HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/12/11 - City Council Newsletter
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
May 12, 2011
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
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER TO ATTEND WORLD HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM
BILINGUAL FAMILY FIESTA AT THE LIBRARY
MORE THAN 1,000 SCHOOLCHILDREN REGISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS DAY ON MAY 19
CODY GOES TO THE CAPITOL
MAJOR REPAIRS SLATED ON EUGENE STREETS AND BIKE PATHS IN 2011
EUGENE RECEIVES STATE FUNDING TO MANAGE STORMWATER RUNOFF FROM I-105
AROUND THE CITY
Human Rights Commissioner to Attend World Human Rights Forum
The City of Eugene has been invited to participate in the 2011 World Human Rights Cities Forum to be held in
Gwangju, South Korea, on May 16 and 17. The invitation was extended by the forum's co-hosts, the Gwangju
Metropolitan City Government and Gwangju's May 18 Memorial Foundation, which are covering travel and other
expenses for Eugene Human Rights Commissioner Ken Neubeck. The event is co-sponsored by the United Nations
High Commission on Human Rights and other international and South Korean organizations.
This first World Human Rights Cities Forum, whose theme is "Globalizing Human Rights
from Below," is expected to bring together over 200 participants to discuss the
implementation of universal human rights by local municipal governments. Participants will
share best practices and experiences in building "Human Rights Cities" and work toward
developing an international network. Those attending the forum include representatives of
city governments and commissions, academic institutions, and international organizations.
The City of Eugene is one of only 15 municipalities worldwide outside of South Korea invited
to send a representative.
The invitation to participate in the World Forum comes in response to the growing national
and international reputation of Eugene as a city committed to human rights. It is evidence of the important work
being done within the City organization and by the Eugene Human Rights Commission on human rights issues.
Commissioner Neubeck will serve on a panel of city representatives and will discuss progress to date toward Eugene
becoming a Human Rights City.
Contact Holly LeMasurier, City Manager’s Office, at 541-682-5619 or holly.k.lemasurier@ci.eugene.or.us for more
information.
Bilingual Family Fiesta at the Library
Family Fiestameansfun in Spanish and English. On Saturday, May 14, at 11:30 a.m.,
families are invited to a free bilingual party at the Downtown Eugene Public Library.
Enjoy the talented dancers of Blue Illusion and Kinetic Flow - the hip-hop teams of
Springfield High School - plus Ballet Folklórico Alma de México, and enjoy free snacks.
For more information, call the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-8316 or visit
www.eugene-or.gov/library.
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May 12, 2011
More than 1,000 Schoolchildren Register for Public Works Day on May 19
More than 1,000 schoolchildren and 330 adults have registered to “Discover Public Works” on Thursday, May 19.
Public Works Day activities run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Public Works Yard, 1820 Roosevelt Boulevard.
The event is open to everyone, with a special emphasis
on teaching students of all ages about the many
services provided by the City of Eugene Public Works
Department. It builds awareness of the contribution
Public Works professionals make every day for the
health, safety, and comfort of all. The event features
lots of hands-on displays, including games, costumed
characters and other fun activities to make the learning
experience enjoyable, particularly for younger students. Students and adults can climb aboard Public Works
equipment, and staff is on hand to answer questions and provide interesting facts about Public Works services.
There are a variety of transportation options for getting to and from the event. Convenient bus, van, and bicycle
parking are available. For more information about the event, including links to a short video and a Facebook page
(Eugene’s Teaching Connection) created especially to build relationships with local teachers, go to www.eugene-
or.gov/pwday or call Public Works Public Affairs Manager Eric Jones at 541-682-5523.
Cody Goes to the Capitol
Cody, the Fire & EMS Department’s Official Fire Safety Dalmatian, participated in his first detail as the newest
member of the Oregon Fire Service Honor Guard, for the posting of the
colors in both the Senate and the House of Representatives for Fire
Service Recognition Day at the Capitol. Not only did he get to go to the
Capitol, he was allowed on the floor in both chambers (a really big deal).
As the Senate session was called to order, the presiding officer
announced that the colors would be posted by members of the Oregon
Fire Service Honor Guard, including team member Cody, Official Fire
Safety Dalmatian of the Eugene Fire & EMS Department. In the House of
Representatives, Cody followed the flag bearers and guards to the front of
the chamber, and retreated with the team after the pledge of allegiance.
There was so much involved in getting Cody permission to be on the floor
that many people were eager to meet him, pet him and take his picture. It was a fantastic way in which to represent
the Oregon Fire Service.
For more information, contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 541-682-5411.
Major Repairs Slated on Eugene Streets and Bike Paths in 2011
The signs are up all around town: paving project coming soon. They’re an indicator that 2011 will be another very
busy road repair season in Eugene.
This year the Public Works Department has 20 major street and bike path
repair projects scheduled at a total estimated cost of more than $18 million.
The primary sources of revenue for the repair work are the voter-approved
bond measure to fix streets and Eugene’s local gas tax. State and federal
grants will help pay for significant improvements for cyclists and
pedestrians.
Three road repair projects are set to start this month. The first phase of a
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bond measure project to repair Hilyard Street from 24 to 34 avenues is
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scheduled to begin Friday, and gas-tax funded work on City View from 18
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to 28 avenues began Wednesday. The resurfacing of River Road from
Horn Lane to Railroad Boulevard, another bond project, will start in the next
week.
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Other bond measure projects on the list for 2011 include: 18 Avenue from
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Patterson to Washington streets; Coburg Road from Willakenzie to Oakway roads; Conger Street from 5 to 11
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avenues; Pearl Street from 4 Avenue to Broadway; Willamette Street from 29 to 46 avenues; Wilson Street from
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May 12, 2011
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5 to 11 avenues; Alder Street from Broadway to 18 Avenue, plus a one-block section of 13 Avenue from Alder to
Kincaid streets, and the South Bank Path from the Greenway Bridge to the Ferry Street Bridge.
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Projects funded by local gas taxes include: Jefferson Street from 1 to 8 avenues; Washington Street from 1 to 6
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avenues; several intersections on Washington and Jefferson streets between 8 and 11 avenues; and slurry seals
on 60 residential streets around the city.
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Grant-funded projects include street-scaping and bike lane design improvements on the Alder Street-13Avenue
project, repairs to the Fern Ridge Path from Chambers to Arthur streets; Safe Routes to Schools projects at a
number of locations; and the extension of the West Bank Trail from River Avenue to Beaver Street.
Public Works is coordinating the construction work to mitigate traffic delays as much as possible. However, motorists
will encounter lane detours and, in some cases, full-street closures in work zones. This year, the department is
working with regional partners to provide information via the www.keepusmoving.info web site. For more information
about this year’s paving projects, contact Pavement Preservation Program Manager Jenifer Willer at 541-682-5364.
Eugene Receives State Funding to Manage Stormwater Runoff from I-105
Eugene has been notified by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) that it has been awarded a total of
$687,000 to treat stormwater runoff from the I-105 bridge across the Willamette River and surrounding neighborhood
streets. The amount includes $157,000 previously awarded for preliminary engineering and $525,000 for construction
of stormwater treatment facilities.
Road surfaces carry vehicle pollutants including heavy metals from tires, brakes, and engine wear, and hydrocarbons
from lubricating fluids and fuels. This section of highway produces significant amounts of these pollutants resulting
from the braking and acceleration of vehicles coming off or on to the highway at this location. Currently, these
pollutants drain through the current stormwater drainage system directly into the Willamette River.
Staff is continuing to work with ODOT on construction details, but the project will likely include a water-quality device
that mechanically separates pollutants from stormwater before the stormwater is discharged into the river. Most likely
the device will be located in ODOT right-of-way in the large open area just north of Cheshire, east of Jefferson.
Staff credits a good working relationship with ODOT and Eugene’s status as a Certified Local Agency among the
reasons why ODOT decided to focus on this particular watershed project. Current plans call for work to begin later
this year. For more information, contact Project Manager Teri Higgins at 541-682-8462.
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May 12, 2011