We will have a board meeting of the Association on Tuesday, March 3, at Market of Choice, 7 pm, on the balcony. Anyone who has ideas or opinions or is just curious is invited to attend.
Our next general gathering will be in March, a celebration of spring gardening with a collection of people ready to answer questions and give advice. Sunday March 15, 2-4 pm, at the farmhouse in the Morse Family Farm Park on Crest Drive.
From the editor
A number of interesting city announcements and cautions today.
You may notice that this email newsletter is coming a bit late. For travel and health reasons, these emails may be irregular in March and will probably settle into a schedule of every week and a half or so later on.
Projects on our streets this spring and summer.
1) The South Willamette Street Pilot Project will re-stripe Willamette from 24th to 29th to test a different arrangement of lanes on the street.
2) Full repaving for the following street segments:
39th Ave: from Willamette St to Braeburn Dr;
Brae Burn Dr: from 39th Ave to Willamette St;
40th Ave: from Donald St to Hilyard St;
Donald St: from 32nd Ave to 40th Ave.
Another street issue.
A neighbor writes: “I am a neighbor on Shalar Ct. Most days I walk my dog up Crest Dr. to the school. The blind curve right before Storey and Courtney Place is extremely dangerous. People speed around the curve and with the sidewalk so close to the street, pedestrians are put in peril if a car skids when it is wet or just goes off the road as it is going too fast. There is a ped crossing sign the but no one ever stops and it cannot be seen before entering the curve. Down below there are flashing lights when a ped is in the crosswalk, and I propose the same be done is this area, or some measure to prevent cars from speeding around this blind curve.”
Your editor admits he at times drives too fast around that curve. Do others have observations, either as drivers or walkers?
Dog News
1) Ridgeline Leash Law Enforcement
Incidents regarding dogs off leash in the Ridgeline Trail System have caused concern for people who use the park and property owners who live in the vicinity of the park. There has been an increase in complaints in regard to people who use the trail and property owners not feeling safe allowing their children to play in their backyard with dogs on the property.
Dogs are required to be on a leash not more than 8 feet in length and must be kept under control at all times. Dogs may only be allowed off-leash in officially designated and signed areas (i.e. dog parks). Eugene Animal Services is reminding people to be aware of park rules and to be mindful of other people who use the Ridgeline Trail and all Eugene parks.
Failure to abide by the rules can result in a $500 fine and/or up to 30 days in jail.
2) Call for volunteers
Can you spare a few hours to help a four-legged friend find a forever home? West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue is in need of volunteers. Hours are flexible, and opportunities are diverse, including fun events, fostering, animal care and cleaning, helping with adoptions, and more. You can visit WCDC’s adoptable pets in Eugene at PetSmart North, 2847 Chad Drive; PetSmart South, 2858 Willamette Street; PetCo, 1169 Valley River Drive; and Wags Dog Emporium, 485 Coburg Road. Learn more or apply to be a volunteer at: http://www.westcoastdogandcat.org (click on “Volunteers” in the top green bar of the page). With the support of community members like you, WCDC (an all-volunteer nonprofit) has found homes for over 1,700 animals in need since 2007. Brighten your life by helping brighten theirs!
City notices
1) Local Grants Available for Arts & Culture
Funded by the City of Eugene Cultural Services Division and administered by Lane Arts Council, Community Arts Grants are available to all creative and cultural arts media and disciplines for projects and programs that make an impact on Eugene residents. “We are grateful for the City of Eugene’s ongoing investment in the arts. These projects make Eugene a creative and dynamic place to live,” states Liora Sponko, Executive Director of Lane Arts Council.
Community Arts Grant Goals:
• Enrich the lives of Eugene residents and visitors
• Increase opportunities for residents to engage in the arts in its many forms
• Encourage emerging artists and art forms
• Preserve and commemorate local and multicultural traditions and histories
• Represent the community in all of its diversity
• Encourage partnerships among artists, performers, businesses, organizations, and agencies
• Build existing audiences and develop new ones for arts and culture
• Provide comprehensive arts learning experiences for Eugene’s children, youth, and adults
Community Arts Grant Application Deadline: May 8, 2015
Visit http://www.lanearts.org for guidelines and applications
Community Arts Grant Informational Session: Monday, March 9, 4:00-5:30pm
Community members can attend this free workshop to learn more about this grant program.
Maude Kerns Art Center1910 East 15th Ave., Eugene
RSVP online at http://www.lanearts.org/workshops/ or call Lane Arts Council at 541-485-2278
2) Proposed Vehicle Fee Information
In May, Lane County voters will decide whether Lane County should establish a county vehicle registration fee. If authorized by the voters, 40% of the funds will be shared with the incorporated cities throughout the county.
The proposed Lane County registration fee amount is $35 per year for most vehicles and $20 per year for motorcycles and mopeds. $35 per year is equivalent to $2.92 per month.
If adopted, the county fee would be collected by Oregon DMV at the same time motorists obtain or renew their state vehicle registration. Most new vehicles are registered for a four-year period; subsequent renewals typically occur every two years. Certain vehicles would be exempt from the county fee under state law. Disabled veteran, government, school, farm, antique, special interest and recreational vehicles and heavy vehicles paying the weight-mile tax would be exempt from the fee under state law.
If adopted the $35 annual fee would generate approximately $11 million countywide. Approximately $6.6 million would go to the county and $4.4 million to cities based on population. The eight largest cities and projected revenues are: Eugene (about $2.7 million); Springfield (about $1 million); Cottage Grove (about $165,000); Florence (about $145,000); Junction City (about $94,000); Creswell (about $85,000); Veneta (about $80,000) and Oakridge (about $55,000).
Oregon’s Constitution requires taxes and fees on motor vehicle fuel and use, including vehicle registration fees, to be used exclusively for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, repair, maintenance and operation or use of public highways, roads, streets and roadside rest areas in this state.
http://www.lanecounty.org/Departments/PW/TransPlanning/Pages/VRF.aspx
3) (Repeat notice) Reserve A Community Garden Plot
Enjoy the bounty of the earth! Since 1978, Eugene’s community gardens have been growing friendships, community involvement, and an appreciation of the land. By giving participants the opportunity to cultivate their own gardens, the Community Gardens Program helps people experience a special connection to the earth and their community.
With six community gardens to choose from, new gardeners should look at several garden sites before registering if requesting a specific location. Please note demand is high for garden plots, and turnover rates are very low. In order to provide a process that is as fair as possible the Community Gardens Program will use a lottery process to determine the order of plot assignment and registration for available plots. Registration for new gardeners closes at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2015.
SHiNA 