schedule, budget and responsibilities among the partners for the current fiscal year and for next fiscal year(FY04-05). For <br /> more information, contact Water Resources Project Manager Therese Walch at 682-6839. <br /> Mayor's Partners for Delta Ponds Group Voices Strong Support for Project <br /> The Mayor's Partners for Delta Ponds, which includes representatives from community service organizations, property <br /> owners, regulatory agencies, neighborhood associations, and other interested parties, met Tuesday, September 30,with <br /> City of Eugene, Lane County and ACOE staff. The group toured the project site and heard updates on the project's <br /> progress from City and Corps staff. Mayor Torrey, Representative Bob Ackerman, Karmen Fore from Congressman Peter <br /> DeFazio's office, Commissioner Bobby Green, and representatives from Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department <br /> and Department of Environmental Quality were among those voicing strong support for the project. <br /> The Mayor's Partners for Delta Ponds group was developed through the efforts of Oregon Solutions to bring together <br /> regional partners who can help the Delta Ponds reach its potential as an area of community, regional and state <br /> significance for urban wildlife, passive recreation, and educational opportunities. Members of the partners group signed a <br /> declaration of cooperation at the meeting, demonstrating their support and commitment to the project. <br /> The bulk of the project is being funded by the ACOE to restore aquatic habitat and make recreational improvements in the <br /> Delta Ponds, a 144-acre ecosystem of ponds, channels and wetlands owned by the City of Eugene along a stretch of the <br /> Willamette River just downstream from Valley River Center. The project cooperation agreement, the legal agreement <br /> between the ACOE and City, was recently approved at ACOE headquarters in Washington, DC, and is getting a final <br /> review at the regional office. Once the agreement has been signed, City effort on the project will be part of the local share <br /> required for the project. <br /> City staff is working on wetland fill, land use and water permits for the project and is working with ACOE staff on the design <br /> of the recreation improvements. ACOE staff has completed its survey work on the site and has reviewed the hydrology <br /> and hydraulics study for the project. It is currently completing work on the 60 percent plans and specifications for the <br /> project and are preparing a contract for the removal of blackberry and other invasive plants on the project site. Invasive <br /> species removal work is expected to begin this fall and continue through next year. Major construction is scheduled to <br /> begin in summer 2004. For more information, contact Kevin Finney, City of Eugene Project Manager, at 682-6018. <br /> Community to Help Create New Playgrounds at Alton Baker, Skinner Butte Parks <br /> The community is invited to help park planners create two new <br /> playgrounds at Alton Baker and Skinner Butte parks by participating in a <br /> public workshop on Wednesday, October 8, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at TerPlot , <br /> Campbell Senior Center, 155 High Street in Eugene. The project, ` ` ipiewtosli\ <br /> referred to as RiverPlay, involves building two large, complementary, <br /> regional playgrounds in the two riverfront parks. Each playground will be <br /> larger than any existing playground in the Eugene area. The Alton Baker <br /> Park playground will feature adventure play equipment, such as a spray COy <br /> park, and the playground at Skinner Butte Park will feature Eugene's 6^ <br /> natural and cultural history through interactive elements. All community '4dventuce• <br /> members, especially young people and their families, are encouraged to attend. <br /> The project is made possible through major funding and volunteer support pledged by the Eugene Lions Club, Eugene <br /> Active 20/30 Club, and the Eugene Downtown Rotary Club, in combination with funding from the Parks and Open Space <br /> bond measure voters approved in 1998. For more information about the RiverPlay project, contact parks planner Robin <br /> Hostick at 682-4915 or robin.a.hostick@ci.eugene.or.us. <br /> Eugene Helps Put the Brakes on Fatalities <br /> The City of Eugene is partnering with Lane County and the Oregon Department of Transportation in a one-day public <br /> awareness campaign to"Put the Brakes on Fatalities."On Friday, October 10, the City will place its three speed radar <br /> trailers in conspicuous locations to remind motorists that speed is a major contributing factor in a third of all fatal crashes. <br /> ODOT will also place a radar trailer on a State highway, and the Lane County Sheriff's office will combine enforcement and <br /> media attention by towing a wrecked car display around town during the morning commute. <br /> October 10 was selected as the date for the national safety observance because the highest number of people—207 -- <br /> who died in traffic crashes in one day occurred on October 9, 1999. In 2002, 32 people died on roads in Lane County, <br /> L <br /> EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 <br /> October 6,2003 <br />