October 2003 News Coverage - Laserfiche WebLink

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bicycle/pedestrian refuge island was recently installed on 24th Avenue just east of Amazon Parkway, and several dead and stressed trees in the area were removed. The new lighting can be adjusted to provide two different levels of lighting for softball games, one for recreational play and the other for tournaments. Additionally, the new lighting system should create less "spill-over" light into areas where lighting is not desired. The lights are mounted on steel poles with concrete bases and will require significantly less maintenance and adjustment than the old lights, which used less efficient light fixtures and were prone to movement due to wind and temperature fluctuations. The old light fixtures will be used by the Junction City School District, and the poles will be used as parking barriers for the new community gardens site at Alton Baker Park. The new sand volleyball courts are now more visible and accessible from the road and bicycle/pedestrian path. The net height can be easily adjusted, attracting a wider range of players and tournaments. The new restroom building will be a modern, fully accessible facility that will include storage rooms for athletic equipment and control panels for the irrigation and lighting systems. Funding for the park upgrades is coming primarily from general fund capital preservation and accessibility improvement funds, with a small amount from parks and open space bond measure proceeds. The bicycle/pedestrian refuge was funded with a grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation with a small local match. For more information about the improvements, contact Project Manager Ned Nabeta in Facility Management at 682-2708 or POS Division Manager Johnny Medlin at 682-4800. 2,215 Employees Take Business Commute Challenge The 4th Annual Eugene Business Commute Challenge is taking place this week. The Challenge Day, when the total number of participants was officially counted, was Wednesday, October 8. A total of 75 businesses and public agencies participated this year. Internal promotions and incentives to walk, bicycle, carpool, and ride the bus reached 7,885 employees, with 2,215 of them taking the challenge! That's 28% participation overall, an increase from last year despite yesterday's stormy weather. Encouraging employees to find another way to get to work leaves more parking spaces for customers, promotes employee fitness (for those who bicycle and walk), relieves traffic congestion in the streets (making it easier for customers and employees to get to local businesses) and assists Eugene businesses in becoming more sustainable. The City of Eugene, LTD Commuter Solutions and Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority sponsor the Eugene Business Commute Challenge. On Thursday, October 9, Mayor Torrey will officiate at the awards ceremony and present those businesses who achieved 100% participation, with the Commuter Excellence Award. Awards will be presented to those businesses that won in their business size category. (The results outlined below.) For more information, contact Diane Bishop, bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, at 682-5471. Business with 1-24 Employees Participants Total Number Percent of Employees Participation Barnes& Noble 4 20 20% Biggs Cardosa Associates 2 2 100% • Carol Trevelyan Strategy Group (CTSG) 11 17 65% Cascade Software Systems 3 8 38% Cascade Surgical Oncology 2 5 40% Dot Dotsons 17 22 77% E-Law 12 13 92% Elizabeth Lewis Publishing Co 2 2 100% Eugene Free Community Network 10 11 91% Eugene Weekly 9 18 50% JRH Transportation Engineering 8 8 100% Kalyn Wolf/Gibbons Assoc 3 3 100% ;Organic Consultants Inc. 1 4 25% EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 October 13,2003