HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/13/12 - City Council Newsletter
City of Eugene
125 East 8 Avenue, 2 Floor
thnd
Eugene, Oregon 97401
(541) 682-5010
(541) 682-5414 (FAX)
www.eugene-or.gov
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
December 13, 2012
IN THIS EDITION
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER SARAH MEDARY RECEIVES TOP NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
GRANT HELPS EUGENE FIRE & EMS WITH PURCHASE OF CRITICAL EQUIPMENT
GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE
WINTER BREAK FUN COMING UP AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY
RESIDENTS CAN “GET IN THE SWING” WITH NEW RECREATION GUIDE
RECREATION OFFERS WINTER BREAK FUN FOR ALL
CITY HALL COUNCIL MEETING ROOMS - RECORDING ELECTRONICS REPURPOSED
AROUND THE CITY
Assistant City Manager Sarah Medary Receives Top National Leadership Award
Assistant City Manager and Planning and Development Executive Director Sarah Medary was presented with the Assistant
Excellence in Leadership Award in Memory of Buford M. Watson Jr., from the International City-County Management
Association (ICMA) at the Dec. 10 City Council meeting. Junction City City Manager, Kevin Watson, who is the grandson of
the award’s namesake, presented the award along with Eugene City Manager Jon Ruiz.
The award commemorates former ICMA President Buford M.
Watson Jr. and honors a local government management
professional who has made significant contributions toward
excellence in leadership as an assistant to a chief local
government administrator or department head.
City Manager Ruiz, who nominated Medary for the award,
appointed her to the position of Assistant City Manager in
February 2009. “Excellence is a habit for Sarah. She finds
mediocrity unsatisfying and consistently seeks ways to
encourage and contribute to cultures of excellence in the City
organization and the community,” said City Manager Ruiz.
“Her dedication to what is possible is refreshing, and has
contributed to the City’s ability to thrive during this complex
and challenging era in local government.”
Medary joined the City of Eugene organization in 1996 and gained a wide range of experience and increasing responsibility
through her work in the Parks and Open Space and Engineering divisions of Public Works, and with the Library, Recreation
and Cultural Services Department, rising to Recreation Division Manager prior to her appointment as Assistant City
Manager. This experience has given her a thorough knowledge of the organization as a front-line service provider, as well
as a supervisor, manager and leader.
“The best part about winning a leadership award is bringing attention to the excellent work being accomplished by the
team,” noted Medary. “I am fortunate to work with a very talented group of City employees, elected officials and
community partners. I’m honored to have been selected and I’m proud of the successes we have achieved during some
very difficult years.”
For more information, contact Laura Hammond at 541-682-6021 or laura.a.hammond@ci.eugene.or.us.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
December 13, 2012
Grant Helps Eugene Fire & EMS with Purchase of Critical Equipment
This month, the Eugene Fire & EMS Department will put into service new, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to
replace its aging fleet. The department received an Assistance to Firefighters Grant in the amount of $1,079,750 for the
replacement of the SCBAs. The grant is paying 80 percent of the total cost at
$863,800 and the department is paying the 20 percent match, as well as
funding additional needed pieces of SCBA equipment not funded by the grant.
During fiscal year 2012, the department developed an extensive request for
proposal (RFP) process that included input from key stakeholders; evaluations
from shift operations, special teams, and maintenance personnel; an evaluation
of the accountability components; training requirements, and reference review.
During the process, the top four companies provided equipment for hands-on
evaluation by the fire crews.
The self-contained breathing apparatus is a critical piece of equipment because
it provides breathable air to firefighters in an IDLH (Immediate Danger to Life
and Health) atmosphere. The department plans to donate the older equipment. For additional information, please contact
Deputy Chief Joe Zaludek at 541-682-7103 or Joe.S.Zaludek@ci.eugene.or.us.
Governor’s Award for Leadership by Example
In November, the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) received the Governor’s Award for
“Leadership by Example.” The Public Work’s Wastewater Division operates the regional treatment plant as the City’s
partner of the MWMC. The award recognizes leadership by “sharing their energy efficiency progress and knowledge with
others and thereby influencing broader awareness of energy efficiency inside and outside their organization.” Several
factors were considered in evaluation of the award, including:
Wastewater Divisions’ International Standards Organization (ISO)-14001 certification for the Environmental
Management System;
MWMC environmental policies;
Participation by MWMC in a Sustainable Energy Management Training Program for Wastewater facilities, especially
Wastewater Operations Supervisor Bob Sprick’s presentation about the great things done at the plant;
MWMC outreach and engagement; and
Coordination with the Oregon Chapter of Association of Clean Water Agencies (OrACWA) to provide information to
others in the industry and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The award nomination by Project Manager Greg Watkins included information on all these factors. Specifics included the
use of cogeneration – using the gas produced in wastewater treatment to generate electricity and heat - to use for
approximately 65 percent of the plant’s energy. The history of plant power usage (showing a decline over the years
because of energy efficiency efforts while at the same time increasing hydraulic capacity) and discussion of improvements
in the last 10 years that have resulted in 1,133MWh annual savings. For more information, please contact Michelle Cahill
at 541-682-8606.
Winter Break Fun Coming Up at Eugene Public Library
While school’s out, kids and teens are welcome to get warm and have fun with free events at the Eugene Public Library.
Mad Science’s show “Fire and Ice” is amazing, amusing, hot, and cool! Kids love this fun and exciting science show filled
with dazzling demonstrations of the powers of fire and ice. See it at the
Downtown Library on Thursday, Dec. 27, at 1 and 3 p.m. (pick up free tickets
starting 30 minutes before each show); at the Bethel Branch on Thursday, Jan.
3, at 2:30 p.m.; or at the Sheldon Branch on Thursday, Jan. 3, at 4:30 p.m.
The Teen Book Group will get together on Thursday, Dec. 27, at 4 p.m., at the
Downtown Library to talk about "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne,
then watch “Easy A,” the popular movie based on the classic story. Visit the
Downtown Teen Desk anytime to pre-register and pick up a copy of the book.
The Downtown Library will also host a free screening of “The Hunger Games”
for teens on Friday, Dec. 28, at 2 p.m., with popcorn and candy included.
For more information, contact the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-8316 or
see the Library’s online calendar for all ages at www.eugene-or.gov/library.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
December 13, 2012
Residents Can “Get in the Swing” with New Recreation Guide
The new Winter/Spring Recreation Guide offers healthy, entertaining activities from January
through May. The cover of the new guide features a young couple dancing and calls on
readers to “get in the swing” of all the fun things to do which are listed inside. Recreation
provides dozens of social activities such as dances, meals, family activities, and more, all year-
round.
In addition to social opportunities, the Winter/Spring Recreation Guide contains hundreds of
events, classes, activities, health and wellness programs, and sports for all ages and abilities.
It’s not too early to enroll a child in one of the spring break camps offered by the City for
children and youth in kindergarten through age 17.
Check out the 72-page virtual Recreation Guide at www.eugene-or.gov/recenroll or pick up a
paper guide at any City community center, pool, library, and many other public locations.
Those on the mailing list should receive a guide this week. Registration is underway for most
activities.
For more information, call Kathy Madison at 541-682-6342.
Recreation Offers Winter Break Fun for All
Eugene Recreation has lined up several activities to help beat the dark days of winter. For the kids, there’s swimming,
breakfast with Santa, or Winter Break Camp. The whole family can try indoor rock climbing or have fun at the First Friday
Family Fun Night. For the kid in the grown-ups, there’s a trip around town
viewing holiday lights.
Echo Hollow and Sheldon pools will be on a holiday schedule from Dec. 23 -Jan.
6, with afternoon recreation swims at Echo Hollow held 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.,
weekdays and Sundays, and at Sheldon from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m., weekdays and 12
-2 p.m., on Saturdays.
There is still space available for the Breakfast with Santa at Amazon Center on
Dec. 15 at 9:30 a.m. Call 541-682-5373 for more information. The Sheldon
Winter Break camp, Dec. 26 - Jan. 7, for youth ages 6 – 11, also has space. Call
541-682-5312 for more information or to register for one or all days.
Do something unusual with the whole family ages four and older at the Community Climb Time at the Arts and Technology
Academy on Dec. 17, or meet new friends at the First Friday Family Fun Night at Petersen Barn Center on Jan. 4. The
indoor climbs are from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. and cost $5. Call 541-682-5329 for more information. The Friday Fun night, from
5:30 – 7:00 p.m., is free and includes games, crafts and dinner! Call 541-682-5521 for details. Both events are drop-in;
registration is not required.
Adults age 18 and up will feel like kids again as they tour the town viewing the best holiday light displays on Dec. 19. The
trip costs $10. Registration has begun at Petersen Barn Center at 541-682-5521.
For more information, call Kathy Madison at 541-682-6342.
City Hall Council Meeting Rooms - Recording Electronics Repurposed
On Dec. 11, the Eugene Planning Commission held its first live cable-broadcast from the Sloat Room in the Atrium. Steve
Loges, Facilities staff, and Robert Lewis, Metro TV staff, oversaw the removal of cameras, audio equipment, and associated
electronics from the McNutt Room prior to the closure of City Hall in August, and repurposed it for the Sloat Room.
Funding for the project and ongoing cable-casting of public meetings is made available through a provision in the City’s
public rights-of-way use agreement with Comcast.
For more information, please contact Telecommunications Manager Pam Berrian at 541-682-5590 or
pam.c.berrian@ci.eugene.or.us.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
December 13, 2012