HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/17/12 - City Council Newsletter
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
May 17, 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
FIRST LOADS OF ‘LOVE FOOD NOT WASTE’ COMPOST DONATED TO AREA GARDENS
PILOT PROGRAM BEGUN FOR PLACEMENT OF CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT
AMAZON POOL OPENS FOR SUMMER SEASON ON MAY 21
AROUND THE CITY
First Loads of ‘Love Food Not Waste’ Compost Donated to Area Gardens
In honor of International Compost Awareness Week (May 6 - 12), Rexius Sustainable Solutions donated the first few
finished loads of compost from the Love Food Not Waste program to three area gardens. On Saturday, May 12, FOOD
for Lane County’s GrassRoots Garden, Huerto de la Familia’s community garden, and the Faith Center Garden
received between seven and 15 yards of finished
compost that will be used throughout the season
to grow fresh, local crops.
The GrassRoots Garden received the first load of
Love Food Not Waste’s compost from Rexius.
Slug Queen Holly GoSlugly made an appearance
to commemorate the occasion. The second load
of compost was donated to families belonging to
The Family Garden (Huerto de la Familia) at the
Springfield Youth Farm. At that site, 50 University
of Oregon students helped families move compost
to their new plots and assist with planting their first
vegetable crop. The final load of compost was
donated to the new Faith Center Garden,
Eugene's newest garden located at 15th and Polk.
This garden demonstrates how the faith community can create urban agriculture spaces from underutilized lands and
offer self-provisioning options for the community. Additionally, food grown in the Faith Center Garden will go to the
FOOD for Lane County food pantry at the church and to community members who help grow the food.
Love Food Not Waste is a commercial composting program that aims to divert 3,200 tons of food waste from local
landfills during its first year. A collaboration between local food-related businesses, the City of Eugene, local garbage
haulers and local commercial composters, the program converts produce, meats, food-soiled paper and other waste
into valuable nutrient-rich compost. In addition to saving businesses money, the initiative conserves land, water and
energy, and reduces the need for fossil-fuel fertilizers. Businesses can sign up for service with their garbage hauler.
Food scraps are picked up regularly and delivered to commercial composting facilities like Rexius, where they are
transformed into compost in two months using a natural process.
For more information, and to view the list of over 60 participating businesses, visit www.eugene-or.gov/lovefood or
contact Stephanie Scafa at 541-682-5652 or Stephanie.scafa@ci.eugene.or.us.
Pilot Program Begun for Placement of Certificates of Deposit
During the past six years, the City has invested more than $50 million in certificates of deposits (CDs) with local
banks. By investing in local CDs, the money stays in the community and diversifies the City’s investment portfolio, and
the City earns a market rate of return.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
May 17, 2012
Over the past few months, City Finance Division staff put together a pilot program to expand the CD program by
soliciting CD bids from local credit unions. Fourteen credit unions with branches in Eugene were contacted to
determine whether they would be interested in participating in this program and six institutions responded: Northwest
Community Credit Union (CCU), OnPoint CCU, Oregon CCU, Selco CCU, Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB)
Employees Federal Credit Union (FCU), and Pacific Cascade FCU.
The City issued three requests for bids for CDs from local credit unions. While the response hasn’t been
overwhelming, the City received offers from one institution at each solicitation. As a result of the solicitations, a
$246,000 CD has been placed with EWEB Employees FCU, which is the maximum allowed under state law after
taking into consideration interest earnings. One bid did not result in a placement because the interest rate offered was
not competitive with alternative investments. Another bid did not result in a placement because the credit union could
not meet the City’s business requirements.
Finance Division staff plans to continue offering CD placement to local credit unions from time to time and hopes to
expand the number of participating institutions. For more information, please contact Finance Director Sue
Cutsogeorge at 541-682-5589 or Sue.L.Cutsogeorge@ci.eugene.or.us.
Amazon Pool Opens for Summer Season on May 21
Amazon Pool will open for the summer season on Monday, May 21, with daily lap swims through September 3. This
favorite summer site annually draws more than 100,000 visits during the summer season.
Beginning June 18, Amazon Pool will open for recreation swims held Monday -
Sunday from 2 - 5 p.m. and Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Family Swim times (one adult must be in the water with children) will be held
Monday - Friday, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., and Monday - Thursday, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Water aerobics and swim lessons are also offered at Amazon during the summer
months.
Swimming is a great, fun way to get exercise and on June 20, families are invited
to a free recreation swim from 2 - 6 p.m. at the Let’s Move - Eugene event. Part
of First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative to fight obesity in children, Let’s Move
encourages healthy eating and physical exercise. The event at Amazon will
include games, relays, prizes, information booths, a farmer’s market and healthy
snacks.
For more information on activities and classes offered at City pools this summer, visit www.eugene-or.gov/recaquatics
or call 541-682-5350 (Amazon), or 541-682-5525 (Echo Hollow).
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
May 17, 2012