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Jennifer Solomon, Ward 6 Forme, the most important accomplishment of the council this past year was the establishment of the Enterprise Zone. The state's Enterprise Zone program is a proven tool ~~' to support local business and I'm glad we can assist our business community in this way. ~~ The council also made progress toward addressing its priority issues. Working with staff, we developed short- and lonb term strategies to address the issues and in the coming year, I'm confident our efforts will result in making Eugene an even better place to live. It is a great privilege for me to represent my fellow citizens and neighbors in Ward 6. I appreciate their support and look forward to working another year on their behalf. j ~ EUGENE IN NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT j The March 2005 edition of the National Geogra~bir, Travede7~ highlights Eugene as one of "10 Great Towns That Will j Keep You Feeling Young" A follow-up article also appeared in USA Today. • The March 2005 edition of Satnretmagazinefxctures an article entitled "New Scene in Eugene," which describes Eugene as "home to the state's leading liberal arts university" and as having strong achors in music and the arts. Eugene is featured in an article in the "Journeys - 36 Hours" section of The New Pork Ti~~les on April I, 2005. Eugene Public Library is recognized in the November/December issue of AAA's Via Magazine, in an article entitled "Libraries that dazzle? Check these out." fr 4 ~ ~I ~~ 1 e7. ~~ I 1~~r?~"l, ,r {f ~~ ~{'P~ ~ri Y{~~~li~ f~~f~;ly l.~ ~ ~ I i .r ,:I ~"li~.'=11 t„l~~I ~r r11 ~(~ ~ '~- 1~,~~I~Ie~ r,~~, C{ rr~~~~r-i~ I ~i, rii ~~i~,, _ 1 ~ r~~ ~,a ~~~~s~I ,~~~a~ :~~~,~ ,~ City Budget Includes Service Enhancements While maintaining the fiscal discipline consistent with the City's longstanding financial management policies, the Budget Committee was able to include targeted service enhancements in the FY06 Budget. The community will benefit from the addition of a new engine crew at the Valley River Fire Station in 2006 d Page 18 an additional public safety resources in the downtown, its surrounding neighborhoods, and in parks. Planning staff will use new technology to improve communications with residents. Funding for producing neighborhood newsletters was restored and implementation of the rental housing code was added. City of Eugene ~ Highlights of 2005 Gas Tax Increase Funds Paving Projects In January 2005, the council approved an increase in the City's local motor vehicle fuel tax from 3 cents to 5 cents, The revenue generated from this tax has allowed the Ciry to begin addressing the $100 million accumulation of paving project needs in Eugene, helping to fund the repair of 17high-traffic streets in all parts of the city over the past three years. However, the backlog continues to grow and additional funding is needed to reverse this trend. In 2006, the Ciry Council will seek community input on strategies for achieving long-term financial stability for the operations, maintenance and preservation of the city's transportation system. Public Employee Retirement System Lawsuits Resolved As with most service organizations, the City's payroll- relatedcostscomprise60percentof operatingbudgets. The Ciry began working to control the cost of employee benefits with legislative reform efforts in the mid-90s. Later, the Ciry was an active participant in legal efforts to reduce the employer's cost of retirement benefits. Two major cases, Strunk and City of Eugene vs PEIIS were resolved in October 2004 and August 2005. The financial impact of these court rulings constitutes an extraordinary single action taken to achieve financial R stability, reducing the Cites expense for retirement benefits by nearly $5 million annually. Federal Funds Boost Local Transportation Projects In August, Congressman Peter DeFazio announced congressional approval of more than $47 million for important regional transportation projects, including the Eugene Train Depot, Delta Ponds, the federal courthouse area, andthe I-5 Coburg interchange. The Eugene Depot allocation provides for the next phase j 1 at the renovated multimodal station, including street and parking area improvements, pedestrian safety features, and amenities. The Delta Ponds multi-use path will provide a safe connection between this project and the surrounding neighborhoods and bikepaths. These public projects will have long-lasting benefits, enhancing the community's livability and supporting sustainable development. City of Eugene ~ Highlights of 2005 Page 19