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Forums Involve Residents in Addressing
<br />Concerns
<br />A series of public forums on the feasibility of
<br />establishing a "railroad quiet zone" to limit train
<br />horns in the downtown and Whiteaker areas was
<br />held in the fall of 2007 as a part of a City Council-
<br />requested study of the issue. Community forums
<br />were used to gain involvement in other public works
<br />issues including safety improvements on Bailey Hill
<br />Road, stormwater basin planning in the River Road-
<br />Santa Clara area, traffic calming on Agate Street and
<br />Fairmount Boulevard, and the potential conversion
<br />of Willamette Street to two-way traffic between 18th
<br />and 20th avenues.
<br />Police Reach Out to Youth and
<br />Latino Community
<br />In addition to the many positive
<br />programs provided for youth during
<br />non-school hours, such as the Youth
<br />Academy, Safety Town, and PAL
<br />(Police Activities League) Camp,
<br />the Eugene Police Department
<br />added another program .this year
<br />designed to reach out to the Spanish-
<br />speaking population. Mono a Mano
<br />en la Comunidad is targeted to
<br />Eugene's Latino community and each
<br />month features a different topic or
<br />presentation in Spanish at the Monroe
<br />Street Public Safety Station.
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<br />doneln 2008 I believe that if we will '
<br />work hard and focus on priorities
<br />we can earn a greater reservoir of trust with the people
<br />of Eugene. if the council will work together to find
<br />consensus, we can solve two. of these significant high
<br />priority problems.
<br />We must create a plan to make needed street
<br />repairs adequately fund ongoing road maintenance
<br />and refire the backlog of deferred road maintenance.
<br />We must create a plan to increase the number
<br />of police officers each year for the next several
<br />years (as two studies have now shown we should),
<br />solve our downtown public safety problem and
<br />decrease the amount of propehy crime:
<br />Consensus on how to do these things maybe
<br />challenging. Our council reflects our community and its
<br />wide diversity of opinions. But despite the differences,
<br />I am hopeful. I look forward to the work and believe we
<br />can succeed.
<br />Cody the Dalmatian Joins
<br />~, ~',~ Education Program
<br />An engaging new element was added
<br />to the fire prevention public education
<br />program this year: Cody (short for
<br />fire code inspector), athree-year-old
<br />~ trained Dalmatian. One of just a
<br />handful of trained fire prevention dogs
<br />in the U.S., Cody's repertoire includes
<br />a smoke detector demonstration,
<br />crawling low through smoke, stop-
<br />, ~ ~ !~h (1 .: ~'I,'Z,[~F(;l
<br />I, drop-and-roll, dialing 9-1-1, and going
<br />~~ to a designated meeting place. He has
<br />his own Website, - CodyFever.com -
<br />-- --- his own set of turnouts, and trading
<br />cards. Since coming to Eugene, Cody has been hard
<br />at work demonstrating safety skills in local schools
<br />and at community events.
<br />Safety Event Keeps Growing
<br />In June, the Water Rescue Team -
<br />hosted the seventh annual Family ~
<br />Fun and Safety Fest at Alton Baker
<br />Park. An estimated 10,000 visitors
<br />~.rt-
<br />attended. Life jackets and bicycle
<br />helmets were distributed free- of-
<br />charge to area youth. In past years, y
<br />the primary focus was water safety
<br />for young people, but Safety Fest ~
<br />has grown to include all family
<br />members and many different types ~,~
<br />of risk. Attendees enjoy a wide
<br />variety of safety demonstrations, °t~.: ~,,,. .:
<br />equipment displays, and fun _i .
<br />activities. Many public and private _ ar
<br />agencies participated including ~
<br />Eugene Police and Public Works, Springfield Fire &
<br />Life Safety, Willamalane Park & Recreation District,
<br />Bi-Mart, KVAL-TV, and State Farm Insurance.
<br />We are fortunate to Ilve in a city with a government
<br />structure that is uniquely accessible to its citizens.
<br />Organized grassroots efforts can, and do, influence the
<br />city's direction.
<br />How dear do you hold your rights, privileges, and
<br />responsibilities as acitizen of ademocracy? Many
<br />world citizens risk life and limb to exercise the rights we
<br />have and tlo not use. Everyone has something to offer.
<br />Someone once said that government is controlled by
<br />those who bather to show up. I encourage you to pick an
<br />issue, get informed, and start participating, Have a happy,
<br />healthy, and activist New Year.
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<br />Public Involved in Website
<br />Improvement
<br />In conjunction with the University
<br />of Oregon's Community Planning
<br />Workshop, the City completed a
<br />project engaging the community
<br />through a series of interviews,
<br />focus groups, surveys and
<br />workshops to improve the City's
<br />Website. Approximately 500
<br />people from a diverse group of
<br />current and potential Ciry Website
<br />users participated to help guide
<br />future updates and additions.
<br />Some of the recommendations
<br />from the public were implemented
<br />immediately, including improving
<br />search capabilities, and adding an alternative version
<br />of the City Code and aCity-wide calendar of meetings
<br />and events. Review of other recommendations is
<br />underway.
<br />Challenging the gay we live means .. .
<br />The City of Eugene has been
<br />using B20 biofuels in its fleet since
<br />August 2003 and began using E10
<br />in October 2006. Over the past
<br />five }'gars, the City's fleet has used
<br />more than 650,000 gallons of
<br />biofuels, reducing operational
<br />GHG emissions by 1,250 metric
<br />tons of CO2. This is a 9%
<br />reduction in the overall CO2
<br />emissions from the City's fleet
<br />during this time. In 2007 alone,
<br />the City has offset the emissions
<br />of 100 mid-sized vehicles.
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