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Andrea Ortiz, Ward 7
<br />My first year as a Eugene City Councilor has been incredible! It is much more
<br />rewarding than I thought or hoped it would be. The more I learn, the more I
<br />realize the City of Eugene is a stellar organization serving our great city. It is
<br />gratifying to me to be a part of that public service. I am especially proud to be
<br />a member of the CitS~ Council that has raised the concerns of homelessness and
<br />race relations as two of our top priorities, and I am pleased that we are actively
<br />pursuing dialogue with the community on these complex and challenging issues.
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<br />Natural Resource Protections
<br />Adopted
<br />After many years of work, wetlands and streams within
<br />the Eugene city limits now have tangible protections. In
<br />November, the City .Council adopted "Goal 5" water
<br />resource protection measures and approved an inventory
<br />of wetlands and stream corridors to be protected. This
<br />monumental task, required by the State as part of the
<br />update of the regional comprehensive plan, involved
<br />a study of thousands of properties, dozens of public
<br />workshops, contacts with hundreds of citizens, and
<br />coordination between local and state agencies. The next
<br />phase, a study of upland habitat in the south hills, will
<br />commence this winter.
<br />Sustainable Business Initiative
<br />Launched
<br />Mayor Piercy's Sustainable Business Initiative is working
<br />to establish Eugene as a nationally recognized leader in
<br />sustainable business practices and products. Sustainable
<br />businesses and programs are those that simultaneously
<br />advance a strong economy, a healthy environment, and
<br />social well-being. The Sustainable Business Initiative
<br />Task Force is hosting a series of roundtable discussions
<br />on how to expand business sectors including biofuels,
<br />alternative energy, green building, and natural foods. An
<br />online survey is underway to gather public opinion.
<br />Committee Advises City on Green
<br />Building
<br />The Green Building Advisory Committee is currently
<br />developing recommendations for incentives, education,
<br />and other ways the Ciry can promote sustainable
<br />development in the community, Green building, or
<br />environmentally sensitive development, is an approach
<br />to new construction or development that incorporates
<br />environmentally responsible principles in land planning,
<br />infrastructure development, and materials, Committee
<br />members, who represent a range of stakeholders such as
<br />contractors, labor, developers, architects, recyclers, and
<br />utilities, are also working with the Mayor's Sustainable
<br />Business Initiative to support green building businesses
<br />and practices.
<br />Urban Living Options Expand
<br />The long-nurtured goal of increasing downtown housing is coming to
<br />fruition. An additional 177 housing units will become available soon,
<br />.addressing the needs of various lifestyles and incomes. Construction of
<br />47 ownership units in The Tate condominiums is underway. The City
<br />Council approved funding and use of a land bank site at 165 West 8th
<br />Avenue for WestTown on 8th, which will provide 1021ow-income rental
<br />housing units with market rate, live-work units along 8th Avenue, and
<br />also approved a iVlulti-Unit Property Tax Exemption (MUPTE) for the
<br />27-unit Patterson House, on Patterson Street near Broadway.
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<br />,.New Runway Combines Safety,
<br />Economic Opportunity
<br />The Eugene Airport dedicated a new $16.5 million
<br />runway on October 3, opening the way for safer airport
<br />operations and enhanced economic opportunities for
<br />the region. The runway
<br />is part of a $29
<br />million package of
<br />safety-related airport
<br />improvements
<br />funded by the
<br />Federal Aviation
<br />Administration and
<br />passenger user fees.
<br />Community Partners Plan Mixed-Use,
<br />Center
<br />The area around the new EmX transit station at
<br />Franklin Boulevard and Walnut Street is at the center of
<br />many possible changes currently under consideration,
<br />including university expansion, new freeway access,
<br />and private development of vacant and underutilized
<br />land. Realizing the opportunity presented, the
<br />Fairmount Neighbors, the University of Oregon, State
<br />of Oregon, and nearby property owners are working
<br />with the City to design their own mixed-use center.
<br />This collaborative process will create a coordinated
<br />common vision and implementation strategy that
<br />promotes infill and re-use, protects the character
<br />of established neighborhoods, recognizes natural
<br />resources, and reduces reliance on the automobile.
<br />Environmental Awareness Guides
<br />Programs
<br />Maintaining a strong, healthy
<br />environment by providing
<br />sustainable services underlies
<br />much of the work done by the
<br />Public Works Department.
<br />Examples in 2005 include:
<br />• Ensuring the Cites stormwater program fully
<br />complies with the requirements of the EPA's newly
<br />issued National Pollution Discharge Elimination
<br />System permit;
<br />• Preparing new development standards to protect
<br />stormwater quality and stormwater-related natural
<br />resources;
<br />• Undertaking a joint campaign with the Oregon
<br />Department of Environmental Quality to reduce
<br />the local use of lawn chemicals; and
<br />• Expanding sustainable practices in the City's fleet
<br />operation, including increasing the use of fuel-
<br />efficienthybrid vehicles and joining the Lane Clean
<br />Diesel Project.
<br />Page 8 City of Eugene ~ Highlights of 2005 Ciry of Eugene ~ Highlights of 2005 Page 9
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