paid by new development in Eugene, and a one-time
infusion of $1.5 million from the City’s general fund.
More detailed information on the scheduled 2007 pavement preservation projects in Eugene is as follows:
?
Oakpatch Road
between 11th and 18th avenues – Work began June 4; Eugene Sand & Gravel is
the general contractor; standard mill/fill with some subsurface stabilization; includes addition of a
pedestrian island at Fern Ridge Path.
?
Chambers Street
(24th Avenue to Lorane Highway) – Work scheduled to begin week of June 11;
Eugene Sand & Gravel is the general contractor; standard mill/fill with extensive subsurface stabilization;
will extend bike lane striping from 24th to McLean.
?
Monroe Street
(8th to 13th avenues) – Work began June 4; Eugene Sand & Gravel is the general
contractor; standard mill/fill; project includes constructing two traffic calming speed tables.
?
West 18th Avenue
(Bailey Hill Road to City View Street) – Bids are scheduled to be opened June
12, with construction anticipated to begin in early July; street will be repaved with a few sections of
pavement being removed entirely and replaced; intersection at 18th and Bailey Hill will be completely
reconstructed with concrete pavement, which will require traffic detours.
?
Bailey Hill Road
(11th to 18th avenues) – Bids are scheduled to be opened June 12, with
th
construction anticipated to begin in early July in conjunction with West 18 Avenue work.
?
East 18th Avenue
(Agate to Hilyard streets) – Bids are scheduled to be opened June 7, with
construction anticipated to begin in early July; work includes mill/fill with pedestrian and bicycle
improvements between Agate and Alder, parking bays at select locations along the south curb line,
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
June 7, 2007
reconstruction of the north curb line and sidewalk between University and Agate to provide better
pedestrian passage, and stormwater swales with curb extensions at Emerald, Onyx, and Harris.
?
Agate Street
(13th to 22nd avenues) – Bids are scheduled to be opened June 7, with construction
anticipated to begin in early July; work includes removing asphalt to top of concrete street, and repaving,
plus reconstruction of the intersection of 19th and Agate and stormwater work to correct drainage
problems.
?
Gilham Road
(Crescent Avenue to Willona Drive) – Work expected to begin in late June or early
July; Wildish is the general contractor; standard mill/fill.
?
Norkenzie Road
(Green Acres Road to Beltline) – Work expected to begin in late June or early July;
Wildish is the general contractor; standard mill/fill with pavement removal and replacement on the
Beltline overpass fill area requiring the closure of Norkenzie at Beltline for about three days.
?
WillagillespieRoad
(Cal Young to Country Club roads) – Work expected to begin in late June or
early July; Wildish is the general contractor; standard mill/fill, the section between Delta Highway off
ramp and Valley River Drive will be done as night work with closure of Willagillespie in this area.
?
Slurry seals
– Construction is anticipated in late July or August in two project areas: one bounded by
th
Hilyard, Onyx, 24th, and 30, and the other by Fox Hollow, West Amazon, Larch, and Mahalo.
In addition to the pavement preservation work, other City of Eugene transportation projects this year
include improvements to River Avenue, street construction and repairs in the new courthouse district,
repairs to the North Bank Trail and the Garden Way bike path, the installation of audible pedestrian
devices at 25 intersections around town, and development-related improvements to Glenwood
Boulevard. These projects, which total more than $9 million, are funded separately from the pavement
preservation program, with funding coming primarily from development fees, property owner
assessments, and state and federal grants.
More information about City of Eugene public works projects is available on the metro road work
telephone hotline, 984-8484, and on the City’s web site, www.eugene-or.gov/traffic, or by contacting Eric
Jones, Public Works public affairs manager, at 682-5523.
Sustainability Manager Hired
Felicity Fahy has begun work as the City’s new Sustainability Manager.
Ms. Fahy brings 20 years of experience in the field of
environmental education, policy, planning, and research. She
has been a self-employed consultant and has previously worked
for two regional governmental agencies in New Zealand, and the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Ms. Fahy brings a scientific
background and strong communication and facilitation skills to
the position.
Felicity's work, and that of the soon-to-be-appointed
Sustainability Commission, is in support of the council goal and
organizational initiative related to sustainability. Her office is in
the East Wing of City Hall and her phone number is 682-5017.
Felicity's first day on the job was Wednesday, May 30. She is meeting with various staff and community
members to learn more about the City organization and Eugene. She will be an integral part of the work
plan on the council priority on sustainability. Please feel free to contact her at,
felicity.m.fahy@ci.eugene.or.us.
Echo Hollow Pool Closed for Maintenance
Echo Hollow Pool will be closed for 10 days from Friday, June 8, through Sunday, June 17, to deal with a
water clarity issue before the start of the busy summer season. During that time, the pool will be drained
and cleaned. The fitness center, spa and front desk will remain open.
Echo Hollow's swimmers and water fitness patrons have been encouraged to visit Amazon or Sheldon
pools during the closure. Echo Hollow punch cards and monthly passes will be honored at both
locations. For more information, contact Youth and Family Services Director Tim Patrick at 682-6347 or
Facility Maintenance Supervisor Dave Lane at 682-8327.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
June 7, 2007
RiverPlay Featured in Sunset Magazine
RiverPlay Discovery Village is highlighted in this month’s edition of Sunset magazine. Under “What to
do in the Northwest," author Bonnie Henderson writes, “Are we there yet? If your family road trip takes
you anywhere near Eugene this summer, the answer is yes, whatever your final destination. Let ‘em
loose at
RiverPlay Discovery Village, a sprawling new activity filled kid-magnet. Its themed outdoor play areas
take their cues from local history and geography…”
The West Coast edition of Sunset magazine has a readership of 1.3 million. For more information,
contact Kelly Darnell at kelly.a.darnell@ci.eugene.or.us or 682-4814.
th
We Are Bethel Celebrates 6 Year of Helping to Build Community
Last Saturday, over 2,000 participants helped
th
celebrate the Bethel community by attending the 6
annual We Are Bethel celebration (WAB) at Petersen
Barn Community Center. On the sunny, eighty-degree
day, the ever-popular dunk tank, and snow cones,
passed out by Mayor Piercy, were in constant demand
for the full six hours. Some event highlights:
?
Ardis Barker received the annual Milk Toast
recognition for her 19 years of service to
Bethel preschoolers.
?
Eight Bethel youth were recognized for their
leadership in the community.
?
Attendees enjoyed nearly 30 community
booths, free tree-climbing on good ‘ole Wally
the Walnut Tree, and plenty of good food.
?
Willamette High School and Shasta Middle School jazz bands gave excellent performances—as
did Recreation Services’ Youth 2 Make It Happen.
?
For the finale, Son Me’lao kicked off the Summer Concert in the Parks series with irresistibly
danceable music.
The Club Bethel Carnival fundraiser earned over $1,600 with the sale of 25-cent tickets, which will make
for an even bigger Club Bethel Carnival next year. Congratulations to WAB Coordinator Lizz Zitron for a
job well done. For more information or to provide helpful WAB feedback, call Lizz at 682-6042.
Get a Clue! Summer Reading for Adults at Eugene Public Library
Here comes the sun, and along with it, Eugene Public Library's
popular Summer Reading programs for kids, teens . . . and
adults! This year’s theme for all ages is the mystery-inspired
"Get a Clue!"
Adults can visit any Library location -- Downtown (3rd floor),
Bethel Branch, or Sheldon Branch -- to get official review forms,
plus a free Library-logo notebook (while supplies last).
Participants may read three books, write brief reviews to share,
and get a coupon for a free coffee at Novella Café or $1 towards
books at Second Hand Prose, both at the Downtown Library.
Reviewers are also entered in a summer's-end raffle for a Library
book bag with a gift certificate good at any of the stores of
Unique Eugene.
"What to read is up to you," says Library Adult Services Manager
Nancy Horner. "You're welcome to explore within or go beyond the Get a Clue theme." For ideas, pick
up Summer Reading 2007 booklists: 100 Great Mysteries; Forensic Fiction; If You Liked the Da Vinci
Code . . .; Crime Scene Investigation Nonfiction; or Summer Favorites 2006, a selection of titles preferred
by last year’s participants.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
June 7, 2007
The Library staff is expert at providing personal assistance to find books to match any interest or mood –
just ask. Staff can also show you how to access NoveList and BooksInPrint, user-friendly databases
filled with book reviews and recommendations. Both resources are available free on-site or at the
Library website, 24/7.
More ways for grown-ups to join in the fun of Summer Reading include weekly drop-in book groups; a do-
it-yourself computer genealogy workshop on June 30; and a July 12 talk by author Diana Abu-Jaber,
touring to promote her new novel, Origin. For more information, visit www.eugene-or.gov/library, or call
the Eugene Public Library, 682-5450.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4
June 7, 2007