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Central Business Functions <br />8. A document management program is being implemented in phases in departments around the <br />City. Once fully established, the program will lower costs and improve efficiencies by: reducing <br />the amount of paper used, reducing the number of printers, guaranteeing that only 100% recycled <br />paper is purchased City-wide, providing centralizing scanning services and introducing software <br />and online systems to store, index, retrieve and share documents internally and with the public. <br />9. FY06 was the fmal year of the Bethel Weed & Seed Initiative. Administered by the City of <br />Eugene, this federally funded grant invested over $1,000,000 throughout the .past. five years in the <br />Trainsong and Active Bethel Citizens neighborhoods. The initiative built partnerships between <br />residents, local businesses, schools, churches, law enforcement, government officials and social <br />service agencies to "cultivate healthy, safe, and vibrant neighborhoods by bringing people and <br />resources together to `weed' out illegal activity and harmful conditions, and `seed' positive. <br />opportunities for community members." During the last year, efforts were concentrated on <br />increasing the long term stability of three priority programs.: <br />a. We Are Bethel Celebration - a one-day event providing a venue for strengthening <br />community identity, fostering increased neighbor-to-neighbor communication, and <br />spotlighting community resources. <br />b. RecZone @ Club Bethel -after school and weekend recreation and development programs <br />for Bethel middle school youth. <br />c. Bethel Public Safety Station -the local hub for area police activity, promoting increased <br />interaction between police and residents. <br />10. The Neighborhood Initiative, one of the City Council's priority issues, is focused on creating <br />and sustaining Strong Neighborhoods, emphasizing building partnerships motivated to <br />. collaboratively problem-solve and develop solutions that benefit a broad representation of the <br />community. While the framework of the plan has been approved by Council, the scope and funding <br />of the adopted plan has not yet been determined. Staff is currently working with neighborhood <br />leaders/associations and other community stakeholders to enhance and prioritize the action plan. <br />Implementation of the priorities and the scope of those activities will require additional resources <br />and are dependent on future Council budget action. <br />- 11. The rising fuel prices have significantly impacted the City's fleet budget, causing an increase <br />in the fuel budget of approximately $500,000 for FY07. In an effort to help reduce the City's <br />demand of fuel, Fleet Services has increased the use of hybrid technology, which now make-up <br />35% of the City's sedans. The City Fleet has also made the successful switch to bio-diesel, which <br />reduces the fleet's environmental impacts, as well as the amount of straight diesel required. Fleet <br />Services has been successful in attaining two grants to help offset the cost increase of these <br />`i ~ _ alternative technologies and are continually looking for more external funding opportunities. <br />12. Regiona19-1-1 dispatch service needs are requiring more consistent communications and <br />interoperability within surrounding fire districts and cities. This system upgrade will be funded by <br />the City through Federal Homeland Security grants and interagency service agreements. FCC <br />mandated changes, such as narrow-banding technology, and the high cost of digital technology <br />systems makes it necessary to implement a sustainable lifecycle replacement strategy and funding <br />program for the City's radio communication infrastructure and mobile systems. An initial <br />replacement schedule for all radio communication equipment was completed in FY06 and the newly <br />formed Radio Technical Task Team will use this replacement schedule to develop a recommended <br />funding plan to begin replacing the City's vital infrastructure. <br />77 <br />._ <br />