Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Newsletter 12/04/08 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER December 4, 2008 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 BAILEY HILL ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS SCHEDULED TH 10 AND CHARNELTON REDEVELOPMENT MOVES FORWARD RECREATION SERVICES PROGRAM TAKES KIDS OUTSIDE DEMAND FOR ENERGY ASSISTANCE SPIKES TH EUGENE JOINS OTHERS IN CELEBRATING OREGON’S 150 BIRTHDAY CITY PLANS TO BE CARBON NEUTRAL BY 2020 COLLABORATIVE EFFORT GROWS SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE PROGRAM AROUND THE CITY Bailey Hill Road Safety Improvements Scheduled A project to repair Bailey Hill Road and make significant safety th improvements south of 18 Avenue is moving ahead for construction in 2009. On November 4, Eugene voters approved a $35.9 million bond measure that included funding to reconstruct Bailey Hill Road. Late in November, the City learned ODOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program will award a $359,100 grant for safety improvements on the th 1/3-mile stretch of roadway between 18 Avenue and Warren Street. The project will also repair the pavement on Bailey Hill Road, but not change the existing design between Warren Street and Bertelsen Road. With funding now in hand, staff from Public Works Engineering is working on final designs, using community input gathered during an extensive citizen-involvement design process earlier this year. Construction originally had been anticipated to begin in 2010. However, the accelerated schedule will allow the City to more quickly address safety concerns on Bailey Hill Road in the area of Churchill High School and the Churchill Youth Sports Park and, at the same Mayor Piercy joined U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden at a time, put the bond measure funding to work creating jobs as soon as recent event drawing attention to the importance possible. For more information about the project or the ODOT Bicycle of improving Bailey Hill Road. and Pedestrian Program grant, contact David Roth, transportation planner, at 682-5727. th 10 and Charnelton Redevelopment Moves Forward On November 25, 2008, Wally Graff of WG Development and Eugene Urban Renewal Agency Director Jon Ruiz th signed a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the transfer of ownership and development of the 10 and Charnelton downtown development site. The signing of the agreement initiates a four-month due diligence period under which WG will complete investigations and feasibility analysis for its proposed development. The agreement provides that WG purchase the property for $500,000 no later than March 31, 2009, and begin construction activities by the end of November 2009. WG’s proposed $34 million project would include office and housing uses on the half- th block 10 and Charnelton site, consistent with the Request for Proposals submittal that was selected by the agency in July 2008. For additional information, contact Nan Laurence in the Planning & Development Department at 682-5340 (nan.laurence@ci.eugene.or.us). Recreation Services Program Takes Kids Outside Across the nation, communities are recognizing the importance of reconnecting youth to nature. In response to that need, Recreation Services’ Outdoor Program at the River House collaborated with a first grade classroom at EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 December 4, 2008 the Arts and Technology Academy to create a small version of an outdoor school. The goal of the program was to highlight both the behavior and emotional benefits young people experience when they spend a portion of their regular school day outside exploring natural areas. This is a pilot program, which includes three to four sessions throughout the school year. The first session included 40-minute nature excursions held once a week for five weeks. These excursions used the natural areas on and around school grounds, including Westmoreland Park. Each of these activities included unstructured time that allowed the students to explore areas free of any built environments. At the end of the first session, students were treated to an all-day field trip that included canoeing and nature education on a nearby lake. Students, parents, and school administration considered the program a success and the students are eagerly awaiting the start of the next session. With the Leave No Child Inside Act, waiting for formal approval at both the state and federal levels, policy-makers are looking at ways to ensure that youth have an opportunity to nurture their connection to nature as an integrated component of their school curriculum. In the meantime, Recreation Services is dedicated to making those opportunities available right here in Eugene’s backyard. For more information, contact Aimee Goglia at 682-6358. Demand for Energy Assistance Spikes Increased public awareness and the slow economy resulted in a record number of residents inquiring about energy assistance programs administered by Recreation Services’ Senior Program. More than 500 people called to get information or to apply for EWEB’s Customer Care, Low-Income Energy Assistance Program and Oregon Low- Income Gas Assistance. The Senior Program screens applicants to determine if the household meets income eligibility of at least 60% of the Oregon poverty level and makes appointments for 50 customers to apply for EWEB’s Customer Care program, which provides $200 for each home. The great outpouring of calls this year resulted from an article in the Register-Guard about an anonymous gift of $300,000 to the program. Calls from people who could not be served through the City were referred to St. Vincent DePaul, which is responsible for disbursing the additional funding. The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program is also available to customers of Blachley Lane, Central Lincoln PUD, EPUD, Lane Electric, Northwest Natural, PacifiCorp, SUB - and to those who make direct payments to landlords who cover their electrical charges. Another program is for weatherization and furnace referrals through the Housing and Community Services Agency of Lane County. In addition to Recreation’s Senior Program, other service agencies that identify low-income households for energy assistance are St. Vincent DePaul, Catholic Community Services, Siuslaw Outreach Services, Upper Willamette CDC, Community Sharing, Cottage Grove Senior Connections, Garcia Service Center, Oakridge Senior Connections, Willamalane Adult Activity Center, Veneta Senior Connections and Junction City Senior Connections. For additional information, contact Senior Services Energy Coordinator Rayna Luvert, at 682-6394. th Eugene Joins Others in Celebrating Oregon’s 150 Birthday On February 14, 1859, Oregon joined the union, and in 2009, communities all over the state are celebrating its 150th birthday for the entire year. The celebration officially begins on February 14, with an event at the Salem Armory. Period costumes, music and food will be on display on one floor, and on another floor, a modern, formal dinner and dance will be held. In response to a request by Governor Kulongoski, Eugene City staff and representatives of other Lane County cities and organizations have teamed up to promote this historical milestone. Library, Recreation and Cultural Services is planning more than a dozen events and activities, including community reads for adults, youth and children, trips to historic sites, free family events that feature period costumes, a day of service to “Take Care of Oregon;” and a display of historic photographs. More City events are in the planning stage. For the entire list of LRCS events, go to: www.eugene-or.gov/rec. Eugene staff is also serving on a Lane County organizing committee with representatives from Springfield, Oakridge, Florence, Cottage Grove, Creswell and Veneta, as well as CVALCO, University of Oregon, Lane County Historical Society, Lane County Museum, Eugene Masonic Cemetery and more. The team has met several times to share program ideas and brainstorm methods to help Lane residents become aware of Oregon 150. A short list of some of those activities includes: Creswell -- Youth Legacy Grant project - June; Garden Lake Park Educational Pavilion and its associated ? dedication ceremony/celebration Florence -- a very special Rhododendron Festival – May ? Oakridge -- an OR 150-themed Pioneer Picnic - July ? Springfield -- Dorris Ranch "At the Park" event planned for February 14 ? For more information about Oregon’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, go to http://www.oregon150.org or contact LRCS Project Manager, Tim Patrick, at 682-6347, or Lane County Oregon150 Chairperson, Phillip Carroll, at 870- 2530. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 December 4, 2008 City Plans to be Carbon Neutral by 2020 On October 8, the City Council adopted the goal that all City- owned facilities and City operations shall be carbon neutral by 2020. The goal states that the City shall become carbon neutral by focusing first on reducing the City's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and purchasing approved, local GHG offset credits to mitigate any remaining emissions. The council also directed City staff to develop an annual work plan for council approval that outlines recommended implementation strategies for reaching this goal, and analyzes associated costs and resource savings. The City has made good progress in reducing emissions through a number of initiatives including use of hybrid vehicles and bio-diesel fuel, installation of solar panels to heat City swimming pools and the capture of methane gas at the wastewater treatment facility - but it is still a long way from being carbon neutral. An internal City staff team (Project Manager Matt Rodrigues, Rich Fay, Ethan Nelson, Keith Nicolson, Glen Svendsen, Jeff Narin, Lynne Eichner-Kelley and Sharon Olson) has been assembled to develop a Climate Action and Energy Plan for the City to help achieve carbon neutrality by 2020. Matt and the climate team are working with departments and divisions to develop creative ways to further reduce emissions, cost out the initiatives and prioritize further action. The plan will detail short- and long-term strategies to achieve the carbon neutral goal by 2020. As part of this work, the team will be investigating how to reduce the City's reliance on fossil fuels, the City's primary greenhouse gas source, to limit exposure to supply and price fluctuations. For more information contact Project Manager Matt Rodrigues, for the Climate Action and Energy Plan, at 682-6036. Collaborative Effort Grows Sustainable Landscape Program When timing, enthusiasm and the right mix of people come together to grow an idea into a feasible project, many things are possible. This summer, when Ross Penhallegon of the OSU/Lane County Extension Service invited a group of people to talk about creating a certified landscape program for homeowners, representatives from many organizations and businesses – including Eugene’s Stormwater Management Program – enthusiastically voiced their support for creating a sustainable landscape program. The program is designed to educate area residents about healthy yard-care practices that are good for people and the local environment. Classes offer information about water efficiency, fertilizing, mulching, recycling, managing yard pests, planting for wildlife, right plant/right place, minimizing stormwater runoff and groundwater, and streamside protection. Following a successful pilot program to “train the trainers,” the first series of classes begins next week and is already filled. Early next spring, Master Gardeners with the OSU Extension Service will continue to roll out the program by providing more classes and certification assessment. The certification program for homeowners, yard-care services and landscape designers is currently being put together. By completing classes and meeting requirements on a checklist, homeowners will be able to display certified landscape signage in their yards. Yard-care services and landscape professionals who complete required classes will also qualify for a program certification. Partners in this educational collaboration include the cities of Eugene and Springfield, Lane County, EWEB, DEQ, SUB, OSU College of Agriculture and Extension Service, Portland Environmental Services, native plant specialist Bruce Newhouse, Bruce Kreitzberg of Back to the Roots Landscaping, and Patti Paris of Sweet Pea Garden Design. For more information about involvement of the Public Works Department, contact Kathy Eva, Stormwater Management Program, at 682-2739 or via e-mail: Kathy.a.eva@ci.eugene.or.us. Classes offered through OSU Extension Service will be scheduled in the spring. Go to http://extension.oregonstate.edu/lane/ or call 682-7308 or 682-7313. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 December 4, 2008