The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCC Newsletter - 09/29/05 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER September 29, 2005 City of Eugene 777 Pearl Street, Room 105 Eugene, Oregon 97401-2793 (541) 682-5010 (541) 682-5414 (FAX) www.ci.eugene.or.us IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION CEREMONY SLATED FOR MONDAY TO DEDICATE NEW PARALLEL RUNWAY AT AIRPORT PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER FOR SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING LICENSE FEE SIXTH ANNUAL EUGENE BUSINESS COMMUTE CHALLENGE OCTOBER 3 - 7 DISCUSSIONS WITH EUGENE’S HOMELESS SCHEDULED CONTRACTOR BEGINS REMOVALOF INVASIVE PLANT AT GOLDEN GARDENS POND BANNED BOOKS WEEK AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY SPEED HUMPS TO BE INSTALLED ON SORREL WAY AND PALOMINO DRIVE “STINKY CHEESE” WORKSHOP FOR EDUCATORS EUGENE DELEGATION DEPARTS ON SISTER CITY VISIT TO KOREA AND JAPAN AROUND THE CITY Ceremony Slated For Monday to Dedicate New Parallel Runway at Airport Eugene Airport’s new $16.5 million parallel runway will be dedicated Monday, October 3, in an event featuring local and federal officials and a few special effects. U.S. Congressman Peter DeFazio will be the lead speaker at the event, which begins at 11:30 a.m. at the new runway north of Airport Road. Other speakers will include Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Deputy Associate Administrator Kate Lang, a spokesperson from Sen. Gordon Smith’s office, Eugene Council President George Poling; Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken; Lane County Commissioner Anna Morrison; Eugene Chamber of Commerce President Dave Hauser, Eugene City Manager Dennis Taylor, and Eugene Airport Manager Bob Noble. A visual highlight of the event will be the arrival of Congressman DeFazio in a red, white and blue private plane (an Oregon-manufactured Lancair Legacy) taxiing under a multi-colored water fountain provided by Eugene’s Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) team. A light lunch will be served, and all members of the City Council are invited to attend. RSVPs are requested. The new 6,000-foot-long runway opened September 1 and has already provided significant benefit by allowing the Airport to temporarily close the primary runway for construction activities. The primary benefit of the new runway is to increase safety by eliminating the older secondary runway that intersected the primary runway. The new runway also opens up additional areas for airport-related development, including more hangars and other facilities for general aviation users. The new parallel runway was built by Wildish Construction under a contract managed by staff from the Public Works Engineering and Airport divisions. The new runway was part of a $29 million package of safety-related improvements funded by the Federal Aviation Administration and passenger user fees. For more information, contact Airport Manager Bob Noble at 682-8352. Proposed Administrative Order for Solid Waste and Recycling License Fee A proposed Administrative Order to increase license fees for solid waste collectors is included in the City Council’s weekly packet. Since July 1995, the rate for the license fee has remained constant; the residential portion is calculated at 2 percent of revenue minus tip fee and the commercial portion is calculated at 5 percent of revenue minus tip fee. A license fee increase is required at this time to maintain the current level of service in this self-supporting fund. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 September 29, 2005 Staff has reviewed several different scenarios in order to determine an adequate and fair license fee rate. The combination that provides the most even increase for all haulers is as follows: Residential – 2.5% of revenue minus tip fee Commercial – 6% of revenue minus tip fee These fees represent an increase to each residential account of $1.10 annually. For commercial service, the cost per cubic yard would increase by $0.12 annually. This license fee increase, along with cost-saving measures, will allow staff to continue to provide the current level of service. The increase would go into effect for the FY07 license fees. By processing the Administrative Order at this time, staff will be able to include the increased revenue into forecasts for the FY07 budget. For more information, contact Nancy Young, Solid Waste Analyst, at 682-6849 or nancy.a.young@ci.eugene.or.us. Sixth Annual Eugene Business Commute Challenge Runs October 3-7 The annual Eugene Business Commute Challenge is scheduled October 3 through 7. Free bus passes, prizes and promotional incentives, and employee trip-planning assistance are offered to help encourage walking, bicycling, riding the bus, and carpooling to work. Each registered business reports its success on Wednesday, October 5. At noon on Friday, October 7, an awards celebration will be held in the East Park Block, featuring Prince Pucklers ice cream and live music. This annual, award-winning promotion is now in its sixth year and 72 Eugene businesses are registered to participate. The Eugene Business Commute Challenge is a partnership between the City of Eugene, Commuter Solutions, PeaceHealth-Sacred Heart, Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, and Lane Transit District. "The Eugene Business Commute Challenge offers businesses an opportunity to use the spirit of competition to explore different transportation options including biking, walking, transit and carpool,” says Terry Connolly, Director of Governmental Affairs for the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. “The results will benefit everyone by relieving traffic congestion and customer parking shortages." For more information contact Cindy Clarke, transportation options coordinator at 682-5285. Discussions With Eugene’s Homeless Scheduled An Action Planning Team, composed of 10 City employees representing Central Services Department, Eugene Police Department, Library, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, Planning and Development Department and Public Works Department, has been working on the City Council priority initiative to “Develop a Strategy to Help the Homeless in Eugene.” During the next two weeks, discussions will take place in Eugene with people who are, or who have been, homeless. Hearing firsthand about the needs and service gaps that exist is a very important step in the process to address this complex issue. The Mayor and City Councilors are encouraged to attend and participate. These sessions are: 1) Homeless Single Adults Forum hosted by St. Vincent de Paul Thursday, October 6, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Eugene Service Station, 450 Hwy 99 North 2) Homeless Families Forum hosted by ShelterCare Monday, October 10, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Family Housing Program, 969 Hwy 99 North 3) Homeless Youth Forum hosted by Looking Glass and Safe & Sound Tuesday, October 11, 5:30-7:30 p.m., New Roads Conference Room, 941 W 7th Avenue Space at these forums is limited. Those planning to attend any or all sessions, should contact Richie Weinman at 682-5533 or at richie.d.weinman@ci.eugene.or.us. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 September 29, 2005 For more information, please contact LRCS Administrative Manager Mike Magee at 682-2858 or at michael.e.magee@ci.eugene.or.us. Contractor Begins Removal of Invasive Plant at Golden Gardens Pond The Parks and Open Space Division recently hired a contractor from Lakeside Aquatic Services to harvest a highly invasive plant that was taking over the south pond at Golden Gardens Park. The invasive aquatic plant is called floating primrose-willow, Ludwigia peploides, and originated in Latin America. It has moved into all of the southern states and is moving its way north into Oregon and Washington. Once established, the plant can double in diameter in 15 to 20 days and can quickly reduce the biodiversity in the pond. The invasive plant is impossible to completely eradicate. Staff will monitor the spread and take further action when needed. The contractor removed approximately 80 percent of the plant from the pond. The harvester needs at least 18 inches of water to operate and was unable to harvest the eastern perimeter of the pond and the adjoining channel. Once the water rises, the contractor will return to remove the remainder of the invasive plant. For more information, contact John Clark, natural resource maintenance supervisor, at 682-4826. Banned Books Week at Eugene Public Library Since books were invented, their power has been recognized—and sometimes feared. They’ve been burned, outlawed, censored, “edited,” pulled from shelves, locked away, or otherwise kept from the public. Banned Books Week honors the constitutionally-guaranteed freedom to read, and libraries’ role in providing access to books so the public can exercise that freedom. This year’s theme is, “It’s Your Freedom We're Talking About.” Parents and teens are invited to a free Cyber Savvy Youth Workshop, Tuesday, October 4, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Downtown Library. Library staff will share practical tips to empower youth to make safe, responsible choices on the Internet. Helpful recommendations for parents of younger children will be included. The free speech focus continues with First Friday @ the Downtown Library, October 7. At 6:30 p.m., Walker T. Ryan will play straight-ahead, high-energy acoustic blues, roots music, and slide guitar in the manner of the Delta blues masters, and will talk about the censorship of blues music as a form of racism. Then at 7:30, it's Banned Books Live: actors bring to life the words of authors and characters that some people don’t want anyone to know about! In addition to these special events, the Downtown Library is open for public use until 8 p.m. on First Fridays. Visit the Eugene Public Library, pin on an "I Read Banned Books" button, and see the banned books displayed on the Downtown Library's 3rd floor and in the Children's Center through October. Celebrate the right to read, write, watch, and listen freely! For more information, call 682-5450. Speed Humps to be Installed on Sorrel Way and Palomino Drive For many years, residents who live on Sorrel Way and Palomino Drive in northeast Eugene have experienced cut-through traffic and speeding vehicles. To ameliorate this situation, they requested that the City install traffic-calming devices on these two streets. Sorrel Way was ranked highest among local streets for traffic-calming and was chosen as the next traffic calming project. The first Sorrel Way traffic-calming workshop took place on July 20. The goal was to develop a traffic- EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 September 29, 2005 calming plan that met the community’s objectives and the City’s standards. The workshop included a walking tour, break-out groups, and a Public Works staff presentation of traffic-calming options. At the end of the workshop, residents were asked to vote for their preferred traffic-calming options. The workshop results, including the staff presentation, are on the City web portal (Public Works > PW Services >Transportation > SorrelTrafficCalming). At the second Sorrel Way traffic-calming workshop on September 21, Public Works staff presented a traffic-calming plan based on the input received at the first workshop. The major traffic-calming element proposed is the installation of 10 speed humps – six on Sorrel and four on Palomino. Other elements of the project are speed limit legends on the pavement, a park identification sign, traffic-calming signs at both ends of the project, and street trees that would be planted through the NeighborWoods program. Those in attendance at the second workshop supported the proposal with near unanimity. As a result, Public Works staff is planning to move ahead with the final design and location of speed humps on Sorrel and Palomino as well as the other elements of the project. In the near future, staff will meet with property owners adjacent to the proposed speed humps and hold a meeting regarding the NeighborWoods project. Construction of the speed humps could take place as soon as late fall, weather permitting. For more information, contact Rob Inerfeld, Senior Planner, 541-682-5343 or rob.inerfeld@ci.eugene.or.us. “Stinky Cheese” Workshop for Educators The Hult Center and Eugene Public Library are co-sponsoring a free workshop on Friday, October 28, from 4:00-5:30 p.m. in the Bascom/Tykeson Room at the Eugene Downtown Public Library. Teachers, librarians, and youth leaders who work with children grades 1-6 are enthusiastically invited to attend. The workshop will be conducted by actor/teachers of Dallas Children’s Theatre (DCT)—one of the top five family theaters in the nation. Library Youth Services Manager Mary Ginnane, Library Marketing Coordinator Tylar Merrill, and Hult Center Programming Manager Carol Philips collaborated with the DCT on the appearance of The Stinky Cheese Man, which will be performed in Silva Hall at the Hult Center the following morning at 10:30 a.m. In this hilarious play, the DCT actor/teachers can be seen in action as they continuously change characters, accents and costumes. In the inspiring 90-minute workshop, attendees will learn practical skills for using theatre techniques with elementary school students, regardless of subject matter—history, math, language arts, etc. This workshop will be entertaining, practical, curriculum-based, immediately useful, and FUN! Although participation is free, space is limited and reservations are required. Call 682-8316 to register now! For more information, contact Tylar Merrill in the Community Relations Office at 682-6349. Eugene Delegation Departs on Sister City Visit to Korea and Japan A Eugene Sister City delegation is scheduled to depart for Chinju, Korea and Kakegawa, Japan this Sunday, October 2. The 12-person contingent will include Mayor Kitty Piercy, her husband David Piercy, and City Councilor Gary Papé. The visit is part of Eugene’s ongoing commitment to fostering international understanding and respect through cultural and social exchange with four sister cities: Chinju, Korea; Kakegawa, Japan; Irkutsk, Russia and Kathmandu, Nepal. Eugene has participated in the international program for more than forty years, when Chinju became the first Sister City in 1961. Subsequent sister city relationships were established with Kathmandu in 1975, Kakegawa in 1979, and Irkutsk in 1988. Prior to 1990, the volunteer Sister Cities program was coordinated with support from City staff. Following budget reductions resulting from property tax limitation measures in the early '90s, City funding to the program was gradually decreased. The Eugene Sister City Foundation was created to help transition the program from a city funded operation to a privately funded organization. The program is EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4 September 29, 2005 now operated completely by volunteers who spend many hours nurturing these international relationships. The City budgets $15,000 annually to support the four Sister City committees. For more information on Eugene’s Sister Cities, visit the City’s website www.eugene-or.gov (City Hall > City Manager’s Office > Sister City Program). For more information on the trip to Chinju and Kakegawa, contact Mary Walston, 682-5406. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 5 September 29, 2005