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Home My WebLink About02/19/09 - City Council Newsletter (2) EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER February 19, 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 INSPECTORS AVAILABLE FOR SATURDAY PROJECTS FIRE & EMS HELPS KICK OFF NEW FIRE SAFETY CURRICULUM VOLUNTEERS TURN PARKING AREA INTO NATURAL AREA WASTEWATER DIVISION MANAGER RECOGNIZED FOR REGIONAL ROLE SUSTAINABLE PARK MANAGEMENT EFFORTS HIGHLIGHTED IN NATIONAL MAGAZINE PUBLIC WORKS FLEET SECTION QUALIFIES FOR DEQ SILVER LEVEL RECOGNITION CITY AND UO STUDENTS FORM CLIMATE CHANGE PARTNERSHIP AROUND THE CITY Inspectors Available for Saturday Projects Based on the success of a pilot program last year, Building & Permit Services now offers Saturday inspections for all homeowners and contractors. Inspectors can perform building and mechanical inspections that do not include electrical or plumbing inspection. This service targets homeowners and business owners who might otherwise need to take time away from work to meet the inspector on site. The program is one of several the Planning & Development Department is implementing to help streamline and improve access to needed services. To request a Saturday inspection, contact City staff at 682- 5283 to request the Saturday of choice. Inspections are scheduled in advance and the day fills up quickly, so it’s wise to plan ahead. For questions regarding this service, contact Building Inspection Supervisor Kyle Richardson at 682-8338. Fire & EMS Helps Kick Off New Fire Safety Curriculum Eugene Fire & EMS served as host agency this week to the initial presentation to teachers of Oregon's new fire safety curriculum for elementary and middle school students. Nineteen teachers from around the region attended a day-long briefing on the instruction, which includes education regarding fire coverage by the media, fire survival, fire prevention, and personal responsibility. The curriculum, which is designed to be taught in five class periods, was developed and presented by the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office with assistance from the Eugene Fire Marshal's Office. Statewide it will replace the former educational requirement, which called for only 30 minutes of fire safety instruction per year (and was usually used to conduct fire drills rather than to provide structured fire safety education). OSFM's Program Coordinator for Juvenile Firesetter Intervention, Judy Okulitch, said the plan is to provide quality education that will lead to safe behaviors by individuals, families and the community. With the new curriculum now required by the State Board of Education, Okulitch said fire departments can become teaching partners, rather than serving as the sole source of classroom fire safety teaching -- a role they can only fulfill as time permits and to the extent they are invited into classrooms. For more information, please contact Eugene Interim Fire Marshal Doug Perry at 682-5887. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 February 19, 2009 Volunteers Turn Parking Area into Natural Area As part of the City of Eugene Volunteers in Parks Program, 25 volunteers spent a day in late January turning a portion of the canoe canal parking lot, within the Whilamut Natural Area of Alton Baker Park, into a more natural park setting. Community members and volunteers from the Whilamut Citizen Planning Committee (CPC) planted over 50 native trees in a 30-foot band along the north side of the canoe canal, creating a natural area buffer and wildlife corridor. Even in a more natural state, the East Alton Baker Master Plan calls for this area to continue providing event overflow parking. Volunteers followed up the project on Saturday, February 14, by installing beaver-resistant fencing around each new tree. The CPC’s work includes monitoring agency-initiated restoration and park-improvement activities, coordinating committee-sponsored volunteer projects, and promoting the Whilamut Natural Area to the community as a valuable resource. The City of Eugene Volunteers in Parks program organizes volunteers to work on projects to enhance parks and natural areas such as constructing trails, planting trees, installing playground equipment, and removing invasive plants. For more information contact Volunteers in Parks Coordinator VIP volunteers create natural area Lorna Baldwin at 682-4845 or lorna.j.baldwin@ci.eugene.or.us. Wastewater Division Manager Recognized for Regional Role Eugene’s Wastewater Division Director, Peter Ruffier, was recognized on Tuesday as an outstanding example of the spirit of intergovernmental cooperation that has been built over three decades by Springfield, Eugene and Lane County, partnering to provide regional wastewater management services efficiently and effectively through the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission. Ruffier has served as Eugene’s Wastewater Division Director since 1992, managing the operations end of the MWMC business, and working together with Springfield staff to maintain a strong intergovernmental partnership. Recently, when Susie Smith vacated the MWMC general manager position to become the Springfield Public Works Director, Ruffier supported the City of Springfield by filling her role during the six-month recruitment period. Ruffier took on a demanding set of responsibilities, in addition to keeping much of the oversight role he regularly provides for the Eugene Wastewater Division. He worked part-time in an office in Springfield City Hall, led the Springfield MWMC team, and provided leadership as the MWMC general manager in ways that provided seamless continuity of service to this interagency commission from July to December 2008, when the new MWMC Peter Ruffier, left, receives plaque General Manager, Ron Bittler, came onboard. For more information, contact Public from Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken Works Public Affairs Manager Eric Jones at 682-5523. Sustainable Park Management Efforts Highlighted in National Magazine The current edition of the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) Magazine features some of the sustainable practices Eugene uses to maintain its parks and natural areas. The issue highlights Eugene’s use of eco-friendly bike trailers to deliver services along the Riverbank Path, the six neighborhood parks maintained without the use of pesticides, efforts to find the best low-fertilizer grasses, and plans to utilize goats in Hendricks Park this summer to clear invasive English ivy. The magazine was specifically searching for green practices that could be replicated by other park agencies. The Parks and Open Space Division has already received inquiries about its efforts from park districts as far away as Chicago. NRPA distributes over 20,000 copies of its monthly magazine to park and recreation agencies across the United States. For more information, contact Park Operations Manager Kevin Finney at 682-4809 or Kevin.P.Finney@ci.eugene.or.us. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 February 19, 2009 Public Works Fleet Section Qualifies for DEQ Silver Level Recognition The Fleet Section of the Public Works Maintenance Division has qualified at the Silver Level in the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s diesel recognition program. In a congratulatory letter, Kathleen Cochrun, coordinator of DEQ’s Clean Diesel Recognition Program, noted that “DEQ is impressed with the City of Eugene for its proactive efforts to reduce diesel exhaust in its fleet. The City of Eugene will be among the first group of fleets to participate in the program and will be in an elite group of participants that will get special recognition.” The goal of the Clean Diesel Recognition Program is to reduce Oregonians’ exposure to diesel exhaust and to minimize environmental impacts related to diesel fuel usage. In line with this goal, the City of Eugene switched to a 20% biodiesel blend almost five years ago. Fleet is currently working to become certified by DEQ as an Eco-Biz and to be counted among the 100 Best Fleets in the United States. For more information, contact Fleet Manager Tony Jobanek at 682-4808. City and UO Students Form Climate Change Partnership Keeping your tires inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure improves handling, fuel economy, and the life of the tire, thus reducing vehicle emissions. Tires lose air naturally over time and need to be checked once a month. University of Oregon students will be volunteering to work in the north and south West Broadway parking garages, February 24 - February 27. They will check tire pressure and inflation stations will be available to inflate tires. The first 150 participants will receive a free tire gauge. This project is coordinated by the University of Oregon’s Office of Sustainability, with the City of Eugene and local businesses, in an effort to provide service and leadership in sustainability. For more information about City sustainability initiatives, contact Sustainability Manager Felicity Fahy at 682-5017, or click on www.eugene-or.gov/sustainability. For more information about the university’s Office of Sustainability, visit http://sustainability.uoregon.edu. THIS WEEK 2/19 Th5:30pm KP, CP, AZ PAORC Public Forum Bascom/Tykeson Rm NEXT WEEK 2/23 M 3:30pm All City Council Executive Session Council Chamber 2/23 M 5:30pm All Council Work Session McNutt Room 2/23 M 7:30pm All Council Meeting Council Chamber 2/24 Tu 12:00pm All City Council Executive Session McNutt Room 2/25 W Noon All City Council Executive Session McNutt Room 2/25 W 1:15pm AO, GP, BT IGR McNutt Room 2/26 Th 5:00pm KP, CP, AZ PAORC McNutt Room UPCOMING 3/3 Tu Noon All JEO Springfield Library 3/9 M 5:30pm All Council Work Session McNutt Room 3/9 M 7:30pm All Council Meeting Council Chamber 3/11 W Noon All Council Work Session McNutt Room COUNCIL BREAK: MARCH 12 – APRIL 8 ** Denotes changes or additions to calendar EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 February 19, 2009