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Home My WebLink AboutCC Newsletter - 02/02/06 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER February 2, 2006 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 EUGENE EARNS SPOT ON LIST OF BEST CITIES FOR CYCLING “HULT PRESENTS” BRINGS FAMED DANCE COMPANY TO EUGENE LIBRARY HOSTS ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION FAIR SPEAKER OFFERS LESSONS IN TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE “DIVERSITY: FROM IDEA TO PRACTICE” KICK OFF READIN' IN THE RAIN 2006 WITH BELLYDANCING AND MORE AROUND THE CITY Eugene Earns Spot on List of Best Cities for Cycling Eugene is one of the top 21 cities in the nation for bicycling, according to Bicycling Magazine. In its March 2005 issue, now available on newsstands, Bicycling rated more than 250 cities based on population and “cycling-friendly" statistics such as the numbers of bike lanes and routes, number of bike racks, city bike projects completed and planned, bike “culture” (number of bike commuters, popular clubs, cool cycling events, renowned bike shops), climate and geography. The magazine also polled its readers and surveyed experts at national bicycle groups such as the League of American Bicyclists, Thunderhead Alliance, and International Mountain Biking Association. Eugene was ranked second in cities with populations between 75,000 and 200,000. “The City of Eugene continues to improve our nationally recognized bicycle system,” said Lee Shoemaker, the City’s bicycle and pedestrian coordinator. “I can’t think of a better way to experience the Eugene outdoors than by bicycling to work, school, or just for fun.” Portland, Oregon, was ranked as the overall best cycling city in the nation as well as #1 in cities under 1 million in population. “The selection of Portland as the country's best city for cycling turned out to be maybe the easiest part of this process for us,” said Bicycling VP/Editor-In-Chief Steve Madden. “It's been the top U.S. city in each of our previous three rankings (2001, 1999 and 1995), and cycling has only continued to improve there. The number of cyclists has tripled over the past ten years, city traffic congestion is down because of it, and it's the only urban area that's been able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the past four years (which they've done significantly) while national levels have risen 17%." Bicycling Magazine’s best cities for cycling are (in ranked order): ? Best Cycling City (population 1 million or more): San Diego, Chicago, New York (honorable mention to Philadelphia and Phoenix). ? Best Cycling City (population 500,000 to 1 million): Portland, Denver, Seattle (honorable mention to San Francisco and Austin, Texas). ? Best Cycling City (population 200,000 to 500,000): Madison, Wisc., Tucson, Ariz., Albuquerque, New Mexico (honorable mention to Minneapolis, Anchorage). ? Best Cycling City (population 75,000 to 200,000): Boulder, Colo., Eugene, Ann Arbor, Mich. (honorable mention to Chattanooga, Tenn., Cambridge, Mass.). ? Best Small Town for Cycling: Davis, Calif. ? The worst cities for cycling: Atlanta, Houston, and Boston. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 March 3, 2006 For more information, contact Lee Shoemaker at Public Works Engineering, 682-5471. “Hult Presents” Brings Famed Dance Company to Eugene A recent visit by the famed Martha Graham Dance Company was met with great community enthusiasm. With four events serving a total of 2,288 people, the project was a tremendous artistic and community outreach success. The presentation offered the public a rare opportunity to experience a touring company of extraordinary talent and historical merit. It also made an extraordinary experience available to LCC/UO dance and music students, who were invited to experience a dance rehearsal with orchestra. An elegant, public, multi-media presentation illustrating the collaboration between Martha Graham and Aaron Copland, composer of the music for Graham’s famous Appalachian Spring, was performed the night before. Northwest Community Credit Union was a first-time cash sponsor for a “Hult Presents” performance. The Hult Center is grateful to NWCCU Vice President for Marketing, Kent White, for his leadership in making the new sponsor partnership possible. Sponsorships and grants provide the Hult Center with funding to present distinguished touring events which cannot be financed through ticket sales alone. The Martha Kid Critic Lexi Pitman submitted this drawing of Graham Dance Company project was also supported by a major grant the performance to Intermin Director Laura Niles. from the Nils and Jewel Hult Endowment. The “Hult Presents” program is an integral part of the Cultural Services mission to provide a “broad selection of performances by local and non-local artists and companies.” For additional information on “Hult Presents,” contact Programming Manager Carol Philips, 682-2057 Library Hosts Alternative Education Fair Kids, teens, and parents are invited to catch the 10th annual Alternative Education Fair, Saturday, February 4, 1:00 - 4:00, at the Eugene Public Library, Downtown. Co-sponsored by the Eugene Waldorf School and Eugene Public Library, the fair is a great opportunity to learn about a variety of alternative education programs in Eugene and throughout Lane County. Get information and meet staff and student representatives from local private schools, charter schools, Eugene School District 4-J alternative programs, and homeschooling organizations. For more information, contact the Eugene Public Library at 682-8316. Speaker Offers Lessons in Transportation and Land Use Gordon Price, director of the City Program at Simon Fraser University and adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia, will offer a free presentation on transportation and land use issues at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 8, at the Downtown Athletic Club, 999 Willamette Street. Price will be introduced by Mayor Kitty Piercy. The presentation is being sponsored by the City’s Public Works and Planning and Development departments and Downtown Eugene, Inc., with support from the Oregon Transportation and Growth Management Program, a partnership between the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development and the Oregon Department of Transportation. Price will participate in a brown bag noon lunch discussion with members of the Eugene Planning Commission and staff on Wednesday. A popular speaker, Price will discuss essential ingredients to well-designed cities in which people can get around easily. Price will address the importance Gordon Price of urban design, land use, mixed-use centers, and ways to create a walkable city. A former city councilor in Vancouver, B.C., Price lectures frequently on transportation and land use issues in the Pacific Northwest. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 March 3, 2006 For more information, contact Rob Inerfeld, Eugene Pubic Works Department, at 682-5343, rob.inerfeld@ci.eugene.or.us; or Allen Lowe, Eugene Planning and Development Department at 682- 5113, allen.d.lowe@ci.eugene.or.us. More information about Gordon Price is available online at www.pricetags.ca. "Diversity: From Idea to Practice" As Oregon grows increasingly diverse, the community is challenged to live up to deeply revered American values, such as the Pledge of Allegiance's promise of "liberty and justice for all.” Yet despite good intentions, many find it difficult to match real-life actions to the ideal of equal treatment. On Saturday, February 11, from 3 – 5 p.m. at the Eugene Public Library, Downtown, community members are invited to join a facilitated discussion titled "Diversity: From Idea to Practice." The workshop explores three interrelated factors: the null curriculum (what is not taught); the power of stereotyping; and the unearned advantages enjoyed by members of a dominant culture. Drawing on both academic training and personal experience, Lani Roberts, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Oregon State University and a fifth-generation Oregonian, delves into the meaning of diversity and the commitment to this most American of ideas. For more information, contact the Eugene Public Library at 682-5450. Kick Off Readin' in the Rain 2006 with Bellydancing and More Each winter, Readin’ in the Rain invites Eugene/Springfield residents to read, talk about, and celebrate a chosen book. Discover new ideas, flavors, and friends with the 2006 choice: Crescent, Diana Abu-Jaber’s award-winning love story set in L.A.’s Arab-American community. Crescent is a banquet of a storey filled with Arab foods and spices, traditional poetry and tales, and the budding relationship between an American chef and an Iraqi exile. Abu-Jaber deftly weaves together art, myth, history, and politics, enchanting readers with the richness of Middle Eastern culture and its vitality in the U.S. Be dazzled by the free kick-off "Umbrella Opening" event on Friday, February 3, at the Downtown Eugene Public Library. At 6:30 p.m., international bellydancer Astryd deMichele performs to live Arabic and Turkic music by the band Ala Nar – whose name is Arabic for “on fire.” At 7:30 p.m., enjoy a talk by Dr. Beth Aydelott, professor of English and writing at Northwest Christian College. Her presentation, “The Flavors of Crescent: Feeding the Exile,” explores questions raised by the novel, including: What does it mean to be an American? What and where is "home?” What does the conflict felt by immigrants torn between two cultures have to do with being American? And what does food have to do with all of it? The public is invited to participate in gatherings throughout February, including a free reading at the Hult Center by the visiting author on Thursday, February 23 at 7:00 p.m., a fundraising dinner, and many . drop-in book discussions Now in its fifth year, Readin' in the Rain is organized and sponsored by a consortium of organizations including Eugene Public Library; Springfield Public Library; University of Oregon Libraries; Lane Community College Library; Fern Ridge Public Library; Northwest Christian College Kellenberger Library; Hult Center for the Performing Arts; Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association; UO Bookstore; Borders Books, Music, & Cafe; Eugene Barnes & Noble; Smith Family Bookstore; Tsunami Books; Café Soriah; Harold, Leahy and Kieran; and W. W. Norton & Company. For a complete Readin’ in the Rain calendar of events, visit www.read-rain.org, or call 682-5450. THIS WEEK NEXT WEEK 02/06 M Noon JS Housing Policy Board McNutt Room ** EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 March 3, 2006 02/06 M 5:30pm Council Budget Committee Bascom-Tykeson Rm. 02/08 W Noon All Council Lunch Work Session McNutt Room 02/09 Th 5:30pm BB, AO Police Commission McNutt Room ** UPCOMING 02/13 M 5:30pm All Council Dinner Work Session McNutt Room 02/13 M 7:30pm All Council Meeting Council Chamber 02/15 W Noon All Council Lunch Work Session McNutt Room 02/21 T 5:30pm Council Budget Committee Council Chamber 02/21 T 6:00pm DK Human Rights Commission McNutt Room 02/22 W Noon All Council Lunch Work Session McNutt Room 02/23 Th 5:00pm KP Mayor’s One-on-One TBA 02/27 - 03/02 KP, BB United Front Trip Washington, DC 02/27 M 5:30pm All Council Dinner Work Session McNutt Room ABSENT: Piercy, Bettman 02/27 M 7:30pm All Council Meeting Council Chamber ABSENT: Piercy, Bettman March------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 03/08 W Noon-3pm All Council Workshop TBA 03/11-14 BT National League of Cities Conference Washington, DC 03/13 M 5:30pm All Council Dinner Work Session McNutt Room ABSENT: Taylor 03/13 M 7:30pm Council Council Meeting Council Chamber ABSENT: Taylor 03/15 W Noon All Council Lunch Work Session McNutt Room COUNCIL BREAK - MARCH 16 - APRIL 9 03/21 T 6:00pm DK Human Rights Commission McNutt Room 03/28 T 5:00pm KP Mayor’s One-on-One TBA UNAVAILABLE FOR CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS Piercy: February 27 - March 3 Bettman: February 27 - March 7 Taylor: March 11 - 14 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4 March 3, 2006