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Youth Services Deemed "Community
<br />Investment"
<br />Recreation programs for '`~-~
<br />.,a~ .
<br />youth received high marks - -_ ~,~~
<br />~='
<br />in a comprehensive review _
<br />conducted by the citizen
<br />
<br />members of the Budget ,~ ~,
<br />=.~ ~ -;.
<br />Committee. The City -
<br />~~
<br />Councilrequestedthereview ~.
<br />when it decided to fund ~~
<br />-7,
<br />all youth services from the '
<br />.;
<br />City's General Fund rather
<br />than ask voters to renew a .~~:.' ~~ `' ,~~~ _~;
<br />'
<br />
<br />local option levy Citing the ®® ~®s
<br />®
<br />®, ~ ~r w
<br /> ~,_;.
<br />prevention and inclusive
<br />attributes of these programs, the committee
<br />concluded, "Youth Recreation Services is an
<br />investment in our community well being."
<br />Challenging the way we live ~nean,r .. .
<br />12ore than 500. trees are saved
<br />each year by the City's cutting-
<br />edgepaper policy mandating
<br />that all white copier and printer
<br />paper must contain 100 percent
<br />post-consumer-waste recycled
<br />content.
<br />Ensuring Public Access For All
<br />Library, Recreation and Cultural Services again held
<br />hundreds of programs free-of-charge. Attendance
<br />records were broken for the Summer Reading
<br />program, with 4,700 participants, and the Fun For
<br />All summer playground program that served 19,100
<br />children. Nearly $100,000 in recreation scholarships
<br />helped ensure access for qualifying residents. Most
<br />Celebrating Hult 25 performances were free, including
<br />several aimed at children and youth, as well as the
<br />climactic Resident Companies in Concert.
<br />Eugene's Public Art Collection Grows
<br /> The Japanese American
<br />:,
<br />~«~;~
<br />Memorial, installed in the
<br />~4`°'u;, w „ Hult Center Plaza, includes
<br />~~ the statue, "Forced Journey'
<br /> by sculptor David Clemons,
<br />I and basalt columns with
<br /> interpretive plaques by
<br />j Kenge Kobayashi. The
<br />.,..
<br />public art was donated by
<br /> the Japanese American
<br /> Memorial Committee and
<br />
<br />~ dedicated in February
<br />~~~~ ~
<br />-~-~ ~ a ,~ ~_ ~~ ~
<br />~~~~ on the official Day of
<br />Remembranceof theforced
<br />internment of Japanese Americans during WUUII.
<br />Another significant addition to the Ciry collection in
<br />2007 is a John Rose stained glass window, donated
<br />by the Eugene Public Library Foundation.
<br />•!Yl li Y
<br />- Life doesn't have completed episodes
<br />l ,., y
<br />,~ . _. in calendar years--nor does city
<br />':~ ~-~ ~; govemment. As I wrate this in
<br />December, a number of important
<br />issues are only partially resolved. But
<br />I see room for optimism-citizen activity is alive and,
<br />sometimes, successful
<br />Southeast Neighbors, and many others, have been trying
<br />for years to save the Amazon Headwaters lands currently
<br />owned by Green and the Beverays. Although the Council
<br />has again,delayed exercising eminent domain, it has
<br />expressed a commitment to acquire the properties. Crest
<br />Neighbors have succeeded in persuading the city to
<br />adopt context sensitive design for the Crest, Storey, and
<br />Friendly street project. Their persistence has resulted in a
<br />council decision for an 18 foot road, which is conducive to
<br />protecting the character of the neighborhood.
<br />The defeat of the Urban Renewal plan to increase the
<br />debt limit and extend the duration of the distract is a
<br />tremendous achievement for representative government
<br />and sensible use of public funds.
<br />Eugene City Council
<br />2007 -.2008 Goals
<br />Race
<br />Enhance understanding of race issues and improve community relationships.
<br />By acknowledging and illuminating instances of bias in the community and making a commitment to change, the City
<br />Council is in a unique position to set the tone for race relations in Eugene and the metropolitan area. To this end, the
<br />Mayor and council met with a broad group of representatives from the communities of color and later formed the
<br />Community Committee on Race (CCR) to help advise the City on next steps. Staff, with direct input from the CCR,
<br />revised the council's action plan which was adopted in May 2007. One of the foundational elements of the action
<br />plan is the development of a Diversity and Equity Strategic Plan. This plan, to be completed in 2008, will guide the
<br />organization's work to ensure a respectful workplace for all City employees and to ensure equitable service delivery to all
<br />members of the community.
<br />Homeless InitiatYVe
<br />COntZnZde t0 WOT~ GOllabOrcllZVet -7. ~ ~ ~~ yUn t '-d77,, r ~~ t,,l ~ ~a5ri
<br />harnelessness in 90yearr.
<br />- Blue I~z~bbon Committee
<br />- Youth
<br />- lY~omen a7td children
<br />Homelessness is a tragedy fox those who experience it and an increasingly
<br />expensive public safety and health issue nationwide. Nearly 2,300 homeless
<br />people were identified in Lane County during the 2007 annual one-night count.
<br />Ninety-five percent are local residents with roots in this community. Mayor
<br />Piercy and the City Council are leading an effort to tackle the problem locally.
<br />The `Blue Ribbon Committee on Homelessness" labored this year to identify
<br />a funding source to address the problem and will present recommendations
<br />to the City Council in early 2008. Meanwhile, the council approved interim
<br />funding for homeless prevention strategies, transportation needs, and services
<br />through the Eugene Service Station, First Place Family Center, and New Roads
<br />and Safe and Sound programs for at-risk youth and homeless youth. The City
<br />also partnered with Lane County to adopt a Ten Year Plan to end chronic homelessness. The first annual Project
<br />Homeless Connect, none-day event in February, provided a broad array of services to over 1,000 homeless guests. The
<br />project was jointly sponsored by the City of Eugene, Lane County, City of Springfield, United Way and the Lane County
<br />City Hall
<br />Adopt implementation plan for parallel process for City Hall and Patrol Facility construction.
<br />Replacing City Hall has been a significant council project since 1999 when a task force identified the lack of seismic
<br />resistance and sufficient space at City Hall as a high priority issue to resolve. The City contracted with Thomas Hacker
<br />Architects in 2005 to lead the first three of four planned phases identified in the approved action plan. An extensive
<br />public involvement process has helped the council make several important decisions, including to build a new city hall on
<br />the existing city hall site and to build a separate Police patrol facility outside downtown. Phase 3 of this project, which
<br />is to develop the general design and a detailed implementation plan, is underway and will be complete by)une 2008. The
<br />remainder of Phase 3 is intended to resolve major issues including level of staff consolidation, funding, and project
<br />timing.
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