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EFFECTIVE, ACCOUNTABLE <br />MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT <br />A government that works openly, collaboratively, and fairly with the <br />community to achieve measurable and positive outcomes <br />Collaboration with Neighbors Seeks Solutions <br />Transportation planners are actively engaging neighborhoods in a street <br />planning process called context-sensitive solutions. In one example, <br />the Crest Drive Community Team (CDCT) developed athree-part <br />educational series on engineering principles for street design, held an <br />open house, and arranged one-on-one meetings between CDCT "Street <br />Captains" and local residents. The goal is to find design solutions for <br />Crest Drive, Friendly Street and Storey Boulevard that work well and fit <br />the context of the neighborhood. A similar collaborative approach was <br />used to develop a design for improvements to fiver Avenue, scheduled <br />for 2007. <br />Neighborhood Grants Resumed <br />As part of the Neighborhood Association Initiative, the City Council <br />reinstated funding for the Neighborhood Matching Grants program, <br />providing $50,000 per year for the next three years. The popular <br />community-building program supports projects such as playground <br />improvements, community gardens, and neighborhood events. <br />The council also mandated a tighter link between the grants and <br />neighborhood associations, so grant applications must now receive the <br />endorsement of the respective association to be considered. <br />First Police Auditor Hired - <br />After a Charter election in 2005 created the council-supervised position, <br />Cristina Beamud was hired as Eugene's first police auditor in October. <br />The new position is charged with implementing a comprehensive civilian <br />oversight process for handling police department complaints, including <br />a citizen review board to be appointed in early 2007. The City Council <br />and Police Commission are developing an ordinance that will establish <br />authority for the Auditor's Office and the Civilian Review Board. <br />City Council Meetings Go Live on the Web <br />Another convenient tool was added to make local government more <br />accessible to the public. Webcasts of all Eugene City Council meetings <br />are now available live on the City's website - www.eugene-orgov. The <br />new system also archives the webcasts so they are available for viewing <br />at any time after the meeting, An indexing feature enables users to view <br />a specific agenda item without searching an entire meeting. <br />EFFECTIVE, ACCOUNTA <br />MUNICIPAL GOVERNME T <br />A government that works openly, collaboratively, and fairly with the <br />community to achieve measurable and positive outcomes <br />New Signals Improve Accessibility <br />On Barrier Awareness Day in May, members of the Human Rights <br />Commission Accessibility Committee unveiled a new audible pedestrian <br />signal on Coburg Road near Oakway Center. These signals emit a <br />beeping tone that helps users locate the button to activate the walk <br />signal, and a recorded voice alerts the user to how many more seconds <br />the walk light will remain on. An audible signal on Hilyard Street offers <br />safer access to Amazon Pool and the Hilyard Community Center, and <br />two more signals were installed at EmX stop locations on Franklin. The <br />City has budgeted to add approximately 30 more signals in the coming <br />year. <br />~~ermit Center Expands Hours <br />In response to public requests, in October the City restored an <br />important customer service -morning hours at the Permit and <br />Information Center, with staff available to process building and land <br />use permit applications. The new public counter hours are <br />9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. <br />Andrea Ortiz <br />Ward 7 <br />community or a . apprecia a community mem ers continue a ication to t is a ort. <br />Also, recognizing that the problem of homelessness is not isolated to Eugene, we are working <br />with our governmental partners and community stakeholders, conducting outreach and holding <br />dialogues with those in the homeless community to learn how to better address this challenging <br />social issue. <br />This year, I worked on a number of issues affecting the quality of life in our city. With our <br />intergovernmental partners, we are looking at how we can continue to support our non- <br />profit agencies that have declining revenues yet provide critical services to those whose <br />needs are greatest. Together with the Communities of Color, human rights volunteers, <br />and staff, we are beginning to identify how we can work together for a more inclusive ~. <br />' f III ' t b d d d' h' ff <br />I know our new external police auditor will be a great asset to the community, and I look forward <br />to her work to implement the External Review Board and process. Sustainability is a core life <br />value for many Eugeneans; I am proud to be part of the council that will institute this plan. <br />It is a great honor to serve you as a Eugene City Councilor. I look forward to the next year with <br />great anticipation. <br />Page 16 City of Eugene • Highlights of 2006 ~ City of Eugene • Highlights of 2006 Page 17 <br />