The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCC Newsletter - 01/12/06 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER January 12, 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 BETHEL WEED & SEED INITIATIVE ENDS; SUCCESS AND SUSTAINABILITY EVALUATED TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND CABLE PROGRAM MANAGER REAPPOINTED TO STATE COUNCIL TH CONVERSION OF 10 AVENUE TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC TO BE COMPLETED THURSDAY SIBERIAN DREAMS AT MCMILLAN ART GALLERY BIKEWAYS, LIBRARY RATE HIGH IN COMMUNITY SURVEY PUBLIC WORKS ENGINEERING STAFF MEETS EUGENE HOTEL NEIGHBORS MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATION THIS WEEK AT HULT CENTER AROUND THE CITY Bethel Weed & Seed Initiative Ends; Success and Sustainability Evaluated In November 2005, federal funding for the Bethel Weed & Seed Initiative came to an end. This five-year initiative began in 2001 when the City of Eugene, social service agencies and community members in the Bethel and Trainsong neighborhoods secured a first year U.S. Department of Justice grant and agreed to work together to “cultivate healthy, safe, and vibrant neighborhoods by bringing people and resources together to ‘weed’ out illegal activity and harmful conditions, and to ‘seed’ positive opportunities for community members.” The innovative, multi-agency strategy combined four basic components: 1) law enforcement; 2) community policing; 3) prevention/intervention/treatment; and 4) neighborhood restoration. Four more consecutive grants for initiative funding were obtained. In the five years of its existence, the Bethel Weed & Seed Initiative helped support a variety of community-based programs and invested over $1 million in the Bethel and Trainsong neighborhoods. During 2004-2005, efforts were concentrated on increasing the long-term sustainability of three priority programs: the Bethel Public Safety Station; the We Are Bethel Celebration; and the RecZone @ Club Bethel youth program. Sustainability of the three programs is optimistic. The two-page Executive Summary of the initiative’s final evaluation, included in the City Council packet, contains more information on the success and sustainability of these three programs. For more detailed information, contact Bethel Weed & Seed Coordinator Lorna Flormoe in Planning and Development at 682-5293 or lorna.flormoe@ci.eugene.or.us . Telecommunications and Cable Program Manager Reappointed to State Council Governor Kulongoski reappointed Pam Berrian, Information Services Division staff, to a four-year term to the Oregon Telecommunications Coordinating Council as a League of Oregon Cities representative. The private/public member council has existed for several years and provides analysis and advocacy recommendations to the Governor’s Office on current, pending, and proposed programs, trends, and legislative initiatives. Senate Bill 15 (2005) extended the douncil until 2010. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 March 3, 2006 Information about the council’s work is maintained at www.ortcc.org. The web site provides agendas and meeting minutes, and now includes the 2005 Council exit report (http://www.ortcc.org/PDF/ORTCCExitReport05.pdf). More information about the work of the ORTCC is available by contacting Pam Berrian at 682-5590. Conversion of 10th Avenue to Two-Way Traffic to be Completed Thursday The one-block section of 10th Avenue between Olive and Willamette streets will be converted to two-way traffic on Thursday, Jan. 12, marking the completion of a project to convert the entire length of 10th Avenue in the downtown area to two-way operation. Eugene Public Works worked with Lane Transit District (LTD) to accomplish the conversion, which fulfills a goal of the City's Central Area Transportation th Study. The final step is the activation of a new signal head to direct westbound traffic on 10 Avenue at Olive Street. Public Works met several times with members of the Lane Independent Living Alliance and other groups interested in traffic control in the area of 10th Avenue and Olive Street to come up with a solution that meets the traffic operation needs of the city and also provides a safe crossing for pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities. As part of the education around pedestrian safety, a news release announcing the completion of the conversion and reminding motorists that the speed limit on downtown streets such as 10th Avenue is 25 mph was issued. For more information, contact Traffic Engineer Tom Larsen at 682-4959. Siberian Dreams at McMillan Art Gallery An exhibit of Russian art entitled “Siberian Dreams,” sponsored by the Eugene-Irkutsk Sister City Committee will be shown at the Adell McMillan Gallery in the Erb Memorial Union on the University of Oregon campus. “Siberian Dreams” includes both traditional and contemporary artwork styles and genres, reflecting the influences of Native Siberian culture in the current art scene. The exhibit uses artwork to explore elements common in the myths, legends, and folklore of both Native American and Native Siberian cultures. The Eugene-Irkutsk Sister City Committee (EISCC) has used visual art exhibits and exchanges as a means of accomplishing its mission “to utilize the Sister City relationship to create greater understanding, appreciation, and friendship between the people of the United States and Russia.” The opening reception is Thursday, January 12 at 6:30 p.m. The show runs from January 9 through January 29. For more information on the exhibit contact Adam Howard, visual arts coordinator, Cultural Forum, farwest@uoregon.edu. For more information on the Eugene-Irkutsk Sister City Committee, contact Mary Walston at 682-5406, or mary.f.walston@ci.eugene.or.us. Bikeways, Library Rate High in Community Survey City residents gave high marks to the City’s bikeway system and library in the latest edition of the annual Eugene Community Survey. The City does an above average job of providing a bikeway system, according to 86% of respondents, while 80% feel that the library is above average. Three-quarters (74%) of respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with the overall level of services provided by the City of Eugene. The most highly-rated services (4.0 and above, on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is poor and 5 is excellent) were the bikeway system (4.4), library services (4.3), fire and rescue services (4.2), the Hult Center (4.0) and emergency medical services (4.0). The lowest-rated services (under 3.0) were providing leadership for the City (2.9), preventing crime (2.8), planning and managing growth (2.6), managing tax dollars (2.6), the land use application process (2.4) and the building permit process (2.2). It is important to note that this is not a user survey; respondents rate services whether they use them or not. The most widely-used service among respondents was the park system, with 80% of respondents EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 March 3, 2006 saying they had used the parks in the past year. Other heavily used services (mentioned by more than half of the respondents) include the library (71%), the airport (58%) and the Hult Center (57%). The building permit (9%) and land use permit processes (4%) were used by very few respondents, calling into question the level of information used to assess the quality of those services. Four out of ten respondents (40%) feel that Eugene’s population is growing too fast, up by one-third from 30% last year after hovering between 30% and 36% since 2001. One-quarter of respondents (26%) feel their economic opportunity in Eugene has gotten worse in the past five years, down from 36% last year and hitting the lowest point since 2000. Nearly half (47%) feel that their economic opportunity has stayed the same. Respondents support the concept of the City taking an active role in helping businesses create more jobs, though some strategies are more popular than others. The two most favored approaches remain broadly supported, though less so than they have been in the past two years. More than three-quarters of respondents (79%) believe the City should take an active role in helping local businesses create jobs, down from 86% last year, and 74% believe that the City should provide problem-solving assistance for siting, permits, and development, down from 83% last year. Support for taking an active role in helping outside companies come to Eugene is more ambivalent and ambiguous: 62% of respondents favor that type of assistance, down from 80% last year but more consistent with 66% in 2003. Respondents opposed to helping outside companies come to Eugene increased to 25% from 16% last year. People continue to feel more comfortable walking at night in their neighborhoods than in business areas. While 87% felt very or somewhat safe walking alone at night in their neighborhoods, two-thirds (66%) felt that way in business areas. Crime was cited by 14% of respondents as the most important problem facing Eugene, followed by education (10%) and City growth, traffic, and homeless issues, which were each mentioned by 8%. The telephone survey, conducted in November and December of 2005 by Advanced Marketing Research, asked a randomly-selected sample of 401 Eugene residents to share their perceptions about the community and the City of Eugene. Survey results are tracked over time to measure significant shifts in those perceptions and to help inform the development of policy and programs. The survey report will be posted to the City’s website (http://www.ci.eugene.or.us) and copies will be available in the Eugene Public Library. For more information, please contact Terrie Monroe at 682-5412 or terrie.e.monroe@ci.eugene.or.us. Public Works Engineering Staff Meets Eugene Hotel Neighbors The Public Works Engineering Design and Construction Office at 244 East Broadway leases space at the Eugene Hotel and shares the historic building with residents of the Eugene Hotel Retirement Center. Not only do both groups have an interest in the Eugene Hotel building, but they also see one another coming and going throughout the day. Approximately 50 hotel residents attended an open house at the Engineering Division in December to learn about construction activities and to tour areas such as the hotel ballroom and the King Cole Room which are now used as offices and a conference room. A few weeks later, City staff dropped in at the retirement center to hear about the services available to their Retirement Center residents tour Engineering office neighbors and tour the “other side” of the building, including the Presidential Suite where Richard Nixon once stayed. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 March 3, 2006 “It’s important to know our neighbors, not just in the places where we live but also in our downtown work areas,” says Cathy Rapp, management analyst and office manager of the Engineering construction office. For more information, contact Cathy Rapp at 682-5504. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration th The 20 annual community celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be held Monday, January 16, 2006, 6:00 p.m. at the Morse Events Center at Northwest Christian College. This year’s theme is "Unfinished Business: America's Commitment to Social Justice," and the featured keynote speaker is Mr. Stedman Graham. At the event, the Human Rights Commission will present Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Awards to Dwight Souers and Connie Mesquita. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Greg Rikhoff, Human Rights Program manager, at 682-5177. This Week at Hult Center The Hult Center will host a group of 75 technical theater students from Churchill, South Eugene and North Eugene high schools who will attend a Q & A session this Thursday, January 12, with members from the cast and crew of “MAMMA MIA!” This program, coordinated by Hult Center Operations Director Mark Loigman, enables the students to meet the artists and technicians, learn what it takes to move a show, and hear about what life on the road is really like. Production members will t alk about their careers, describe their duties with the show, and finish the presentation with a Q & A session. This is a fabulous opportunity for the students and another great way for the Cultural Services Division to provide community outreach. New in 2006, ISD staff members Dale Seavey and Roberta Pupilli assisted Hult staff in the installation of wireless technology in the Hult Center. The new service will be much appreciated with touring acts that require access to the internet to meet ongoing business needs. The service will also provide internet access to the Jacobs Gallery and gallery office for interim directors, Jocelyn McAuley and Becky Tonkin. For more information, contact Hult Center Administrative Aide Theresa Sizemore at 682-5242. THIS WEEK 01/12 Th 5:30pm BB, AO Police Commission McNutt Room NEXT WEEK 01/16 M City Offices Closed - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday 01/17 T 6:00pm DK Human Rights Commission McNutt Room 01/18 W Noon All Council Lunch Work Session McNutt Room 01/19 Th 11:00am GP, BT, BB IGR Committee Meeting McNutt Room ** 01/20 F 9 am-4pm All Council Retreat Bascom-Tykeson Rm. UPCOMING 01/23 M 5:30pm All Council Dinner Work Session McNutt Room 01/23 M 7:30pm All Council Meeting Council Chamber 01/25 W Noon All Council Lunch Work Session McNutt Room 01/30 M Noon AO, CP Human Services Commission BCC Conf. Rm. 01/30 M 5:30pm Council Budget Committee Bascom-Tykeson Rm. 01/31 T 5:00pm KP Mayor’s One-on-One Red Apple Market February------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 02/06M 5:30pm Council Budget Committee Bascom-Tykeson Rm.* 02/08 W Noon All Council Lunch Work Session McNutt Room 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-3pm All Council Workshop TBA 02/21 T 5:30pm Council Budget Committee Council Chamber 02/21 T 6:00pm DK Human Rights Commission McNutt Room EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4 March 3, 2006 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 M 5:30pm All Council Dinner Work Session McNutt Room 02/27 M 7:30pm All Council Meeting Council Chamber March------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 03/08 W Noon All Council Lunch Work Session McNutt Room 03/13 M 5:30pm All Council Dinner Work Session McNutt Room 03/13 M 7:30pm Council Council Meeting Council Chamber 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 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 5 March 3, 2006