HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/18/09 - City Council Newsletter
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
June 18, 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
SUMMER READING FOR KIDS AND TEENS AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY
STARTING BLOCK CONTINUES TO DRAW FUTURE TRACK STARS
FAMILY FUN AND SAFETY FEST SATURDAY AT ALTON BAKER PARK
NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS OFFER IDEAS ON OPPORTUNITY SITING
OPEN HOUSE FOR MARIPOSA WOODLAND MANAGEMENT PLAN
PUBLIC FORUMS FOR POLICE FACILITY AND FUTURE OF CITY HALL
AROUND THE CITY
Summer Reading for Kids and Teens at Eugene Public Library
Here comes summer and the Eugene Public Library's free Summer Reading programs. This year's theme is “Be
Creative!” Summer Reading for kids is fun and more; studies show that participation keeps reading skills up while
school’s out. At sign-up, each child gets a free book to keep. Kids can also enter weekly drawings for free passes
to area museums, compliments of Museums of Springfield/Eugene
(MUSE). Visit the Library or www.eugene-or.gov/library for a complete
listing of weekly creative events to inspire kids, including dancing,
making books, drumming, and more.
The Tom Question Show,
Free shows for the whole family start with
bringing inventive comedy, juggling, stilt-walking, and silliness. Catch
it on Monday, June 22, 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at the Downtown
Library, on Tuesday, June 23, 2:00 p.m., at Petersen Barn, or
Wednesday, June 24, 2:00 p.m., at Sheldon Community Center. On
Friday, June 26, at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at the Downtown
“Anansi the Spider,”
Library, Oregon Shadow Theatre will present a
beautiful puppet show with music, inspired by West African trickster
tales.
Middle- and high-school students can sign up for Teen Summer Reading at any Library location. Each teen gets a
free book at sign-up, as well as a calendar of free upcoming activities, including manga drawing, creating with
clay, writing, and a costumed Twilight party.
For more information about Summer Reading events, visit www.eugene-or.gov/library or call 682-8316.
Starting Block Continues to Draw Future Track Stars
Recreation Services will present the “Starting Block” and “I’m a Track Fan,” interactive areas at the free Track
Town Plaza during the USA Track and Field 2009 National Championships at Hayward Field, June 25-28. The
activities drew thousands of children and youth during the Eugene 08
Festival at the Olympic Team Trials last summer and dozens more
during University of Oregon track meets this spring.
New this year, a City of Eugene information booth will be located at the
entrance to the Starting Block during the championships, providing
general information about City amenities and programs, as well as
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
June 18, 2009
current City public involvement opportunities. A feedback form will be available on which residents can weigh in
or ask questions about City issues.
The Starting Block and I’m a Track Fan areas will again include free mini-track events, interactive games, and
button-making for a favorite athlete. USA Track and Field athletes will also visit the Starting Block during the
championships, engaging youth in conversation about good sportsmanship, choosing a healthy lifestyle and
avoiding drugs. The athletes will also be available for autographs.
The free Track Town Plaza will be located behind the west grandstands at Hayward Field. For more information,
contact Kathy Madison at 682-6342.
Family Fun and Safety Fest Saturday at Alton Baker Park
The Fire & EMS Department cordially invite the Mayor, City Council, and the entire
community to the Ninth Annual Family Fun & Safety Fest, Saturday, June 20, from
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Alton Baker Park. The free event, attended each year by
thousands, is a family-oriented opportunity to see safety displays and demonstrations
and visit with safety personnel while enjoying a great day in the sunshine. There will
be life jacket and bike helmet giveaways, antique and modern emergency vehicles,
rides on the Bi-Mart Monster Truck, games, prizes, and many other attractions.
Although economic issues have caused at least a temporary reduction in the scope of
the event, a number of public and private agencies have stepped forward to make
the Safety Fest possible this year, and a good turnout is expected. The Eugene Fire
& EMS Water Rescue Team looks forward to seeing everyone there, and extends its
encouragement to all to have a safe (and fun) summer. For more information,
please contact Cinimint Harper, Eugene Fire & EMS Department, at 682-7120.
Neighborhood Leaders Offer Ideas on Opportunity Siting
Opportunity Siting (OS), the council’s initiative to encourage higher density housing -- located and designed with
neighborhood participation in exchange for incentives -- is moving toward a collaborative implementation process.
The OS Task Team continued its public outreach this spring to hear what’s important, this time in group
discussions with neighborhood leaders, as residents think about how dense housing best fits into neighborhoods.
An important theme that emerged was the link between ready
access to transportation options and multiple family housing.
Maintaining neighborhood character and open space were identified
as vital, and neighbors were interested in taking advantage of
opportunities for housing and mixed-use development on
commercially zoned property.
Neighbors stressed the benefits of having early participation from
developers as well as broad and fair representation of residents.
Participants appreciated the first step of the proposed visioning
process, which allows individual neighborhoods to identify their
specific needs.
Input from the neighborhood leaders helped the Task Team finalize recommendations to the Planning
Commission, which were presented in a work session on June 8, 2009. The Planning Commission approved
implementation of the proposed next steps, thanked the task team members for their dedication, and
recommended presenting an update to the council in the fall. For more information, contact Metro and Community
Planner Patricia Thomas at 682-5561 or patricia.thomas@ci.eugene.or.us, or visit www.eugene-or.gov/oppsiting.
Open House for Mariposa Woodland Management Plan
The Parks and Open Space Division introduced the Mariposa Woodland Management Plan to the community at an
open house on June 1. Natural Resources and Parks Planning staff were on hand to share the scope and purpose
of the plan, highlight stewardship goals, and answer questions. The event was attended by 12 members of the
public, representing neighbors, trail enthusiasts, conservation practitioners, and students. Most open house
attendees were interested in learning more about the location of habitat enhancement projects identified in the
plan, and in trail access and alignment throughout the Ridgeline system. Two adjoining neighbors expressed
concern about the need for the project and the effects of the plan on the existing forest near their homes.
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June 18, 2009
Mariposa Woodland is located in Spencer Butte Park, and contains unique oak-pine woodland, oak savanna, and
prairie habitats within its 30 acres. These habitats have become increasingly rare since Euro- American settlement
in the Willamette Valley. Approximately 200 wildlife species depend partly or wholly on the plant communities
found in these habitats, including 45 at-risk species. A unique feature to Mariposa Woodland is the presence of
numerous large Willamette Valley ponderosa pines, some of which are thought to be 500 years old. These are the
largest and oldest ponderosa pines in Eugene Parks and Open Space ownership. The primary project identified at
Mariposa is to release Oregon white oak and Ponderosa pine trees from shading by Douglas-fir trees. Younger
Douglas-fir trees, which have grown quickly and overtopped the oaks and pines in the past 100-150 years, will be
removed to provide the slower-growing tree species with needed sunlight and soil moisture.
The Mariposa Woodland plan incorporates the lessons
learned from oak savanna and oak woodland enhancement
projects conducted locally on lands owned by The Nature
Conservancy, Lane County, U.S. Bureau of Land
Management, and City of Eugene. The diversity in ownership
of lands where the projects are occurring underscores the
critical need for conservation of these habitats. Input was also
collected from a peer-review process that included staff from
conservation partners, local organizations, foresters, and key
researchers. Now that the Mariposa Woodland Management
Plan has been finalized, the Parks and Open Space Division
will begin seeking grant funding for implementation.
The plan can be viewed at www.eugene-or.gov/NRLibrary by
clicking on the “Management Plans” link. For more
information, contact Natural Areas Restoration Supervisor
This magnificent Ponderosa pine grows along one of the
Trevor Taylor at trevor.h.taylor@ci.eugene.or.us or 682-4888.
trails in the Mariposa Woodland.
Public Forums for Police Facility and Future of City Hall
The Eugene City Council is considering a number of ideas for moving City Hall offices and for the possible location
of a police facility. The council wants to gather public input as it considers next steps in providing needed City
facilities. Two public forums next week will provide information on the proposals and gather community response
and ideas.
The council wants to hear from the community on two questions: What do people think about moving police
offices to an existing building on Country Club Road, and what should be the future of the City Hall site?
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The first forum will be held on Tuesday, June 23, at 7:00 p.m. in the Atrium Building, 99 West 10 Avenue, and
the second is on Thursday, June 25, also at 7:00 p.m., at Sheldon Community Center, 2445 Willakenzie Road.
Input from the meetings will be compiled in a report to the City Council.
The City Hall master planning process, concluded last year, resulted in a vision for City Hall based on the values
and priorities of Eugene residents. Although the City Council determined that a new, consolidated City Hall building
is currently beyond the City’s means, insights gained during the master planning process provided guidance for
how to move forward incrementally and find innovative ways to solve the space, safety and mechanical challenges
facing the existing City Hall, consistent with community values.
One possibility currently under consideration is to move the Police Department from its home in City Hall to an
existing, mostly vacant building on Country Club Road that can be readily and economically adapted to
accommodate police needs. Another option is to leverage the City's interest in a pair of downtown development
projects to provide space for City offices rather than spending the tens of millions of dollars necessary to update
City Hall for another 30-40 years of use.
For more information, contact Jan Bohman, City Manager’s Office, at 682-5587.
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June 18, 2009