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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Newsletter - 11/10/05 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER November 10, 2005 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 SMOKING RULE PROPOSED EPA AWARDS $779,000 TO WILLAMETTE WATERSHED RESTORATION PROJECT TRENDS, MYSTERIES AND OBSTACLES HIGHLIGHTED IN STORMWATER CONNECTIONS CAMPBELL SENIOR CENTER’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY BAZAAR LIBRARY, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES COLLABORATIONS STREAM TEAM VOLUNTEERS ENHANCE DELTA PONDS AROUND THE CITY Smoking Rule Proposed The Eugene City Council in October provided direction to revise regulations that apply to outdoor smoking areas – the decks, patios and other areas set up at local bars, taverns and restaurants for smoking patrons. Proposed changes to Administrative Rule R-6.230 would result in outdoor smoking areas that are at least 75 percent open, rather than the current 25 percent, and address the timeframe for compliance. A copy of the City Manager’s proposed rule is included in this week’s City Council packet and information is being sent to interested parties and posted on the City of Eugene website. The interested parties list includes those who have testified on the issue during this last year, as well as owners and managers of establishments most likely to be affected. The deadline for written comments is December 2, 2005, with adoption set before year’s end. Staff also will be conducting inspections of existing outdoor smoking areas to identify the scope of changes that might be required for compliance. The proposed standards appear to “work” for open-air patios with seating for smokers at least 10 feet from building openings. Depending on site configurations, immediate compliance may be more challenging or unattainable for partially enclosed seating areas and venues relying on existing exterior walls, such as the Duck Inn on West 6th Avenue and the former Café Paradiso at Olive and Broadway. A supplemental budget request is planned for the permit fee offset supported by the council. For more information, please contact Planning and Development Department staff Keli Osborn, keli.m.osborn@ci.eugene,or.us, 682-5288, or Mike McKerrow, mike.j.mckerrow@ci.eugene.or.us, 682-5251. EPA Awards $779,000 to Willamette Watershed Restoration Project The Willamette Partnership, a coalition of conservation, city, county, business, farm and scientific leaders, has been awarded $779,000 in federal funding to undertake an innovative initiative that will accelerate and expand restoration of the Willamette River basin. According to Sen. Gordon Smith, this is the largest watershed grant in the nation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Targeted Watershed Grant award, combined with $800,000 in various local matching resources, will fund a $1.6 million effort to create a Willamette ecosystem “marketplace.” The marketplace will focus public and private ecological investments throughout the entire Willamette River basin to improve water quality, restore fish and wildlife habitat, and protect endangered species. Using conservation credits as a form of environmental currency, the Willamette ecosystem marketplace will assist in pooling and leveraging resources to pay for larger-scale and coordinated projects, achieving greater environmental benefit. The initial focus of the partnership will be reducing water temperatures in EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 November 10, 2005 the Willamette River and its tributaries. Water temperature is critical to maintaining fish stocks, reducing bacteria and restoring natural habitat. An example of a potential trade in the marketplace might involve a municipal wastewater treatment facility and a group of farmers who own land along the banks of a Willamette River tributary. “Using the marketplace, a wastewater treatment plant could meet its regulatory requirements by contracting with farmers to create shade along streams with permanent plantings, instead of using lots of electricity to run expensive cooling equipment,” explains John Miller, a nursery and vineyard owner who serves as the Partnership’s Vice Chair. “Conservation credits can benefit municipal water and sewer ratepayers, farm and forest owners and the critters that need better habitats.” The vision for the Willamette ecosystem marketplace addresses more than just water temperature. “This grant will build the technical foundation necessary for effective marketplace trading,” says David Primozich, executive director of the Willamette Partnership. “The trading process needs to be transparent and accountable. The ecological results on the ground and in our streams and rivers need to be measurable and result in regulatory compliance. Laying the foundation for the Willamette ecosystem ‘marketplace’ also provides an exciting opportunity to build the enduring coalitions that are essential to achieving broader environmental results more quickly and less expensively than is currently possible.” Locally, the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission supported the grant application and will be investing staff time and resources on projects related to temperature mitigation in the Willamette River. Local members of the Willamette Partnership’s 2005 board of directors include Steve Gordon, a retired natural resource planner with the Lane Council of Governments, and David Hulse, a professor of landscape architecture at the University of Oregon and former chair of the UO Landscape Architecture department. For more information about the grant or the Willamette Partnership, contact Peter Ruffier, director of Eugene’s Public Works Wastewater Division, at 541-682-8606, or Willamette Partnership Executive Director David Primozich at 503-434-8033. Trends, Mysteries and Obstacles Highlighted in Stormwater Connections Outdoor cleaning trends, an ancient mystery and watery obstacle courses are just a few of the stories featured it the Fall 2005 issue of Stormwater Connections, due out Monday, November 14, as an insert in the Register- Guard. The connection between clean and healthy rivers and home maintenance activities is not always obvious. The feature story, “When Good Cleaning Activities Go Bad”, calls attention to the growing trend of pressure washing, discharge dilemmas and how to make sure the job is done right. As the rainy season kicks into gear, leaf- plugged storm drains may create watery obstacle courses that can challenge anyone traveling by foot, wheelchair, bicycle or car. Included are some tips on preventing storm drain blockage and general information about flooding. Although 1996 was the last time this area experienced flooding locally, it’s not always possible to predict when the next flood will occur. Do you know if your property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area or what kind of discounts Eugene residents can get on flood insurance premiums? A map and floodplain information services are listed along with preparedness tips. Why write about these topics? 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. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 November 10, 2005 Kids of any age may be intrigued to learn about the ancient cousin of today’s salmon. Although discovery of this giant fish was made almost 90 years ago, it has been extinct for over 5 million years. A colorful drawing of the giant saber toothed salmon by artist Ray Troll is included in the newsletter. Information provided in the semi-annual newsletter has been produced by the Stormwater Management Program since 1994 to increase awareness of surface water and natural resource issues in this community. Copies of the newsletter have been placed in the City 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. Campbell Senior Center’s Annual Holiday Bazaar Be sure to mark Saturday, November 19, on your calendar for this year’s Holiday Bazaar at Campbell Center, located at 155 High Street in Eugene. The sale is open to the public and admission is free! Items available for purchase include a wide variety of crafts, quilts, wooden items, gift baskets, timeless treasures, baked goods, preserves, and Campbell’s famous Sweet Hot Mustard. Raffles and a silent auction will also take place. A continental breakfast will be served from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.; lunch, pie and coffee will be served from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information, call Campbell Center Manager Yvaughn Tompkins at 682-5318. Library, Recreation and Cultural Services Collaborations During the week of October 24-29, several terrific collaborations took place between Hult Center Presents, the Library Recreation and Cultural Services Department, and Eugene’s community partners. The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial On the evening before the performance, 30 students and senior members of a local readers' theatre filled Studio One to discuss the play with four stars of the Monkey Trial cast. Questions and answers were interesting, provocative, candid and insightful. Also, the complete production was presented in Silva Hall for 1,200 students, 9th grade through college. These events were the result of a partnership between faculty members from LCC, U of O, and the Eugene, Bethel, Springfield and Cottage Grove school districts. BREAK! The Urban Funk Spectacular As part of the Arts NW Conference, the Hult Center toured eight members of the Break company around town to showcase their work and support ticket sales for their November 29 Hult Center Presents appearance. Thanks to Amazon Community Center Manager Sandy Shaffer, four Break cast members conducted a demonstration and Q&A period for 25 people as part of a new adult hip hop class held regularly at Amazon. Hult Center Marketing and Public Relations Manager Billie Rathbun-Moser arranged a spontaneous demonstration inside Borders Books store, attended by approximately 50 people. The Break cast demonstrated techniques and taught two dance classes at the UO Dance Dept. and two hip hop and jazz classes at LCC Dance Dept. Stinky Cheese Man Two Dallas Children's Theatre cast members taught a 90-minute workshop for area teachers and librarians on theatre techniques to be used when working with youth. The workshop, which was held at the Downtown Library, was made possible by the leadership and support of Library Youth Services EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 November 10, 2005 Manager Mary Ginnane and Library Marketing Coordinator Tylar Merrill. The Library sent invitations, took reservations, provided the space, welcomed the participants, and sent staff to the event. Arts NW Conference: Hult Center Programming Manager Carol Philips organized a workshop for a group of arts leaders to discuss ticket pricing techniques. Presenting this workshop, one of the most stimulating in the conference, were Oregon Bach Festival Communications Director (facilitator) George Evano, Eugene Symphony Executive Director Paul Winberg, Hult Center Ticket Office Manager Marcia James Gluz, and Cascade Festival of Music Executive Director Sally Russenberger. Stream Team Volunteers Enhance Delta Ponds In October, the Downtown Lions Club and several community members spent the day readying an outdoor education area at Delta Ponds. In addition to removing blackberry vines, volunteers spent the day planting alder, snowberry bushes, spirea, rose, and dogwood trees. The majority of the plantings were propagated at the Native Plant Nursery from cuttings taken at Delta Ponds. Stream Team volunteers will be using a portion of the area as an outdoor classroom, conducting water quality and macro invertebrate sampling. The Stream Team’s mission is to create and support increased stewardship of Eugene's watersheds. Volunteers learn about and contribute to the protection and enhancement of their urban watershed in a variety of settings using diverse skills. For more information, contact Stream Team Coordinator Lorna Baldwin at 682- 4850. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4 November 10, 2005