HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/12/12 - City Council Newsletter
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
April 12, 2012
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 EDITION
DELTA PONDS PROJECT RECEIVES AWARD FROM STATE LAND BOARD
2011 TOXICS PROGRAM DATA NOW AVAILABLE
SUMMER VIRTUAL GUIDE IS HERE
FORUMS TO GATHER IDEAS FOR COMMUNITY GANG SYMPOSIUM
STORYTIME STARS AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY
EUGENE NAMED GOLD-LEVEL, WALK FRIENDLY COMMUNITY
ANOTHER BUSY ROAD REPAIR SEASON UNDER WAY IN EUGENE
EUGENE CELEBRATES ARBOR DAY
NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS PLANTAPALOOZA AND EARTH-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
EUGENE HOSTS AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION CHAPTER CONFERENCE
AROUND THE CITY
Delta Ponds Project Receives Award from State Land Board
Earlier this week, the City of Eugene’s Delta Ponds Enhancement Project was honored to receive a State Land Board
“Stream Project Award," which recognizes responsible, sustainable stewardship of Oregon’s natural resources, as well
as partnerships that advance the work of the board. The award was presented by Governor John Kitzhaber, Secretary
of State Kate Brown, and State Treasurer Ted Wheeler at a ceremony in Salem. City partners on the project from the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Restoration Center
joined the City at the ceremony.
Treasurer Ted Wheeler congratulated the City on
connecting 2.2 miles of side-channel habitat to the
Willamette River, which now provides critical
rearing habitat for juvenile Chinook salmon. “This is
an impressive project that serves as a regional
model for other organizations seeking to improve
the environment along the Willamette,” he said.
As part of the Delta Ponds project, the City and its
various partners and volunteers:
Created seven acres of riparian habitat and
emergent wetlands through converting 1.5
miles of steep, rocky banks created by former
gravel mining operations.
Removed nearly 60 acres of invasive species
such as Scotch broom and English ivy.
Planted 75,000 native trees and shrubs.
Constructed trails and interpretive facilities for public enjoyment of the area.
The project involved a wide variety of partners, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and NOAA, who were
major funders at $5 million and $1.6 million, respectively, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon
Watershed Enhancement Board, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Lane
County, local schools and nonprofits, and many community volunteers.
For more information about the Delta Ponds project and the award, please contact Natural Resources Coordinator
Lauri Holts at 541-682-4925 or lauri.j.holts@ci.eugene.or.us.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
April 12, 2012
2011 Toxics Program Data Now Available
With Eugene’s Toxics Right-to-Know Program now in its 16th year, 2011 Materials Balance
Reports have been filed electronically by all 31 businesses that are required to report. Data
from the 2011 Toxics Reports are now available on the Toxics Program’s website at
www.eugene-or.gov/toxics, and in printed form at the Eugene Public Library as required by
the City Charter.
For more information on the Eugene Toxics Right-to-Know Program, please contact Jo Eppli
at 541-682-7118 or joann.c.eppli@ci.eugene.or.us.
Summer Virtual Guide Is Here
Some 12,000 Recreation patrons received an email this week letting them know that the virtual Summer Recreation
Guide is now available for their perusing at http://www.eugene-or.gov/recguide – a full week before the paper guide will
be published. Both the virtual and the paper guides include all Recreation activities from
June 1 – Aug. 30, but the virtual guide has more color and includes hot links to RecEnroll,
making registration a breeze.
The new 96-page guide includes listings for more than 100 summer camps, a variety of
outdoor activities, water fitness classes, family activities, art opportunities, adult sports
leagues, adaptive programs, and presentations on topics ranging from how to use a smart
phone to veterans’ health benefits.
To ensure that those who do not have a computer still have access to its programs,
Recreation prints about 19,000 guides with each edition. That includes 8,000 Rec Guides
that are mailed to patrons who either don’t have email, don’t want to receive emails or who
have specifically requested a paper guide, and another 11,000 paper guides that are
available for pickup at many public offices around town.
The total number of guides now printed is about a fourth of the 73,000 guides that Recreation printed before
implementing the new distribution plan, and that’s helping the City reach its sustainability goals. For more information,
contact Kathy Madison at 541-682-6342.
Forums to Gather Ideas for Community Gang Symposium
The Eugene Police Department is partnering with local public safety community outreach groups, youth programs and
local school districts to hold a gang symposium in October of 2012 to address the increase that the Eugene area has
seen in criminal gang activities.
The increase in criminal gangs has sparked concern throughout the community about growing violence associated
with this trend along with an interest in preventing youth involvement in gangs. In preparing for a community gang
symposium in October, a group of concerned individuals from a variety of agencies and organizations will hold three
public forums to gather community input about what challenges and opportunities exist in addressing the gang problem
and also what topics might be helpful to discuss at the symposium in the fall. The topics are the same at each of the
meetings, but they are offered at different times for the public’s convenience:
Saturday, Apr. 14, noon -1:30 p.m., McNutt Room, City Hall
Tuesday, Apr. 17, noon -1:30 p.m., Singer Room, Eugene Public Library
Tuesday, Apr. 17, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Singer Room, Eugene Public Library
For more information, contact Melinda McLaughlin at 541-682-5124 or Melinda.V.McLaughlin@ci.eugene.or.us.
Storytime Stars at Eugene Public Library
Eugene Public Library’s storytimes for babies through preschoolers help local families get
children “reading ready” with skill-building fun at the Library and take-home tips for parents.
On occasion, storytimes also provide an opportunity for kids to meet special guest readers,
often in partnership with community organizations. This month, an Olympic runner and a
violinist will be the celebrities to read at the Library’s storytimes.
In collaboration with TrackTown 2012, the local organizing committee for the upcoming U.S.
Olympic Track & Field Trials, Olympic runner Nicole Teter-Downin will read at storytimes on
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
April 12, 2012
Wednesday, Apr. 18, at 10:15 and 11:00 a.m. at the Downtown Library. Violinist Midori will read and play for young
children and their adults on Wednesday, Apr. 25, at 11 a.m., at the Downtown Library as part of her residency with the
Eugene Symphony. For more information, contact the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-8316 or www.eugene-
.
or.gov/library
Eugene Named Gold-Level, Walk Friendly Community
The city of Eugene has been designated as a gold-level “Walk Friendly Community
(WFC)” for its walkability initiatives and programs.
The national Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center announced the prestigious
recognition from its headquarters at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
“We are excited to designate Eugene as a Walk Friendly Community,” said WFC
Program Manager Carl Sundstrom. ”The clear support from elected officials for
creating 20-minute neighborhoods, the level of sophistication in the planning
documents and code requirements of the city, the public transportation options and
the extensive trail network were quite impressive achievements. Eugene is a model
for communities across the United States.”
Eugene is among four communities recognized in the latest round of WFC to be announced. To-date, 24 communities
in the U.S. have been designated, eight of them at the gold level. In Oregon, Corvallis has earned gold-level and
Wilsonville has earned bronze-level recognition.
Other reasons cited for Eugene’s recognition: the 2011 Pedestrian Safety Summit; the number of accessibility features
such as crossings, ramps and signals; 42 miles of paths and five footbridges in Eugene’s trail system; and successful
events such as the Business Commute Challenge, SmartTrips program, and Sunday Streets, which all promote health
benefits and the fact that walking is good for business.
“Not only did we receive this great honor, but we also got some excellent suggestions on things we could do better,”
said Lee Shoemaker, the City’s bicycle and pedestrian coordinator. Among those ideas: create a special focus group
to bring engineering, planning, transit and enforcement staff together; increase the number of sidewalks in the city;
emphasize pedestrian connectivity between destinations; reduce the number of accidents involving pedestrians, and
strive to increase the number of people who choose to walk for business and pleasure.
For more information, contact Lee Shoemaker at 541-682-5471.
Another Busy Road Repair Season Under Way in Eugene
Another busy road repair season is under way in Eugene, with nearly 100 streets scheduled for major paving or
sealing work. In total, approximately $15 million will be spent to fix more than 42 lane-miles of city streets. Repair work
will range from full road reconstruction, to four-inch curb-to-curb overlays, to a surface treatment called slurry sealing.
Primary sources of repair funding include an estimated $7.8
million from the voter-approved street repair bond measure,
$6.3 million in local gas tax revenues, and funding from local
transportation system development charges and federal and
state grants.
The list of major repair projects in 2012 includes Coburg Road
(Beltline to Willakenzie), Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (I-5
to Centennial Loop), Green Acres Road (Norkenzie to Delta
Highway), Goodpasture Island Road (Kingsley to new bike
bridge), downtown intersections on Washington and Jefferson
streets, and Royal Avenue (Highway 99 to Waite Street). This
summer’s repair work also includes several area shared-use
paths, including portions of the North Bank and West Bank
paths and a section of Fern Ridge Path from Chambers to
Arthur streets. Work already has begun on Jefferson Street
thth
Repairs have already begun on Jefferson between 19 and 28
ththth
(19 to 28 avenues) and 24 Avenue (Jefferson to Chambers
streets). Meanwhile, crews from Eugene Water & Electric Board, NW Natural and other utilities are working at
numerous locations to take care of underground lines before paving work starts. City staff has also been coordinating
the busy construction schedule with schools, businesses and neighborhood groups.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
April 12, 2012
“It’s important for the City to do as much pavement preservation as possible each year because we have a backlog of
almost $120 million in needed roadwork projects,” said City Engineer Mark Schoening. “The City’s goal is to fix streets
before they fail because this is the most cost-effective way to spend pavement preservation funds.”
Residents wishing to learn more about specific projects planned for 2012 can visit www.eugene-or.gov/pwprojects. For
more information, contact Mark Schoening at 541-682-5243.
Eugene Celebrates Arbor Day
Last Saturday, Apr. 7, over 120 community members came out to celebrate Arbor Day in Eugene by planting 115
trees. This infusion of new trees was particularly timely following the recent storm event that brought down and
rd
damaged hundreds of street trees across the city. The day kicked off with Mayor Kitty Piercy receiving Eugene’s 33
consecutive Tree City USA award from the Oregon Department of
Forestry. The National Arbor Day Foundation award recognizes cities that
have developed programs that plant and care for trees.
The event held at Jefferson Park was led by the City of Eugene Park
Stewards Program and the nonprofit Friends of Trees and included
volunteers from the Friends of Awbrey Park, Eugene Water & Electric
Board, NW Natural, Lane County Fairgrounds, Jefferson Westside
Neighbors, and the University of Oregon’s Outdoor Program and Kappa
Alpha Theta Sorority. In addition to putting trees in the ground, a lot of
work went into transporting the trees, soil, and mulch by bicycle trailers to
reduce the carbon footprint of the event. At the end of the planting,
volunteers enjoyed a BBQ lunch put on by NW Natural.
The celebration of Arbor Day is part of the national Arbor Week
celebration which takes place the first full week of April each year.
Throughout Arbor Week, local volunteers also planted street trees on Antelope Way and Frontier Drive, fruit trees in
Lafferty Park, and native trees in Awbrey Park. Since 1872, Arbor Day has been celebrated as America's national tree
holiday, a day set aside to plant ceremonial trees, educate children about the importance of trees and honor the
important role trees play in the daily lives of people in communities across the country.
For more information about the event, contact City of Eugene Urban Forester Mark Snyder at 541-682-4819 or
mark.r.snyder@ci.eugene.or.us
Newsletter Highlights Plantapalooza and Earth-Friendly Activities and Events
Here are some of the highlights from the latest edition of Stormwater Connections, due out next week via mail:
What’s happening in the world of plants? Gardeners and plant enthusiasts will have lots of options to choose
from at Plantapalooza on May 12. The celebration of plants features a plant sale, tours, hands-on activities
and more.
Learn more about the local Earth Day Celebration at the Eugene Water & Electric Board River Plaza on
Saturday, Apr. 21, or about free vehicle emission testing on Apr. 21 and 22.
There’s plenty more to learn. Gardeners can find out about
collective compost bins or upcoming how-to workshops.
Homeowners getting ready to take on painting projects can
learn some eco-friendly steps to take to minimize paint waste
and what to do with leftover paint. Non-profit groups planning a
car wash benefit will find contact information on borrowing a
stormwater-friendly car wash kit. Looking to lend a hand or get
involved with improving water quality or helping to spruce up a
local park? Find out how, through the Eugene Parks Stewards
program.
Articles in Stormwater Connections typically address seasonal
or current issues and cover at least one subject of interest to
younger citizens. Copies of the newsletter have been placed in
the City Manager’s Office.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4
April 12, 2012
For more information or additional copies of the newsletter, contact Public Information Specialist for the Stormwater
Management Program Kathy Eva at 541-682-2739.
Eugene Hosts American Public Works Association Chapter Conference
The cities of Eugene and Springfield have teamed up to host the Spring 2012 conference of the Oregon Chapter of the
American Public Works Association (APWA). The conference will be held at Valley River Inn, Apr. 17 - 20. Eugene
staff members Katie Blair-Terrazas and Peggy Keppler assisted in this year’s planning. Other staff members are
providing their expertise in presenting technical sessions:
Telecommunications Program Manager Pam Berrian developed a panel called “Keeping the Public in Rights of
Way Management” which includes Eugene’s Utility Permit Supervisor Ginger Perales.
Assistant City Attorney Kathryrn Brotherton will provide an update on the recent “Transportation Planning
Rule” changes.
Water Resources Manager Therese Walch will present her insights and experience in “How to Survive an EPA
Audit.”
The Oregon chapter is an association of more than 800 professional engineers, technicians, operations staff, directors,
business people, contractors, consultants and many others in the field of public works who join together to exchange
ideas and information, promote education and training, and work as a team to meet professional and community
needs. Nationally, APWA represents almost 30,000 public works professionals and offers excellent professional
development programs and member services.
More information about the conference is at www.oregonapwa.org or call Peggy Keppler at 541-682-2869.
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April 12, 2012