HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/12/09 - City Council Newsletter
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
February 12, 2009
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
DESIGNING THE FUTURE
MAGAZINE FEATURES VOLUNTEERS IN POLICING RADAR PROGRAM
ASSESSMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES PROGRAM AVAILABLE
GET TO KNOW YOUR STATE WITH OREGON150
SPECIAL EVENTS CELEBRATE OREGON’S BIRTHDAY
EUGENE CITED AS TOP PLACE TO RETIRE
FIRE & EMS BEGIN NEW RECRUIT ACADEMY
DEDICATION OF I-5 BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE SLATED FOR FEBRUARY 17
SEISMIC IMPROVEMENTS OF SHELDON POOL SCHEDULED
AROUND THE CITY
Designing the Future
With all of the activity on Franklin Boulevard, the Planning Division is excited to announce the design phase of the
Walnut Station Mixed Use Center. On February 24, 2009, two open house sessions are scheduled; an afternoon
session from 3:00 to 5:00
p.m. and an evening
session from 6:00 to 8:00
p.m. Both sessions will be
held at Northwest Christian
University Banquet Room,
located on the corner of
th
12 Avenue and Kincaid
Street. The open house
will refresh our collective
memories regarding the
visioning work that has
occurred to date and will
prepare us for the three-
day design workshop or
“charrette” that is planned
for this April. The
Photo-simulation illustrating how Franklin Boulevard might develop over the next several decades.
charrette will provide
opportunities for input regarding the detailed development of the area. The Walnut Station Mixed Use Center
project was initiated in 2005 to implement pedestrian friendly neighborhoods that reduce dependence on the
automobile. The 73-acre Walnut Station study area is located along Franklin Boulevard east of downtown Eugene
between the University of Oregon and the Willamette River. The study area is within walking distance of the
Walnut EmX Station, a stop along the recently constructed Bus Rapid Transit line between downtown Eugene and
Springfield. Strategically located on a major transit corridor at the easterly gateway into the city of Eugene, the
Walnut Station area is poised to become a showcase for a pedestrian friendly urban village in Eugene. For more
information visit the web site at www.eugene-or.gov/walnut or contact Lydia McKinney at 682-5485 or via e-mail
at lydia.s.mckinney@ci.eugene.or.us.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
February 12, 2009
Magazine Features Volunteers in Policing Radar Program
Several months ago, EPD's Volunteers in Policing Program Manager Carrie Chouinard was interviewed for an
article in Law Enforcement Technology Magazine regarding citizens on radar patrol. The article was published in
the January 2009 issue and just became available electronically. The article includes information about citizen
radar patrols administered in Roselle (IL), DeForrest (WI), Shoreline (WA), Seattle, St. Joseph (MO), Kirkland
(WA) and Eugene. Among the four photos in the article is one of EPD's Seniors on Patrol volunteer Cliff Flesch
working radar patrol. You can find the article online at: http://www.officer.com/print/Law-Enforcement-
Technology/Citizens-on-radar-patrol/1$45246. For more information, please contact Carrie Chouinard at 682-5355.
Assessment of Neighborhood Services Program Available
An in-depth assessment of the Neighborhood Services Program was recently completed and is now available at
http://www.eugene-or.gov/neighborhoods. Hard copies of the report are available at City libraries and the
Neighborhood Services office. The assessment provides valuable information to help support the goals of the City
Council’s Neighborhood Empowerment Initiative. The final report summarizes information collected from:
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199 online surveys;
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over 60 sidewalk surveys; and
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dozens of interviews of neighborhood leaders, City staff, and representatives from the University of Oregon,
Eugene Water & Electric Board, the Lane Transit District as well as other non-profit and business
stakeholders.
The report also includes examples of the “best practices” of neighborhood programs in other communities similar
to Eugene in size and governance. It concludes with 24 recommendations based on the assessment findings and
the priorities identified by the Neighborhood Empowerment Initiative Action Plan. Community feedback on these
recommendations has been incorporated into the report appendices. A team of neighborhood representatives and
City staff is being convened to review the recommendations and advise the City on implementation. This review
process is anticipated to be completed by April 2009. For more information, please contact Michael Kinnison at
682-5009.
Get to Know Your State with Oregon150!
As Oregon marks its 150th birthday, the Eugene Public Library and Museums of Springfield/Eugene (MUSE) are
cosponsoring the "Oregon 150!" series celebrating the state’s multifaceted history and culture with authors, films,
expert speakers, and more. Get to know your state on Sundays at 2:00 p.m., February 15 through March 29, at the
Downtown Eugene Public Library. Admission is free.
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February 15 - Oregon 1859: A Snapshot in Time - Get a glimpse of the way Oregon was, with an illustrated
talk featuring photos and insights into life at the start of statehood.
?
Feb. 22 - On Paper Wings: This documentary film tells the amazing true story of reconciliation between four
Japanese women and that family’s relatives, forty years later.
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March 1 - Ed’s Coed: Made at the University of Oregon in 1929 with a student cast, this humorous silent film
tells the tale of a freshman named Ed.
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March 8 - Out of the Ordinary Oregon: Author Connie Battaile informs and entertains with an in-depth look at
Oregon’s eccentricities, appreciation for independent thinking, and high degree of tolerance for the unusual.
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March 15 - Women Photographers in Oregon, 1852-1917: Photo-historian Carole Glauber offers an illustrated
look at Oregon through the groundbreaking and distinctive work of four early women photographers.
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March 22 - A Tale of Two Rivers: Geologist Janet Brown explores how the Willamette and the Deschutes
Rivers have shaped, and been shaped by, human interaction.
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March 29 - Innovators and Traders: The Indigenous People of the Columbia River - International commerce,
diplomatic relations, cultural exchanges, tourism, and “green” business practices are hot topics in Oregon – as they
have been for 12,000 years!
For more information, contact the Eugene Public Library at 682-5450 or www.eugene-or.gov/library.
Special Events Celebrate Oregon’s Birthday
th
In this, Oregon’s 150 year as a state, Recreation is offering a variety of ways to celebrate. Oregon officially turns
150 on February 14, but the celebrations are planned throughout the spring and beyond.
th
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The Aquatics Programs at Echo Hollow and Sheldon Pools invite swimmers to mark the 150 birthday by
swimming laps totaling 15 miles (1,056 lengths), 150,000 yards (6,000 lengths), or 150 miles (10,600
lengths).
?
The Senior Program plans a number of van trips, including a trip to the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center on
February 20,a history trip to Oregon City on February 12, a 150-Mile Mystery Trip on February 24 and an
Oregon History Mystery Trip on March 6.
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The Youth and Family and Aquatics programs will recreate Oregon as it was 150 years ago at a free family
event on February 13 at Sheldon Community Center and Pool.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
February 12, 2009
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The Senior Program at Petersen Barn Community Center will hold a free Oregon trivia contest for adults
and seniors on Wednesday, February 18.
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To honor Oregon’s birthday, the Adaptive Recreation Program at Hilyard Community Center plans a day of
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service by helping with a community project on May 16. Open to persons of all abilities.
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Participants in the painting class at Petersen Barn are invited to paint a scene from Oregon that will be on
display at the annual "We Are Bethel" celebration on June 6. Call 682-5521 for information.
Eugene Cited as Top Place to Retire
Houston-based Where to Retire magazine has selected Eugene to profile as a top retirement town in its
March/April issue. The magazine’s editor, Mary Lu Abbott, said Eugene was selected because of its ample
recreational and cultural opportunities, hiking and biking trails, lakes for water sports, festivals, music events, and
continuing-education classes. She also noted that Eugene’s housing market is diverse, with a buyer’s pick of
affordable homes in older neighborhoods, condos in the city and land outside town. Finally, Abbott said Eugene’s
moderate climate, lush scenery, state-of-the-art medical facilities and proximity to the Oregon coast and the
Cascade Range make it a great choice for retirees looking for a friendly city with a sophisticated vibe. According
to the magazine, 700,000 Americans move to new towns to retire each year. Where to Retire magazine was
launched in 1992 with the goal of helping its readers find the ideal place to retire. This accolade is the latest in a
long string of superlatives Eugene has accumulated over the years. Most recently, Eugene has been named:
America’s #1 Green City, 2007 (The Green Guide), Silver Bicycle Friendly Community award (League of American
Bicyclists), one of the top 21 bicycling cities in the nation (Bicycling Magazine), Tree City USA (National Arbor Day
Foundation), one of the 19 most environmentally conscious cities in U.S. (Nature-Friendly Communities), and the
Eighth Best Walking City in America (American Podiatric Medical Association). For more information, contact Jan
Bohman at 682-5587.
Fire & EMS Begin New Recruit Academy
Attrition on the line due to normal retirements and departures has led the Fire & EMS Department to hire a new
group of recruit firefighters who will begin training this month. Among the eight new recruits, five are certified to
the Paramedic EMT level and the other three are certified to the Intermediate level. The new firefighters will
undergo the department's regular 13-week recruit academy, which consists of classroom training and hands-on
drills to develop proficiency in the normal fire suppression, rescue, and emergency medical response skills that are
required on the job. This class will graduate on May 29, and the Mayor and City Council will be invited to the
department's graduation ceremonies. After graduating, the recruits will be assigned to fire stations around the
City, where they will continue to be evaluated until they have successfully completed the required one-year
probationary period. For more information, please contact Fire & EMS Training Captain Matt Ennis at 682-7133.
Dedication of I-5 Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge Slated for February 17
The Oregon Department of Transportation is inviting local elected officials and citizens to attend the ribbon-cutting
ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Interstate 5 Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge project. U.S. Congressman
Peter DeFazio, Mayor Kitty Piercy, Councilor George Poling and Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken will be guest
speakers at the grand opening of this new facility. The ceremony will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February
17, on the west side of the new bridge. This site is south of Beltline Highway and north of the Harlow Road
overpass. The bridge is accessible from the Harlow Road neighborhood in Eugene and from the Gateway Mall in
Springfield. The path and bridge can be accessed from the Harlow neighborhood at four locations: the north side
of Harlow Road just before I-5, Chateau Meadows Drive, the south end of Berkshire Street, and the east end of
Willakenzie Road. Parking is available on the west side of the Gateway Mall, near the Sears store. There will be
signs and guides at the access points to direct people to the ribbon-cutting area. The successful completion of this
project represents many years of cooperative effort on the part of officials from ODOT, the cities of Eugene and
Springfield, Lane County, several local bicycling organizations, the Eugene Water & Electric Board, Gateway Mall
management and other nearby businesses. The new bridge will connect the bicycle path networks of Eugene and
Springfield. Contact Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Lee Shoemaker for more information at 682-5471 or
lee.shoemaker@ci.eugene.or.us.
Seismic Improvements of Sheldon Pool Scheduled
Recreation Aquatics staff is in the process of notifying patrons that Sheldon Pool and Fitness Center will be closed
for an important and necessary seismic improvement project from June 15, 2009, until it re-opens on September
14, 2009. The project will improve and upgrade the structure of the 40-year-old natatorium in order to reduce risk
to patrons and staff in the event of a significant seismic event. Improvements will add steel cross-bracing between
the large overhead beams to improve lateral strength as well as strengthening of the beams themselves. This
project and its goals are similar to the project completed last year at Echo Hollow Pool. In addition to the structural
improvements, the acoustic qualities of the space will be improved by adding acoustic panels and relocation of the
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
February 12, 2009
exhaust fan to reduce noise. During the closure, scaffolding will be erected above the pools to install the steel
support members and acoustic tiles on the ceiling and structure above. Aquatics staff is making arrangements to
provide the majority of the water fitness classes and swimming lessons at Echo Hollow Pool or Amazon Pool, with
the same instructors for most classes. For more information about the structural improvements, contact Meredith
Fox at 682-8829. For information about programming, contact Rich Fay at 682-5331.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4
February 12, 2009