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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />February 26, 2010 <br /> <br />CONTACT: <br />Eric Jones, Public Affairs Manager, 541-682-5523 <br /> <br />From Public Information Section, 541-682-5523 or 541-954-2938 <br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br /> <br /> <br />Outside Reviewers Give High Marks to Street Repair Bond Measure Projects <br /> <br />With one year of projects in the rear view mirror and another busy season coming up, a <br />bond measure to fix city streets has received high marks from a citizen review panel and an <br />independent auditing firm. <br />Eugene voters in November 2008 approved a $35.9 million bond measure to repair 32 <br />streets and fix local bikes paths. To promote accountability, City Manager Jon Ruiz pledged to <br />the voters that he would create a citizen street repair review panel and have an outside auditor <br />issue reports on the use of the bond proceeds. Those first-year reports are now available. <br />The 12-member Street Repair Review Panel reviewed the four bond measure projects <br />completed in 2009 – Bailey Hill Road, Goodpasture Island Road, Railroad Boulevard, and <br />Amazon Path – and concluded that “the bond proceeds were used for the authorized purposes <br />and in compliance with the limitations and restrictions” outlined in the bond measure. The panel <br />also found that the City was able to complete its 2009 bond measure projects with significant <br />cost savings due to favorable bids from contractors and, as a result, encouraged the City and <br />the Public Works Department to accelerate the street repair schedule as much as is reasonable <br />to take advantage of anticipated continued favorable bidding conditions in the future. The panel <br />also agreed that giving the public accurate information as to why some streets get repaired <br />while roads in worse shape do not get repaired is an ongoing educational issue. <br />Meanwhile, the accounting firm of Isler CPA studied the 2009 bond expenditures and <br />found them in full compliance with the provisions of the bond measure. <br />The Public Works Department’s busy road repair schedule for 2010 includes seven bond <br />measure projects. “As we move ahead with the bond measure projects, it’s important that <br />community recognizes that the investment they approved is delivering the street repairs they <br />value,” said Public Works Director Kurt Corey. <br />For more information about the bond measure to fix streets or to read the reports of the <br />Street Repair Review Panel and the independent auditor, go to www.eugene-or.gov/gobonds. <br /># # # <br /> <br />Public Works Administration ? City of Eugene ? 101 E. Broadway, Suite 400, Eugene, OR 97401 <br />Phone 541-682-8421 ? Fax 541-682-6826 ? www.eugene-or.gov/pw <br />