HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/07/09 - City Council Newsletter
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
May 7, 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
CLIMB ABOARD THE DIGITAL BOOKMOBILE
FOURTH ANNUAL URBAN ADVENTURE RACE SET FOR SATURDAY
SMOKE ALARM DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM DRAWS TO CONCLUSION
TWO CITY PROJECTS TO RECEIVE FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS
BUSINESS COMMUTE CHALLENGE RETURNS WITH REGIONAL FOCUS AND NEW WEBSITE
ALDER STREET BICYCLE BOULEVARD AND SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL TOPICS OF MEETING
EUGENE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZES FALLEN OFFICERS
AROUND THE CITY
Climb Aboard the Digital Bookmobile
On Tuesday, May 12, the Eugene Public Library will welcome the Digital Bookmobile, a participatory "download
experience" inside an 18-wheel, 74-foot, high-tech tractor-trailer. The giant, colorful vehicle will be parked across
the street from the Downtown Library from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eugene is one of only three Oregon stops on
the Digital Bookmobile's national tour.
A radical update of the traditional bookmobile, the Digital Bookmobile is equipped with broadband Internet-
connected PCs, high definition monitors, premium sound systems, and a variety of portable media players to help
visitors explore the library's download service, Library2Go.
Visitors will experience interactive demonstrations and discover how
easy it is to download audiobooks with the free Library2Go service
available all day, every day, at the Eugene Public Library website:
www.eugene-or.gov/library.
Library2Go offers a quickly growing collection of best-selling, new
release, and classic titles. The downloaded audiobooks can be
listened to on supported devices including computers, MP3 players,
iPods, and iPhones. Borrowers can choose a 7- or 14-day lending
period – and when the due date arrives, the audiobook files
automatically expire. That means there are never overdue fines, or
lost or damaged items.
"People love them," reports Digital Services Librarian Lorie Vik at
the Eugene Public Library. "Our tape and CD audiobooks have been popular for years, but the downloadable
audiobooks are even more convenient. For one thing, you can get them even when you can't come to the library.
Plus, they return themselves -- you don't have to do anything."
For more information, contact the Eugene Public Library at (541) 682-5450 or www.eugene-or.gov/library.
Fourth Annual Urban Adventure Race Set for Saturday
On Saturday, May 9, the Outdoor Program offers a unique opportunity for residents to connect with their
community and environment: Out in the Artdoors – Urban Adventure Race. The race is for people of all ability
levels who want to compete in a series of fun and creative mental and physical challenges that highlight the city.
The Out in the Artdoors race is intended to be a community builder; the driving forces are fun, creativity, and
community spirit. The race starts and ends at Washington Park, 2025 Washington Street, with racers getting
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
May 7, 2009
underway at 10:00 a.m. The race course is kept secret to enhance team creativity and spontaneity. Although time
is a criterion for winning the race, creativity, art awareness, community spirit, and luck are ALL critical in
determining the winner.
Art-official Race Rules include:
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Each team member will have fun.
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Some may have more fun than others.
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No crying if you don't win - it's the process that
counts.
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No crying if you do win - we don't care and neither
will ESPN.
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Be yourself, unless you want to be someone else.
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No cheating - unless it is artistically done and
gives you no advantage over other teams.
For more information, contact Kellie Nemke at 682-6324.
Smoke Alarm Distribution Program Draws to Conclusion
A four-year fire safety partnership among the Eugene Fire & EMS Department, EWEB, and Lane County is
nearing its conclusion, as the final batch of smoke alarms for residents of low-income energy-assistance homes
has now been purchased and will soon be distributed. Upon completion of the program, which was funded by
private donations, a total of more than 400 smoke alarms will have been placed in local homes. The Eugene Fire
Marshal’s Office provided training on proper installation, and the other two agencies supplied field personnel who
are conducting the actual placements. The Fire & EMS Department continues to reach out to partners who will
assist in providing Eugeneans with an extra margin of safety. For more information about the energy-assistance
smoke alarm project, please contact Interim Fire Marshal Doug Perry at 682-5887.
Two City Projects to Receive Federal Stimulus Funds
The Delta Ponds Ecosystem Restoration Project and the Metro Waterways Study, two collaborative projects
between the City of Eugene and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), will benefit from federal stimulus
funding that was recently awarded to the Corps.
The Corps has committed to spend $2.337 million
in stimulus funds for the Delta Ponds project. The
Corps will use this funding to design and install a
fish-friendly culvert under Goodpasture Island
Road. The culvert is the next major step in a multi-
year project to restore habitat, improve hydrology,
and enhance recreational opportunities in the Delta
Ponds. Actual construction of the culvert will likely
occur in summer 2010. Other project elements that
may be funded with these funds include a new
parking lot on the east side of Goodpasture Island
Road, and additional riparian enhancements
throughout the project area.
The Corps will also receive $438,000 in stimulus
funding for the Metro Waterways Study. This
amount will be used to complete the programmatic
Boardwalk at Delta Ponds
environmental assessment for potential habitat,
water quality, and recreational improvements in Eugene’s Amazon Creek planning area and Springfield’s Cedar
Creek planning area. For more information, please contact Natural Resources Manager Eric Wold at 682-4842.
Business Commute Challenge Returns with Regional Focus and New Website
The Business Commute Challenge is a fun and friendly way to challenge co-workers and other businesses to
reduce their transportation footprint. Through this program, businesses encourage their employees to commute to
work by foot, bike, bus, car/vanpool or any combination of those modes. Many past participants report continuing
to use an alternative to driving alone long after the challenge is over.
This year, participation is easier with the creation of a new and improved website, www.commutechallenge.org.
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May 7, 2009
The Business Commute Challenge has been primarily a Eugene event for the last 10 years, but through a
partnership with Commuter Solutions at Lane Transit District, this year the Challenge has been expanded to the
entire region. More than 70 businesses have signed up so far this year. Businesses can continue to register
through Friday, May 8. The competition begins on May 11 and ends May 15.
Joining the challenge helps support a reduction in carbon emissions, reduced congestion and increased personal
and community health. Everyone who participates is registered to win prizes, including Amtrak tickets to Seattle or
Portland, Hult Center show tickets, a Wheelworks bike tune-up, certificates for pizza from Papa John’s, a tune-up
and a helmet and lock from Hutch's Bike Shop, Eugene city pool passes, movie tickets at Cinemedia or gift
certificates from REI, the Shedd Institute, Full
City Coffee, Arriving by Bike and more. A lucky
business will win a business breakfast,
sponsored by Peace Health. Awards will also
be given to businesses reporting the greatest
reduction in auto trips during the challenge
week.
Following the week-long challenge, an awards luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 19, from noon to 1:30 p.m.
at which winners and runners-up will be recognized. To sign up, go to www.commutechallenge.org. For more
information, contact Business Commute Challenge Coordinator Paul Adkins at paul@commutechallenge.org or
682-5285.
Alder Street Bicycle Boulevard and Safe Routes to School Topics of Meeting
City of Eugene transportation planning staff is inviting the public to a forum to discuss tools for making streets in
the area east of Amazon Park more comfortable for bicyclists, pedestrians and neighbors. They will also discuss
the Eugene Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program and potential bicycle and pedestrian safety enhancements to
Alder Street, and streets near Roosevelt Middle School and Harris/Eastside Elementary Schools.
At the meetings, City staff will present several options to enhance the safety and comfort of non-motorized traffic.
The public will have the opportunity to comment on the options and provide ideas of their own. Some of these
proposals may affect the vehicle traffic in the surrounding area. Time and locations for the meetings are:
Neighborhood Meeting Project Walkabout
Wednesday, May 13 Wednesday, May 20
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Hilyard Community Center Meet in front of Amazon Community Center
2580 Hilyard Street 2700 Hilyard Street
For more information, contact Lee Shoemaker at 682-5471 or lee.shoemaker@ci.eugene.or.us.
Eugene Police Department Recognizes Fallen Officers
May 7, 2009, Oregon State Police will hold a Police Memorial Ceremony in Salem to honor fallen officers who died
in the line of duty. The Eugene Police Department is honoring its fallen officers, Oscar Duley (1930) and Jesse
Jennings Jackson (1934), who gave their lives in service of their community. For their stories, go to The Latest!
on the Eugene Police website www.eugene-or.gov/police. For more information, contact Melinda Kletzok at
682.5124 or Melinda.A.Kletzok@ci.eugene.or.us.
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