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Home My WebLink About08/04/11 - City Council Newsletter EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER August 4, 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 PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IMPROVED AS PART OF SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL INITIATIVE BLAIR BOULEVARD BUSINESSES ELIGIBLE FOR FREE RENOVATION FUNDS AND VOLUNTEER WORK PURCHASING OFFICE AWARDED ACHIEVEMENT OF EXCELLENCE IN PROCUREMENT AWARD WON TAN NARA DANCE ENSEMBLE AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY WEEKEND ON THE AMAZON ULTIMATE “STAYCATION” SOUTH BANK PATH REPAIRS BEGIN AROUND THE CITY Pedestrian Safety Improved as Part of Safe Routes to School Initiative Just in time for the start of the new school year, pedestrian safety has been improved at a number of locations around Eugene as part of the Safe Routes to School Program. In 2010, Eugene Public Works and the local Safe Routes to School Program received $500,000 in federal funding to make safety improvements at seven local elementary and middle schools. One of the key improvements was to enhance crosswalks on busy streets to make it safer for students to walk to and from school as well as to improve safety for everyone. "By creating a safe walking and biking environment we are creating more active transportation choices for families, students, and our whole community," said Shane MacRhodes, manager of the Eugene 4J Safe Routes to School Program. 2G Construction, working under contract to the City of Eugene, this summer constructed or improved crosswalks on Queens Way near Meadowlark/Buena Vista Elementary School; at the intersection of Electrical equipment being installed on a new solar- Willakenzie Road with Bogart Lane, and on Oakway Road at both powered “stutter-flash” warning light Lariat Drive and Bedford Way, all near Monroe Middle School; on ndrd 22 Avenue at Onyx, Emerald, and Agate streets, and 23 Avenue at Onyx, Emerald, and Harris streets, all near ththth Edison Elementary; on 28 Avenue at Hilyard Street, on 30 Avenue and Alder Street, and on 29 Avenue at Harris thth Street, all near Camas Ridge Elementary; on Chambers Street at 15 Avenue and on 18 Avenue at Friendly Street, near César Chávez Elementary, and on Todd Street at Ellen Avenue near McCornack Elementary. nd th th At four locations -- 22Avenue and Agate Street, 30Avenue and Alder Street, 15Avenue and Chambers Street, th and 28Avenue and Hilyard Street – pedestrian-activated rapid-flashing warning lights were added. At three of the locations the lights are solar-powered. The lights are scheduled to be activated next week. These are very similar to the flashing lights, sometimes called stutter-flash signals, previously installed on Bailey Hill Road near Churchill High School and at two locations on River Road. Other enhancements include path and sidewalk improvements, new bicycle parking facilities, wayfinding signs, and speed-reader boards on Cal Young near Meadowlark/Buena Vista Elementary. The rapid-flashing lights are intended to draw the attention of motorists and alert them when pedestrians are crossing busy streets. Motorists are required to come to a full stop and remain stopped while pedestrians are in a crosswalk. A video providing additional information and driving tips on rapid-flashing beacons is available on the internet at www.eugene-or.gov/trafficsafety. For more information, contact Project Manager Patrick Cox at 541-682-6854. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 August 4, 2011 Blair Boulevard Businesses Eligible for Free Renovation Funds and Volunteer Work The City of Eugene’s Community Development Division, in partnership with Wells Fargo, and two local nonprofit agencies, eDev and Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO), will award $9,500 in grants for both exterior and interior improvements to businesses along Blair Boulevard in Eugene. Three businesses will receive a $3,000 grant from Wells Fargo for improvements. The businesses will be expected to complete their renovations by the end of October. Wells Fargo employees plan to assist in doing the renovation work. Extra technical assistance will also be provided by eDev, NEDCO and professional community design volunteers. Once the renovations are complete, a design review board will award an additional $500 bonus grant from Wells Fargo to the most improved business. The program is lending support and momentum to the exciting energy and artistic creativity shown by the many small businesses in the Blair Boulevard area. For more information, contact William Ellis at 541-682-5444 or William.r.ellis@ci.eugene.or.us. Purchasing Office Awarded Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award The City of Eugene Purchasing Office has been awarded the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award (AEP) for 2011 from the National Purchasing Institute (NPI). The award recognizes organizational excellence in procurement by measuring innovation, professionalism, e-procurement, productivity, and leadership attributes of the procurement function. AEP awardees obtain a high score on a rating of standardized criteria that represent the leading edge of the industry. Receiving this award reflects efforts by the Purchasing Office to provide efficient purchasing services to City departments, vendors, and citizens. For additional information, please contact Assistant Finance Director Mia Cariaga at 541-682-5408 or mia.cariaga@ci.eugene.or.us Won Tan Nara Dance Ensemble at Eugene Public Library The Downtown Eugene Public Library will host a free performance by the Won Tan Nara Dance Ensemble at 6 p.m. on First Friday, Aug. 5. Led byAlseny Yansane, this troupe delights audiences with the high-spirited dance and high- energy percussion of Guinea, West Africa. Alseny Yansane, a long-time dancer with the world-renowned Les Ballets Africains, has dazzled audiences around the globe with his fancy footwork, powerful percussion, and heart-stopping acrobatics. He is internationally recognized as a cultural ambassador for his knowledge of the dances, rhythms, and traditions of each geographical region of Guinea. “Won Tan Nara” means "We Are One" in Susu, Yansane’s native language. The Downtown Library stays open until 8 p.m. on First Fridays. This performance is part of Summer Reading 2011, featuring a series of free events for all ages united by the theme “One World, Many Stories.” For more information, visit www.eugene-or.gov/library or call the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-5450. Weekend on the Amazon Ultimate “Staycation” The City of Eugene Youth and Family Program is offering a two-day campout, including theater, swimming and biking, all at Amazon Park, from Aug. 6 - 7, for just $5. Set up a campsite on Saturday afternoon and swim at Amazon Pool. Bring a dinner to cook outside, attend Free Shakespeare in the Park’s opening night, and then gather around the campfire in Amazon Park. On Sunday, enjoy a free breakfast. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call 541-682-5373. Campers can also participate in the Hilyard Center take-out fundraising dinner on Saturday evening, and on Sunday, join the Blackberry bRamble 10-100-mile bike rides and afternoon bike events. Participation in these events may have additional fees. Register for the Adapted Cycling Fundraising Dinner at www.eugene-or.gov/recadaptive. Register for Eugene GEARs Blackberry bRamble and bicycle celebration at www.eugenegears.org. For more information, contact Gina Tafoya at 541-682-5373. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 August 4, 2011 South Bank Path Repairs Begin Work begins this week on a project to repair sections of the Ruth Bascom South Bank Path, making it safer and more enjoyable for people to walk, run, cycle and skate on the path. Delta Construction, working under contract to the City of Eugene, will reconstruct about 4,000 feet of path between the west end of Maurie Jacobs Park near North Polk Street, to RiverPlay Park on the west end of Skinner Butte Park. In some areas, crews will remove the old path and construct a new 12-foot-wide path in its place. In other areas, the existing deteriorated asphalt path will be overlaid with a new concrete surface. The project also includes improving connections to the path from North Adams Street (near the River House recreation center) and from North Grand Street, as well as repairing the existing connector from North Washington Street (on the east side of Skinner Butte Park). The work will be done in several phases, with completion scheduled in October. Sections of the path will be closed for several weeks while reconstruction work is being done. Alternate routes include the North Bank Path on the other side of the river and the local street system in the north Whiteaker area. Signs and maps will be posted in the project area to assist cyclists and other path users in navigating around construction zones. The $430,000 project is funded primarily by the 2008 bond measure approved by Eugene voters to fix streets and bike paths. Elsewhere along the riverbank path system, work continues on a federally funded extension of the West Bank Path. Crews this week are focusing on constructing a retaining wall under the Beltline Bridge. Meanwhile, the Public Works Department is evaluating the need for future repairs of the South Bank Path from RiverPlay to the DeFazio Bridge. For more information, contact Project Manager Doug Singer at 541-682-8460. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 August 4, 2011