The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About12/16/10 - City Council Newsletter EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER December 16, 2010 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 ENVISION EUGENE CONNECTS WITH VIDEOS INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY EVENT A SUCCESS WINTER BREAK FUN AT THE LIBRARY WINTER-SPRING RECREATION GUIDE HAS HUNDREDS OF THINGS TO DO LCC CLASS CORRALS CREATIVITY FOR DOWNTOWN BIKE PARKING AROUND THE CITY Envision Eugene Connects with Videos Envision Eugene is reaching out through YouTube to share information with community members and get their feedback. With the help of University of Oregon journalism student Sophie Lawhead, Envision Eugene staff created two on-line videos that highlight information that was shared at recent Envision Eugene events. The first video provides an overview of the October open house and map room that was held at the Downtown Library. Over 150 people attended the event that included seven information stations on key Envision Eugene topics including transportation, mixed-use development, economic development, Eugene’s Climate & Energy Action Plan, neighborhoods and housing, and the urban growth boundary. The second video lets viewers travel along with the Community Resource Group on its redevelopment bus tour of Eugene to see firsthand areas that have been identified as opportunities for redevelopment. The tour highlights successful redevelopment projects like Oakway Center and downtown’s Centre Court building. It also looks at opportunity areas for redevelopment including transit corridors like Coburg th Road, West 11 Avenue and Franklin Boulevard. The videos have been posted on YouTube and on the City’s website, www.EnvisionEugene.org. For more information, contact Terri Harding at 541-682-5635. International Human Rights Day Event a Success The City of Eugene’s Human Rights Commission hosted a successful 2010 International Human Rights Day event on Friday, Dec. 10, at the University of Oregon’s Baker Center. This year’s theme was “Human Rights Defenders.” This truly collaborative event featured food donations from Govinda’s Vegetarian Buffet, Voodoo Donuts and Café Zenon, contributions of re-useable food kits, Spanish and sign language interpreters from Neighborhood Services, and a planning team from the commission’s Education and Outreach Committee and Equity and Human Rights staff. Nearly 150 people took part in the event which included music, speakers, a video presentation, and more than 15 community groups. This year’s keynote speaker was former City of Eugene Human Rights Program Manager Greg Rikhoff. He reflected on the work of the past 20 years for the City of Eugene’s Human Rights Program. Greg asked EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 December 16, 2010 his two long-time co-workers, Karen Hyatt and Francisca Leyva Johnson, to join him at the podium to share insights, lessons learned and hopes for the future - with the theme “Human Rights Are at Home in Eugene.” They reminded those attending that human rights work is everyone’s responsibility and that it is critical for the City and community to partner to promote and protect the rights of all who live in the community. They also reminded the commission and staff to look for ways to focus their efforts and partner with existing community assets to ensure that what is being built upon is the legacy of those who came before, and to protect and include those who will join the community in the future. The event closed with City Manager Jon Ruiz acknowledging 16 City staff, representing every department of the City, for their work in advancing the goals of human rights in the everyday work they do. For more information, please contact Holly LeMasurier, City Manager’s Office, at holly.k.lemasurier@ci.eugene.or.us or 541-682-5177. Winter Break Fun at the Library Come to the Eugene Public Library for free fun while school’s out. During winter break, children and families will enjoy a show by the one-and-only Sir ReadAlot. His skilled storytelling and acting brings books to life in front of kids’ eyes and ears. Comedy, tragedy, fantasy – Sir ReadAlot covers it all. Catch him at the Downtown Library on Monday, Dec. 27, at 1 and 3 p.m. (pick up free tickets starting 30 minutes before the readings start); at Bethel Branch on Tuesday, Dec. 28, at 2 p.m.; or at Sheldon Branch on Wednesday, Dec. 29, at 2 p.m. Kids and families can visit medieval England at “Welcome Lords & Ladies” at the Downtown Library on Sunday, Dec. 26, at 3 p.m., with stories, crafts, and guests from the Society for Creative Anachronism in full costume. Teen Yu-Gi-Oh duelers are invited to face their rivals at an unofficial tournament on Tuesday, Dec. 28, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Downtown Library. The Teen Book Group will talk about “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World,” and then watch the movie based on the book, on Thursday, Dec. 30, from 4 to 6 p.m. Pizza will be provided. Visit the Downtown Teen Desk to pre-register and pick up a copy of the book. All activities are free, sponsored by the Eugene Public Library, Friends of the Library, and Eugene Public Library Foundation. For more information about these activities, please call the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-8316 or visit www.eugene-or.gov/library. Winter-Spring Recreation Guide Has Hundreds of Things to Do The City of Eugene’s Winter-Spring Recreation Guide is out with activities to keep everyone healthy, entertained and informed from January through May. The 72-page Recreation Guide is mailed to all Eugene residents and is available online at www.eugene-or.gov/recenroll; registration is underway for most activities. The cover of the new guide features the region’s premier adaptive skiing program Alpine Adventures, provided by the City of Eugene’s nationally acclaimed adaptive recreation program. Nearly every recreation program offered can be adapted for anyone, regardless of abilities. Many activities that are specifically designed for individuals with disabilities are offered in every program area. In addition to adaptive activities, the Winter-Spring Recreation Guide contains hundreds of events, classes, activities, social opportunities, and health and wellness programs for all ages and abilities. Many activities are free and scholarships are available. For more information, call Craig Smith at 541-682-5334. LCC Class Corrals Creativity for Downtown Bike Parking Lane Community College (LCC) instructor Lee Imonen’s Art 117: Three Dimensional Basic Design class got real- world design experience this term as they partnered with the City of Eugene to create unique and artistic designs for upcoming downtown bike corrals. A bike corral converts an on-street parking space or other unused curb space for bicycle parking. Working in teams, students visited the sites where bike corrals are planned, including Morning Glory thth Café (450 Willamette Street), Cornucopia (207 East 5 Avenue), and the Kiva Grocery Store (125 West 11 Avenue). Research on the history of Eugene also helped inform the eight designs. Display boards and models were created and displayed at a class show on Dec. 9. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 December 16, 2010 The public will have the chance to review and comment on the designs which will be on display in the Atrium Building through the month of January. An opening reception will coincide with January’s First Friday ArtWalk. Further public comment and review will continue during the month of February in the Downtown Library. A selection committee composed of the City’s Public Art Committee, Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and other stakeholders will review public input and determine the winning designs during March, 2011. The corrals will be built during a spring fabrication class at LCC and installed during the spring of 2011. The project provides a unique opportunity for partnerships with City staff in transportation, parking, and public art as well as LCC students and instructors. It aligns with the City of Eugene’s 2010 Public Art Plan which calls for integrating art into urban design and everyday functional objects, from lighting fixtures to bicycle racks. In addition, it supports Parking Services’ goal to incorporate art into parking and promote alternative transportation options, and it promotes the Pedestrian and Bicycle Strategic Plan’s goal to increase bike parking downtown. For more information, contact Laura Hammond at 541-682-6021. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 December 16, 2010