HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/09/09 - City Council Newsletter
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
July 9, 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
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES PROGRAM MOVES TO CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS GRANT APPLICANT HIGHLIGHTED IN OREGON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
FLEET AND RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SECTION RECOGNIZED BY “100 BEST FLEETS”
NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY TO START NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING
EUGENE ENJOYS RELATIVELY SAFE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND
FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS GET BOOST FROM CITY LOAN PROGRAM
GALLERY AT AIRPORT FEATURES JAPANESE FESTIVAL DOLL EXHIBITION
CITY MANAGER TO READ AT LIBRARY STORYTIMES
NEIGHBORHOOD PARK CAMPOUT PROVES POPULAR AND FUN
OUTDOOR PROGRAM TAKES KIDS “INTO THE WILD”
DEVELOPING A MASTER PLAN FOR EAST RIDGELINE EXTENSION
THREE EVENTS CELEBRATE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK RENOVATIONS
AROUND THE CITY
Neighborhood Services Program Moves to City Manager’s Office
Neighborhood Services recently underwent an in-depth assessment that included best practices research and
recommendations for a program framework and staffing resources to better support the goals and objectives of the
Neighborhood Empowerment Initiative. One of the high priority recommendations was to move oversight of the
program from the Planning Division to the City Manager’s Office. A team of City staff and neighborhood
representatives formed to review the report’s findings also supported this recommendation. The move was
approved by the City Manager’s Office and the Planning and Development Director.
While oversight of the program has shifted within the City organization, Neighborhood Services will not be leaving
its highly visible location in the Atrium. In addition, neighborhoods and other customers of the program will not
experience any disruption in services. Existing staff remain in their current positions and include Program
Manager Michael Kinnison, Neighborhood Planner Rene Kane, and Program Coordinator Cindy Clarke. The move
will enhance the program by bringing together key staff and services to support a commitment to integrating
sustainability, access and equity, human rights, and neighborhoods as core values. For more information, contact
Michael Kinnison at 682-5009 or Michael.j.kinnison@ci.eugene.or.us.
Telecommunications Grant Recipient Highlighted in Oregon Business Magazine
Thirteen Eugene community event organizers have received cable television advertising assistance from a
telecommunications pilot project. Recipient feedback has been very positive. In the July issue of Oregon
Business Magazine, one recipient was highlighted in an article exploring the art/economic development impact of
several film festivals in Oregon. The article indicates that the Eugene International Film Festival, a juried-event
which recruits entries from an international database of over 70,000 filmmakers, is faring better than many. One
reason is their outreach - resulting in an increase in out-of-area attendees, including filmmakers who are lured by
the presence of attending film-buyers. Filmmakers are an extra draw for an audience. Points made by the Oregon
Business Magazine article include:
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Many of the regional festivals have aligned themselves with their local tourism office to promote their festival
beyond Oregon borders.
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July 9, 2009
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The three-year-old Eugene International Film Festival seems to attract the biggest percentage of tourists; 58%
of its 2,000 attendees came from out-of-state, according to an independent report. Most of those tourists stay
an average of six days, two days longer than the festival.
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The Eugene International Film Festival generated $450,000 in direct spending. Getting visiting filmmakers to
return to make a film in the area would give the area even more of an economic boost.
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The 2009 event (www.eugenefilmfest.org) is slated for an October 8 kick-off and screens October 9 - 11 at
Regal 15 Cinemas at Valley River Center; both are cornerstone sponsors. The festival also hosts: 1) a
screenwriters’ retreat, taught by Tom Sawyer, producer and head writer of Murder, She Wrote, and Ken
Sherman, a Beverly Hills literary agent, and 2) a half-day Oregon locations conference at Chambers
Productions studios.
A complete list of three-year cable and telecommunications technology projects approved by the City Manager is
on the City’s website (Telecommunications homepage). For more information, contact Cable and
Telecommunications Licensing Manager Pam Berrian at 682-5590.
Fleet and Radio Communications Section Recognized by “100 Best Fleets”
The Fleet and Radio Communications Section has been awarded recognition as one of the 100 best public fleets
in the nation. This award sponsored through Government Fleet Magazine and the non-profit “100 Best Fleets”
organization annually recognizes the best managed public-
owned fleets in the country. Nationwide there are
approximately 38,000 municipal, county and state fleet
agencies. Each year, Government Fleet Magazine searches
for those agencies which display excellence in their business
operations. This year, the City of Eugene competed with
approximately 5,000 agencies who were asked to submit a
comprehensive application describing how they conduct their
business in multiple areas. This program assesses the fleet
agency’s efficiencies in the following areas: accountability,
technology implementation, high trust culture, staff
acknowledgement, collaboration, creativity, celebration,
doing it right the first time, quick/efficient turnaround, staff
development, resource stewardship, and competitive pricing.
Being recognized as one of the 100 top public fleets in the
nation is a testament to not just each and every Fleet and
Fleet Service Master Technician, Bill Ranney, installs
Radio Communications team member, but also to the
electronic equipment, including a computer, camera and radio
effective relationships which have been built between Fleet
in an EPD Patrol unit at the Fleet Shop, 1820 Roosevelt
Boulevard.
Services and other City departments. Being recognized as
one of the top public fleets does not mean that a fleet operation is perfect, but that it is making strides to do the
right thing and continues to work toward operational improvements in order to best serve the needs of the
customer departments and community. For more information, contact Tony Jobanek at 682-4808.
Neighborhood Survey to Start Neighborhood Planning
In collaboration with neighborhood leaders and the University of Oregon’s Community Planning Workshop (CPW),
City staff is creating a survey to gather information that can be used by neighborhoods for neighborhood
association (NA) planning and for strategic neighborhood action plans (SNAPs). The survey focuses on the
perceived needs of residents in each neighborhood, as well as barriers and incentives to neighborhood
participation. It is intended to help provide a snapshot needs assessment and important outreach information for
each neighborhood.
Benefits of this project for neighborhood associations include:
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A professionally developed survey tool that can be used to collect local neighborhood information;
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A basic framework for using the survey;
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Assistance with gathering information from underserved and unengaged individuals and groups;
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Assistance with data collection and analysis;
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Data that can serve as a starting point for NA outreach planning and the SNAP process; and
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Help with identifying a broad pool of additional neighborhood residents who have interest in participating in
NA and SNAP efforts.
A committee of five neighborhood leaders and five staff members are creating the survey tool, and determining
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July 9, 2009
how best to use it. City and CPW staff and volunteers will use the survey to collect data from across the
community, targeting those who have not engaged in the traditional NA structure. Neighborhood associations are
also encouraged to participate in this survey by implementing it in their local neighborhoods. Survey
implementation will begin in July and continue through September 2009. For more information, contact Lorna
Flormoe at 682-5670 or lorna.r.flormoe@ci.eugene.or.us.
Eugene Enjoys Relatively Safe Fourth of July Weekend
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Eugene Fire & EMS crews responded to 29 fire calls, including several mutual aid calls in Springfield, over the 4
of July holiday weekend, July 2-5. Of these, 18 were either definitely, or possibly, caused by careless use of
fireworks. Fortunately, most of the fires burned only grass or debris; no fire-related injuries were reported and
property damage was, for the most part, minor. The most serious fire occurred on the afternoon of July 4, causing
an estimated $250,000 damage to a River Road area residence. That fire was attributed to spontaneous
combustion of rags soaked with deck refinishing liquids. Despite the absence (to-date) of any catastrophic
fireworks-related incident, firefighters remain vigilant to the common causes of fires during warmer weather, which
are negligent handling and disposal of smoking materials and incomplete extinguishment of outdoor cooking fires,
among others. Suppression crews and fire prevention officials are taking every opportunity to communicate fire
safety information to groups and individuals as the region’s “fire season” begins. For more information, contact
Public Information Officer Glen Potter of the Fire & EMS Department at 682-7118.
First-Time Homebuyers Get Boost from City Loan Program
Federal funds for Eugene’s Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP) are now available for low-income residents
who want to purchase their first home in Eugene. HAP loans are interest-free, and no payments are made until the
borrower sells or no longer occupies the home. Loans of up to $10,000 are available to help with the down
payment and other costs related to the purchase of an "approved" home in Eugene. Since 1998, when the program
started, the City has awarded an average of 30 loans each year.
To be eligible for the loan, homebuyers must:
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Be a first-time homebuyer meaning they have not owned their primary residence within the past three
years;
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Be pre-qualified for a home loan by a lending institution (bank, credit union, mortgage company, etc);
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Successfully complete an approved home ownership preparation program, such as The ABC's of Home
Buying sponsored by the Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO);
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Buy a house within the Eugene’s city limits; and
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Have a household income within HUD guidelines ( = 80% of Area Median Income).
HAP loans are funded through a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and are
reserved on a "first come, first served" basis. To learn more about the program, contact Bob Briscoe at 541-682-
5446 or Bob.Briscoe@ci.eugene.or.us.
Gallery at Airport Features Japanese Festival Doll Exhibition
Passengers at the Eugene Airport will be able to enjoy a new exhibit at the Gallery at the Airport featuring
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Japanese festival dolls from the late 18 Century. These elaborately costumed dolls were displayed for Tango no
Sekku, Japan’s traditional Boys’ Day Festival. The festival dates back to ancient times and was a day to celebrate
the health of boys and of the community. The festival is celebrated on May 5 and has become Children’s Day, a
day to honor children and celebrate their happiness.
The Eugene Airport is embarking on a new partnership to
continue the tradition of featuring high-quality exhibits at
the Gallery at the Airport (GATA). Guided by long-time
GATA supporters Randy Stender and Dottie Chase, a
consortium of local non-profit arts organizations will curate
four exhibits a year. Participating organizations include the
Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts (DIVA), Emerald Art
Center, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at the University
of Oregon, and Lane Community College – Division of
Arts. GATA opened in 1994 at the Eugene Airport as an
artistic greeting for passengers, presenting the region as
rich in cultural assets, and supporting the visual arts and
creative work of regional artists. The gallery was
previously managed by Lane Arts Council, but budget
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constraints precluded the funding agreement from continuing. The main exhibit focus at GATA continues to be on
presenting original work of local and regional artists. The gallery has also featured presented works from
collections of local and regional institutions or artwork by outside artists when related to a major event in the
Eugene area.
The Japanese festival doll exhibit will be on display through September. For more information, contact Airport
Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Cathryn Stephens at 682-5430 or cathryn.e.stephens@ci.eugene.or.us.
City Manager to Read at Library Storytime
Eugene’s City Manager Jon Ruiz, and his wife Barbara, will celebrate Summer Reading as guest readers at
Eugene Public Library’s free Preschool Storytimes. They will join the programs at the Downtown Library on
Wednesday, July 15, 10:15 and 11:00 a.m., and on Wednesday, July 29, 10:15 and 11:00 a.m.. Preschool
Storytime is for children ages three to six, accompanied by adults.
Storytimes are fun and more. Professional Library staff design the program to support children’s developing
literacy skills. While enjoying stories and songs with the children, parents and caregivers also learn everyday ways
to encourage reading success.
In addition to Preschool Storytime, Eugene Public Library holds weekly storytimes for babies, “tots,” and toddlers,
as well as Family Music Time on Saturday mornings. For more information about events for children and families
at all Library locations, visit the Library’s calendar at www.eugene-or.gov/library or call the Library at 682-8316.
Neighborhood Park Campout Proves Popular and Fun
Some 57 adults and children participated in Recreation Services’ first Staycation Eugene Neighborhood Park
Campout over the Fourth of July weekend. Held in Amazon Park, the event gave families who may be having
trouble making ends meet, the opportunity to experience camping in town for just $5.
The event included a family barbeque with Jon Ruiz
and his wife, Barb, in the kitchen, and many typical
camping activities such as swimming (at Amazon
Pool), games (badminton), singing and story-telling
around a campfire, homemade ice cream, and one
not-so-typical event: a fire-spinning performance to
wrap up the evening. Local food vendors Organically
Grown Coop, Albertson’s, COSTCO andHumble
Bagel donated food.
Two more Neighborhood Park Campouts are
planned this summer. The campout in Sladden Park on August 8-9 will include a float on the Willamette River; on
August 22-23, the campers at Petersen Barn Park will be able to try tree-climbing. For more information, contact
Sandy Shaffer at 682-6348.
Outdoor Program Takes Kids “Into the Wild”
Recreation Service’s Outdoor Program led the program’s largest-ever, 10-raft flotilla down the Willamette River for
students at the Arts and Technology Academy (ATA) at Jefferson Middle School on the last day of school.
Students in kindergarten, first and fourth grades floated the river to Alton Baker Park, where they stopped for lunch
and then continued the float to a “takeout” near the River House Community Center.
The trip was inspired by the Outdoor Program’s Project Full Moon Rising that connects young children to nature.
For four weeks each quarter, Project Full Moon Rising takes fourth graders at ATA to nearby natural areas. In the
fifth week, students take an all-day trip to the mountains or the coast. Research has shown that spending time in
nature helps children become more creative and promotes healthy activity and development by providing a fertile
mix of things to see, hear, smell, touch, and taste.
The raft trip was provided with assistance from the University of Oregon Outdoor Program. For more information,
contact Aimee Goglia at 682-6358.
Developing a Master Plan for East Ridgeline Extension
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On June 29, nearly 60 people attended a public workshop to learn more about a 200-acre Ridgeline Park addition
acquired last year, and to provide input regarding potential enhancements that could be included in a master plan.
After a short presentation, participants were able to ask questions and share ideas about trails, active recreation
facilities, habitat and other topics.
In 2008, using funding from the 2006 Parks and Open Space Bond, the City purchased land in Southeast Eugene
from Arlie & Company for expansion of the Ridgeline Park. This acquisition will enable the existing 12-mile
Ridgeline Trail to extend another several miles towards Lane Community College and Interstate 5. Arlie &
Company made a commitment to the City to donate $600,000 for improvement of this newly acquired open space
upon completion of a master plan. The donation will fund development, restoration, management, and
maintenance priorities as identified in the master plan. A requirement of the purchase agreement is that the master
plan be completed by July 1, 2010. In recognition of this significant gift, the City has committed, upon receipt of
the donation, to name the segment of the Ridgeline Trail through the property as the “Suzanne Arlie Ridgeline Trail
Corridor.”
For more information and to complete a survey about the Ridgeline Park, please visit www.eugene-or.gov/parks,
or contact Philip Richardson at 541-682-4906 or philip.s.richardson@ci.eugene.or.us.
Three Events Celebrate Neighborhood Park Renovations
Fairmount Park Celebration, July 19
Fairmount Neighbors are hosting a celebration of the refurbished Fairmount Park on Sunday, July 19, from 3:00 to
5:00 p.m. Fairmount Neighbors have fundraised tirelessly over the last couple of years and received a City of
Eugene neighborhood matching grant to complete final improvements in the park. Renovations include the
addition of a spray/play water feature, an irrigation system, and basketball and four square areas. Enjoy free
Prince Pückler’s ice cream and marimba music by Kutsinhira. Bring a towel and get wet in the cool new spray
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park. Fairmount Park is located at 15 Avenue and Fairmount Boulevard.
Friendly Park Grand Re-Opening, July 21
Join your neighbors for an evening of food, music, and games at the grand re-opening of Friendly Park. The
celebration will be Tuesday, July 21, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a formal dedication at 6:00 p.m. Improvements to
the park include native plantings, new pathways, and an expanded playground. Friendly Area Neighbors also
received a neighborhood matching grant to fund a new kiosk and stretch equipment which were built by volunteers.
Friendly Park is located at the corner of Monroe Street and 27th Avenue.
Rosetta Park Grand Opening, July 23
The grand opening celebration of Rosetta Park is being hosted by neighbors, the City of Eugene, and Northwest
Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides to commemorate the launching of the community’s newest pesticide-free
park. Bring a potluck dessert item and join the celebration on July 23 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Neighbors will gather
for music, catered food, children’s activities, prizes and information about pesticide-free practices in the park and
for home landscaping. Mayor Kitty Piercy will be a featured speaker for the dedication ceremony which begins at
6:00 p.m. at Rosetta Park located on Rosetta Avenue off River Road.
For more information, contact Carrie Peterson at 682-4907 or carrie.a.peterson@ci.eugene.or.us.
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