HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/02/09 City Council Newsletter (2)
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
April 2, 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
DEVELOPERS AND DESIGNERS WEIGH IN ON OPPORTUNITY SITING
SUMMER CAMP FAIR HIGHLIGHTS COE/UO PARTNERSHIP
FIRE & EMS AND POLICE TEAM UP ON BICYCLE SAFETY PSA
AVAILABLE NOW - POSITION ON RENTAL HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
FIRST AWARD FOR SPORTS AND ENVIRONMENT GOES TO EUGENE 08
TEN YEARS OF TEEN COURT BENEFITS OFFENDERS, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY
EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY HOSTS “BEADS AROUND THE WORLD”
AROUND THE CITY
Developers and Designers Weigh in on Opportunity Siting
The Opportunity Siting (OS) Task Team is moving forward on the council’s initiative to encourage higher density
housing in appropriate locations. The team has been working with neighborhoods to create a way for residents to
identify appropriate housing sites in their communities. The task team has also reached out to the development
community for their insights. A recent focus group of multiple- family housing developers and architects discussed
obstacles to developing dense housing and how the City could address some of these barriers.
In addition to the current economic climate, barriers identified
by the group included the availability of land, the time needed
for permit approvals, the lack of flexibility in specific code
requirements, public opposition to projects, and uncertainty
about permit approvals and incentives. According to the
participants, the net effect of these uncertainties and delays
often makes projects financially difficult and impractical.
The group also identified a number of potential solutions and
financial incentives that could reduce these barriers to
development. The findings of the focus groups will help
inform the final recommendations of the OS Task Team. The recommendations report will spell out how
Opportunity Siting would combine development incentives with neighborhood siting criteria. This report will be
presented to the Planning Commission in June. For more information, contact Metro and Community Planner
Patricia Thomas at 682-5561 or patricia.thomas@ci.eugene.or.us.
Summer Camp Fair Highlights COE/UO Partnership
Parents can get a jump on their summer plans by attending the
th
4 Annual Amazon Summer Camp Fair from 1-3 p.m., April 19,
at Amazon Community Center. Camp staff will be on hand to
answer questions about camps presented jointly by City of
Eugene and University of Oregon Youth Enrichment Program.
In addition to the camps, the COE/UO partnership provides
classes year-round in dance, art, theater, fine art, visual arts and
other opportunities for creative expression. The classes are
often taught by professional artists and teachers who help guide
students to become the creative artist they wish to be. For more
information, contact Gina Tafoya at 682-6304.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
April 2, 2009
Fire and Police Team Up on Bicycle Safety PSA
With the warm springtime weather bringing more bicyclists onto Eugene's roadways and bike paths, the City's Fire
& EMS and Police departments have collaborated to produce a 30-second television PSA reminding bike riders
and motorists to operate their vehicles in a safe manner. The theme is avoiding situations where one might have
to say (or think), "IF ONLY . . . (I'd done the safe thing)." The spot will air on local stations beginning next week.
Featuring Cody the Official Fire Safety Dalmatian, this is the fourth and final PSA in a safety series funded by a
City telecommunications grant. A tentative decision has been made to continue the series in the upcoming fiscal
year. For more information, please contact Fire & EMS Public Information Officer Glen Potter at 682-7118.
Available Now - Position on Rental Housing Advisory Committee
The City of Eugene is seeking applicants for a nine-member Rental Housing Department Advisory Committee.
This citizen advisory body will represent those with an interest in the outcome of policies, procedures, and budgets
that affect the City of Eugene Rental Housing Code. Members may include, but are not limited to rental owners,
students, tenant advocates, property managers or other interested parties. Committee members will serve a two-
year term that may be renewable.
The primary role of the committee is to provide advice to City staff from a citizen perspective. In particular, the
committee may do the following:
?
Recommend improvements to customer service, complaint and compliance processes.
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Represent the views of property owners or tenants to the general community.
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Review and comment to staff on budget, enforcement, reports and proposals.
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Educate the general public concerning issues affecting the community.
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Hold public forums.
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Hear public or expert testimony.
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Research and study critical issues or topics of common interest.
All meetings are open to the public, and agendas and minutes will be posted on the City’s rental housing website,
http://www.eugene-or.gov/rentalhousing. Anyone interested in serving on this committee can submit an application
The deadline to submit
online at http://www.eugene-or.gov/bcc (select Application for Boards & Commissions).
an application is April 10, 2009.
For more information, please contact staff at 541-682-8282.
First Award for Sports and Environment Goes to Eugene 08
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave its first award for Sports and the Environment to Eugene’s Local
Organizing Committee for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for its environmental and sustainability efforts
during the Trials. Eugene 08 was the winner for all of North and South America, as events on each continent were
recognized. City of Eugene staff led the Eugene 08 Sustainability Committee and collaborated with partners from
Lane County, Lane Transit, EWEB and others
throughout the community to make Eugene 08 the
greenest Olympic Trials. A “Going for the Gold in
Zero Waste Events” grant from the Environmental
Protection Agency funded over 100 three-part
receptacle systems that were used to separate
recycling, compostables and refuse. As a result,
the event achieved a 72% recycling rate. Other
accomplishments included the following:
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composting of food waste and eating
utensils
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reduced use of paper and other disposable
materials
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sustainable travel modes – buses, shuttles,
bike and skateboard valet parking
?
close to 100% use of clean wind power
purchased from EWEB
?
maximum use of local and organic food
sources
This global award joins others that recognized the impressive environmental and sustainability efforts at the Trials,
including a Lane County Special Event “Trashbuster” award and the Governor’s “Oregon Sustainability Special
Project Award.” For more information, contact Jan Bohman at 682-5587.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
April 2, 2009
Ten Years of Teen Court Benefits Offenders, Students and Community
th
On April 1, West Eugene’s Teen Court held its 10 anniversary hearings. The West Eugene and Bethel Teen
Courts provide an option to first-time offenders, age 12-17, to be judged by their peers. The court is operated by
student volunteers who learn communication and decision-
making skills and gain insight into the legal profession as
they act as a case presenter, defendant advisor, or jury.
The students, local attorneys, judges, and UO law students
have volunteered more than 10,000 hours to West Eugene
Teen Court over the past 10 years.
The court hears cases involving violations and nonviolent
misdemeanor crimes, such as shoplifting, trespassing, or
criminal mischief. The offender must admit guilt to the
charge to receive a hearing and sentencing in Teen Court.
The sentencing can include a letter of apology, restitution,
community service, or a written assignment. As part of any
sentence, all defendants must serve on at least one future
Teen Court jury.
Bruce Steinmetz, who has administered Eugene’s Teen Courts for 12 years, says having youth peers determine
the penalties is very powerful. A study by Lane County found that the Teen Courts do a better job of preventing
youth from repeating their crimes than other types of juvenile proceedings. Recreation Services Division Manager
Craig Smith said Eugene’s Teen Court is a prime example of how Recreation programs cross over from
educational and leadership opportunities into community social services. The Lane County report estimated that
the efficiency of the Teen Courts produced a $325,000 savings in local social services over two years.For more
information, contact Bruce Steinmetz at 682-6376.
Eugene Public Library Hosts “Beads Around the World”
International bead expert Jamey Allen will visit Eugene on Saturday, April 11, to present a
fascinating and beautifully illustrated talk on the history of beads and bead identification.
Says Allen, “Bring your mystery beads!” The talk will begin at 3:00 p.m. at the Downtown
Public Library, and is co-sponsored by Harlequin Beads & Jewelry. Admission is free.
A lifelong artist, Allen has studied and created with beads for more than 40 years. His
specialties are organic materials, art glass beads, and the altering of certain kinds of stone
beads. The author of many articles and books on beads, Allen has traveled and lectured worldwide. He is a
Consulting Curator at The Bead Museum in Arizona, a founding member of the Northern California Bead Society,
and a co-founder of the Society of Bead Researchers. For more information, contact Eugene Public Library at
(541) 682-5450, www.eugene-or.gov/library.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
April 2, 2009