Author: swhillsadmin

Next General Gathering

Picnic Time!

Next Sunday, August 9, from 2 to 6, we will celebrate at our annual summer picnic and potluck.

Come out to the Wayne Morse Family Farm Park, bring some food and beverages, enjoy free ice cream, of your choice, listen to good music from GRRRLZ ROCK! and bravura drumming from Eugene Taiko, receive free tickets for door prizes, pick up information on our tables, meet your neighbors — have a fine time! (Pets and alcohol are not allowed at the picnic.)

From the editor

I imagine that many of you, like me, are staying at home in cool air. So, here is some reading to while away your time while you watch the world swelter.

Here is our report on street and trail work in our vicinity this week:

W. 39th Avenue & Brae Burn Drive:
Work nears completion this week with general site cleanup. No delays or traffic changes expected.

E. 40th Avenue (Hilyard St. to Donald St.):
Work nears completion this week with general site cleanup. No delays or traffic changes expected.

Donald Street (E. 32nd Ave. to E. 40th Ave.):
Donald Street, between Willamette and E. 33rd Avenue, will be closed to all north bound traffic.
From E. 33rd Avenue to E. 40th Avenue, excavation continues for sidewalk ADA ramp replacements.
Pearl Street at Donald Street will be closed all week.
Detours are in place to the Tamerac Center.

Spencer Butte Summit Trail (at S. Willamette St.):
The project is now substantially complete and further regular closures are not anticipated.

Fillmore Street (W. 19th Ave. to W. 24th Ave.):
Contractor will begin constructing sidewalk ramps and repairing curb and gutter. Work may result in parking lane closures with trucks and flaggers in the roadway.

South Willamette Special Zone News:

On July 21 seventeen members from the affected neighborhood associations (Southwest Hills, Southeast, Friendly, Amazon) met to discuss the status and impact of the South Willamette special zone plan. The discussion was far-reaching and raised many questions and although it didn’t lead to any concrete action plan and it was a first step in having the affected areas talk with each other about common problems and next steps.

Earthquake News:

You may recall that last week I pointed to an article in the New Yorker which painted a scary picture of the results of a larger earthquake on the Cascadia fault off the coast of Oregon. This week I point you to another article by the same author in which she deals further with the threats and what one can do about them.

http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/how-to-stay-safe-when-the-big-one-comes

She begins the articlle: “For most of the past three years, I’ve worked as a book critic, which is not a job that affords me many opportunities to scare the living daylights out of my readers. (Authors, occasionally; readers, no.) But earlier this month, when a story I wrote about a dangerous fault line in the Pacific Northwest hit the newsstands, the overwhelming response was alarm.”

Near the end of the article, she concludes: “I live in New York most of the year, but I spend my summers in Oregon. Nothing in my personal or professional life obliges me to do so. Clearly, I am not oblivious to the risks. Given all that, and given the scenario I outlined in this article, why do I still choose to spend time here? Part of my answer is, I imagine, one I share with many people in the region: this place feels like home. I used to live here year-round, I still have family and friends in the area, and I dearly love it—so much so that there is an inverse correlation between the airplane descending into the Portland airport and my own spirit rising. …That’s one way of looking at life in the Pacific Northwest: it’s a wonderful activity, but to do it safely you need to understand its inherent risks and work to allay them. That’s the other reason I’m still here: I’ve done that work, and I’m comfortable with the level of risk I now live with.”

In the body of the article, she refines the estimates of danger, provides a “shake map” for a big quake [Eugene is in a moderately serious zone], discusses tsunami dangers [up to three miles inland in some places], and provides a list of sensible steps everyone can take.

One point she makes is that by blocking transportation a quake could shatter the region “into thousands of tiny areas, each isolated from one another and all extremely difficult to reach.” Mutual neighborhood support will be crucial, hence the need to stock up on some supplies and know your neighbors needs and resources.

Speaking of supplies: more Emergency Preparation News

Emergency Water Supply Storage from EWEB

We all know we should have stash of critical emergency supplies at the ready in case of a severe storm event or natural disaster. But many of us don’t quite get around to assembling our kits, which should include safe drinking water supplies.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends that each household store a three‐day supply of water (one gallon of water per person or pet, per day) for drinking and sanitation.

EWEB is again partnering with the Oregon Pacific Chapter of the American Red Cross and the city of Eugene to cultivate a culture of preparedness in our community. The ability for our community to recover quickly from emergencies and disasters begins with us.

Emergency Water Supply Storage Containers

Our local partnership is again offering three‐gallon water bottles at a discount price to make it easy for households to obtain emergency water storage containers. Each bottle is just $5 (retail price $17 to $21) and the cost will be applied to your EWEB utility bill. Each bottle will have useful water and electric outage preparation tips on the container, including instructions for keeping your water safe.

These BPA‐free, three‐gallon water storage containers have a reusable twist cap. Once your family has used your stored emergency water supply you can disinfect and refill your emergency water storage container or if needed, bring the container to fill at an emergency water distribution site.

EWEB customers can pre‐order an emergency water supply storage container in August 2015 for pick‐up in October 2015 at http://www.eweb.org/waterreliability. There’s a four‐container limit per household; available while supplies last.

Notes from the City:

(1) Vision Screening for Young Children at Library
Saturday, August 8, 2:30 – 4:30 PM
In August, the Eugene Public Library will host free “See to Read” vision screenings for children ages three to seven years old. The screenings are non-invasive and take only a few minutes. This service is provided through a partnership among the Oregon State Elks Association, Oregon State Lions Association, and Oregon public libraries.

The drop-in sessions at the Eugene Public Library will be held Saturday, Aug. 8. Come to the Bethel Branch between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., or go to the Downtown Library between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. All Oregon children age seven or younger are required to have their vision screened before starting school or preschool. The purpose is to check for a number of eye diseases that can be treated successfully if caught early.

If the free, initial screening raises concerns, a full eye examination will be recommended. The most commonly found diseases are refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism – and amblyopia, also known as “lazy eye.” Early detection provides the best opportunity for effective, inexpensive treatment, which translates to the best chance for successful learning as school begins.

For more information about See to Read vision screenings, visit http://www.seetoread.net or contact the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-8316 or http://www.eugene-or.gov/library.

(2) Gardening and Food News : 2015 Northwest Permaculture Convergence August 28, 29 & 30

The Convergence will be a unique opportunity to connect with others with a keen interest in urban/suburban resilience. August 28 to 30 at the River Road Recreation Center. The Green Neighborhood Summit is even more specific about creating resilient homes and neighborhoods with presentations, a Saturday site tour and caucus sessions. We are expecting participants from Portland, Olympia, Seattle, Bellingham, Ashland, Tacoma, Port Townsend, Eugene.

The Summit is intended to mark the beginning of a regional/bi state network to compare notes and learn from each other about greening our homes, neighborhoods and communities. The Summit will include presentations of particular interest to neighborhood leaders including Green Prearedness, Block Planning, great stories from other town about greening neighborhoods plus caucus sessions to meet our colleagues and compare notes.

The site tours on Friday will be extensive. Five tours will visit over 40 sites. Rain water catchment, solar redesign, edible landscaping, collaborations between neighbors, reclaiming automobile space and a lot more such as green business, Block Planning, community projects on public property, shared residential living and more.

The outdoor Expo will be free and open to the public with 15 presentations about sustainability and resilience skills, educational groups tabling, exhibits, Kid Zone and much more. The site tours and Summit are free and open to the public. Both the site tours and Expo are free and open to the public.

The Convergence web site is up dated with schedules for the overall event, the Summit, the site tours. We will have the presentation schedule on line by July 5, anticipating over 35 panels and presentations such as regional food security, cooperative economics, food forests, green preparedness, permaculture applied to suburban properties and much more.

The plenary talks will focus on creating more green and resilient neighborhoods with speakers from all over the Northwest. Bikes are highly recommended. Check registration for group discounts. Five or more people registering at the same time means a $20 savings per person.

Visit the website http://www.northwestpermaculture.org for a schedule and more information.

(3) Future Plans

Eugene Parks System Plan Update
PICTURE the possibilities; PLAN places and spaces; PLAY for years to come!
The City of Eugene is embarking on an 18-month process to update Eugene’s parks and recreation system plan. PARKS and RECreate will build on the system’s strong legacy and guide necessary adjustments to meet new challenges. And, we can’t do it without you!
This summer we are squarely in the “collect” phase of the project and we need to know – what do you want, need and desire for Eugene’s parks and recreation? There are a number of ways you can join the conversation and tell us what is important to YOU.
Take this 15-minute survey. It’s quick and easy. Your voice truly matters AND we will enter you into a prize drawing for amazing customized recreation experiences.
Register for our mailing list so we can keep you updated on what we are learning as we move forward.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and visit us at http://www.EUGparksandrec.org for more info.
And last, but certainly not least, find the little red bus popping up at a location near you this summer. Come talk to us, share your parks and recreation story in the Chatter Box, take your selfie in the Picture Your Parks photo booth, make music with our pedal powered bike, toss a beanbag and enjoy some free ice cream or juice. There are all kinds of ways for you to have fun and share what matters most to you and your family. Tour dates and locations can be found at http://www.EUGparksandrec.org

(4) Events at Alton Baker Park:

(A) Social Justice Summer Party
Sunday, Aug 2 – Alton Baker Park
Join McKenzie River Gathering for the Annual Social Justice Summer party on August 2 from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM at Alton Baker Park in Shelter Enjoy hearty and delicious treats, meet MRG’s grantees who are advancing social justice in the Willamette Valley, and connect with other justice seekers.

(B) Hiroshima & Nagasaki Commemoration
August 6 at 6:30 PM – Alton Baker Park
70 years ago this August, the U.S. dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Those two bombs killed over 200,000 people. Each year the community gathers to honor the victims and to take action to help ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again. A commemoration honoring the atomic bomb victims and a celebration of a diverse community coming together to say “Never Again”, will be held at Alton Baker Park’s small shelter, near the duck pond and park entrance. There will be drumming by Eugene Taiko, traditional Japanese Obon dancing, and music by the Yujin Gakuen Children’s Peace Choir. The event will close at dusk with the floating of candle lanterns on the duck pond while Koto master Mitsuki Dazai plays traditional Japanese music. For More information contact CALC at 541-485-1755 or calcpeace@efn.org

(C) Eugene Pride Day Festival
Saturday, August 8
Join us for music, art, learning and beautiful LGBTQ friends and allies in Alton Baker Park on Saturday, August 8 from noon until 6 PM. Enjoy a beverage from the beer garden and try some tasty food from local vendors. FREE admission with a $5 suggested donation – all proceeds go to cover event costs.

Next General Gathering

There will be no general meeting in July but keep in mind our Annual Summer Picnic on August 9, this year with drums and music.

From the editor

This weekend I’ll be on the coast with family, so this will be a early newsletter with fewer topics (unless there’s a quake, in which case it will have even fewer…)

Speaking of earthquakes:

Here’s an update on the discussion of The BIG one:

http://www.vox.com/2015/7/16/8980403/cascadia-earthquake-seattle-oregon – [a link to and a description of the now famous scary article in the New Yorker that declared “everything west of I-5 will be toast.”]

http://crosscut.com/2015/07/freaking-out-about-the-quake-hear-from-3-experts/ – [reactions to the article]

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2015/07/quake_tsunami_experts_advise_n.html – [practical advice about the situation]

Special Zoning Area News

If you saw Ed Russo’s fine article in the R-G last Sunday you may have noticed that yours truly was quoted at the end of the article. The quote was accurate as far as it went, but could give the misleading impression that I was speaking for the SHiNA association. In the email Ed quoted I said at the beginning that I was speaking as an interested individual and not as a board member. I also discussed a little more, though not enough, the problem of getting historical protection for “ordinary” neighborhoods whose distinction lies in their ongoing life and overall effect rather than a few architecturally distinctive buildings.

Here’s the full text of the emails involved:
(1) First was the Board’s response to his questions:

Over the past several years our Association has hosted several speakers and discussions about the special zone. The recent set of letters was occasioned by the appearance of placards announcing likely rezoning of certain lots, which made neighbors suddenly aware of the progress of the plan. They feel great concern that many of our residents and see many negative aspects in the plan

A group of concerned neighbors attended last week’s Board meeting and we all discussed the issue and what could be done at this late date. The Association has not taken any official stand on the issue, which, according to our charter, the Board cannot do on its own.

The Association sees its role as conveying emphatically the concerns and worries of the neighbors about the plans. Given the late stage of the process, this means sending written interventions from the neighbors to the planning commission and the Council. We have secured feedback from groups of neighbors who identified issues and indicated possible solutions to their concerns; these documents have already been sent directly to the Chair and commissioners of the Planning Commission. Before the Board meeting we had already requested a special meeting of the planning commissioners with South Eugene neighbors to gain additional insights on their concerns. We will also be requesting a special meeting with the three Council members who represent our area.

(2) Then I added, in a separate email:

Writing as an individual only, *not* speaking for the Association, but as one who follows the issue, I’m in favor of the overall plan but I do not think that it sufficiently recognizes and takes into account the differences of character and history of some smaller areas within the
larger plan, such as the area along Willamette South of 31st (the old Rosewood Addition) and the distinctive area of small houses along 29th in the vicinity of Portland Street.

(3) Then, in reply to a further question, I wrote a third email:

Those areas, especial Rosedale, are examples of early development in the South Hills. The city ought to make more effort to preserve its historical neighborhoods, and not just wealthy ones. Turning them into indifferent mixes takes away a source of variety and vitality. The special zone plan is too uniform, especially at the south end along 30th and along Willamette starting up the hill. Those border areas ought to have differentiated treatments that respect the historical character of the different tracts where the development moved south. Otherwise you get a HIDENSE/low transition that feels like a transplant was plopped down. The Washburn neighborhood in Springfield is an example of creative redevelopment rather than replacement.

Two of our neighbors have done extensive research on the Rosedale addition. Christine and Richard Sundt (Christine is a noted local metal and jewelry artist, currently exhibiting at White Lotus). Their emails are csundt@gmail.com and rsundt@gmail.com. They could be helpful. Retired geography professor Al Urquhart has studied the history of development in the south hills (urquhart@uoregon.edu).

(4) The Register-Guard kindly printed a correction about my role in their Wednesday edition.

Food News:

Here is a press release we received from food activists:

July 15th, 2015
Contact: Ann Kneeland, 541.514-9720
annbkneeland@yahoo.com

We’re One Step Closer to Protecting Our Local Food System for the People, by the People!

We must stand together to define our community values and to protect them by law; it is our duty to safeguard the economic well-being of our organic and conventional farmers who are at the heart of our local food system.
EUGENE, Oregon –

Support Local Food Rights (SLFR) celebrates the launch of a new campaign to protect Lane County’s vibrant and locally-grown food crops and seeds from GMO contamination. The Lane County Right to a Local Food System Charter Amendment recognizes the rights of the residents to make decisions regarding their local food system. The Local Food Campaign kicks-off with a picnic at Charnel Mulligan Park in Eugene on Monday, July 20th, from 6-8pm. The event will feature campaign updates, volunteer sign-ups, and training for people interested in gathering signatures.

Because local agriculture is integral to the well-being of Lane County, the urgency to prevent GMOs from entering the locally-grown food system requires immediate action. The most obvious problem is that once the local farms and lands are exposed, the contamination can never be reversed and will cause potentially devastating losses to local farms. This includes cross-contamination in nature where native plant species and weeds in the trenches will forever exhibit the effects of interference. Once propagated, there is no way to prevent birds, bees, or wind currents from carrying the GMO pollen and seeds to farm lands, gardens, and nurseries, which is why a ban on GMO crops is the only solution.

Lane County’s CSAs (community supported agriculture), farmers’ markets, restaurants marketing local food, local food pantries, farm-to-school programs, and the whole locally-grown food economy depend on a GMO-free county to prevent problems leading to negative health and economic outcomes. The solution to these potentially devastating problems is the Charter Amendment ban on GMO agriculture; it is essential to protecting Local Food Systems and to holding those responsible for contamination liable for economic damages.

If the Lane County community values its local food system, food security, and sustainability, then local law-making is necessary – especially when state laws fail to prevent big GMO agricultural corporations, like Monsanto and Syngenta, from ignoring the well-being of our local food systems in pursuit of shareholder profits. When Oregon’s state legislators and regulators, charged with protecting the people and the natural resources, fail to take the necessary steps to protect our organic and conventionally grown crops and seeds, and instead pass measures that ensure corporate profits, people must to stand together and insist on new laws. To learn more, bring your picnic baskets and blankets and join us for this special community event at Charnel Mulligan Park (Charnelton and 17th, Eugene).

SLFR is the sister organization of Community Rights Lane County (CRLC) and part of the broader ‘Our Community, Our Choices campaign’. To learn more about the Right to a Local Food System, visit: localfoodrights.com. To learn more about the growing community rights movement and ‘Our Community, Our Choices’ campaigns, visit: communityrightslanecounty.org

[Editor’s note: For a recent surprisingly passionate but apparently well-informed defense of GMO food, see, http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2015/07/are_gmos_safe_yes_the_case_against_them_is_full_of_fraud_lies_and_errors.html?wpsrc=sp_all_native_by-section — Whatever the result of the GMO dispute, the case for supporting our local agriculture and local food supplies is strongly based on many different arguments and facts.]

* * * * * *

Next General Gathering

There will be no general meeting in July but keep in mind our Annual Summer Picnic on August 9, this year with drums and music.

From the editor

Lots of news and announcements this week

Eldon Fox, Evan Rees, and Bob Larson have joined our Board, and Bob Milk has signed on as a consultant/liaison for issues affecting Treehouse HOA and Rest Haven. (Board members are appointed by the chair, with those appointments confirmed at the November general meeting.)

The City has introduced a new rule for public forums which increases the impact of Neighborhood Association board members at public hearings.

“Board & Commission Members Move to Front of the Queue
Effective immediately all members of formally recognized boards (including recognized neighborhood association board members) committees and commissions will be moved to the front of the queue when they appear at council meetings to speak at a public forum on behalf of the group they represent.

Members will need to introduce themselves to the staff member at sign-up as a representative of one of the City’s boards, committees, or commissions and they will be given their chance to speak first when the public forum begins.
Public forums are part of regular City Council meetings which are usually held the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 7:30 p.m. Sign-up forms are available at the information desk at the back of Harris Hall beginning at 7:00 p.m. The forms must be submitted no later than five minutes after the meeting has been called to order.”

So it will help your local group or HOA to have a member on the Association board, or to arrange to have a board member present your ideas. You can then present them again later in the hearing, for double effectiveness.

This email newsletter now goes out to 389 addresses, sign up today!

Street News

It’s time to begin our summer street construction updates for our area

W. 39th Avenue & Brae Burn Drive: Milling and paving are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. Expect one-way traffic on 39th Avenue and Brae Burn Drive, entering from 39th. Traffic will not be allowed to enter the neighborhood from 46thAvenue/Willamette Street. Watch for signs, cones, and flaggers.

E. 40th Avenue (Hilyard St. to Donald St.): Excavation continues for sidewalk ramp replacements. Watch for signs, cones, possible flaggers, and minor delays.

Donald Street (E. 32nd Ave. to E. 40th Ave.): Excavation continues for sidewalk ramp replacements. Watch for signs, cones, possible flaggers, and minor delays.

Spencer Butte Summit Trail (at S. Willamette St.): Construction on summit trail is expected to continue through the end of July. Work will require occasional partial or complete closures of the butte and adjacent section of Ridgeline Trail. Partial trail closures will continue Monday through Friday, 7:00am to 4:30pm. Next full closure is presently scheduled for Wednesday, July 22, approximately 6:00am to 10:00am, depending on weather and other conditions. For closure maps and updated project information, visit http://www.eugene-or.gov/spencerbutte.

News about the South Willamette Special Zone Plan

(1) Ed Russo from the Register-Guard is writing an article on the South Willamette Special Zone Plan. He spoke with David Kolb and Christine Sundt, among others, and his article should appear soon.

(2) We received this note from the city

South Eugene Special Area Zone
Hello Neighbors
Thank you for your continued interest in the South Willamette Special Area Zone planning process.

The South Willamette Concept Plan created by the community between 2011 and 2013 is now in the implementation phase – this includes a Special Area Zone and Design Code update for the South Willamette area. The goal of the plan is to support an attractive, healthy, walkable neighborhood with successful businesses and new opportunities for jobs and housing.

Additional information about the proposed Special Area Zone and Design Code are available at
https://www.eugene-or.gov/index.aspx?nid=2675

The Planning Commission is currently in deliberations considering a recommendation of the plan to the City Council. Deliberations were scheduled to be complete on Monday, July 6. However, the Commission needed additional time to craft its recommendation. An additional deliberation meeting has been scheduled: July 20, 2015 at 11:30 am
Sloat Room, Atrium Building, 99 W 10th Ave.
Eugene, OR 97401

Please note that the public record for these deliberations is currently closed; Commission may only hear public comments that are not related to the South Willamette Special Area Zone.

However, staff are continuing to gather public comments for the upcoming City Council process. The record will be open again as the City Council considers the Planning Commission’s recommendation this fall. The City Council will make the final decision on adopting code revisions. Please submit written comments to: Email: Jennifer.L.Knapp@ci.eugene.or.us. Or call for more information on becoming involved.

Thank you,
Jennifer Knapp, Associate AIA
Urban Design Planner
City of Eugene I Planning Division
99 W. 10th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
541.682.5445

(3) Southeast Neighbors had this to say in their newsletter
The South Willamette Concept Plan created by the community between 2011 and 2013 is now in the implementation phase – this includes a Special Area Zone and Design Code update for the South Willamette area. The goal of the plan is to support an attractive, healthy, walkable neighborhood with successful businesses and new opportunities for jobs and housing.

Eben Fodor’s opinion piece in the Register Guard warns that the plan has “morphed into a heavy-handed makeover of the entire neighborhood…that will forcibly re-zone 227 single-family homes, allow five- to eight-story buildings next to homes, block views of our Spencer Butte landmark, create gentrification, generate gridlock on the streets, and result in a parking crisis.”
Other concerns neighbors have raised relate to topics such as public process, transitions between the proposed district and the adjacent, established neighborhoods, and the recent expansion of Cascade Manor.

The Planning Commission will complete deliberations Monday, July 20th. They will provide City Council with an informational update shortly after their summer break, likely in September.

Other items received from the City

(1) Hearing on the Urban Growth Boundary

As you know, we have been discussing the Urban Growth Boundary recommendation with the community and decision makers since December 2014. In January, the Council took action to direct us to prepare an adoption package for jobs, parks, and schools in the Clear Lake and Santa Clara areas. In February and April, Council discussed the housing recommendation, including different options for incorporating new population forecasts in our future planning. We are pleased to be returning to Council on Monday with a refined recommendation that responds to the feedback we have heard. You can find the Council memo detailing the recommendation here: http://eugene-or.gov/index.aspx?nid=536 Please click on “Current Council Agenda – Monday (large PDF)”.

The meeting is at 5:30 pm in Harris Hall, is open to the public and webcast live here: http://eugene-or.gov//index.aspx?NID=1438.

Thank you for your continued interest and participation.
Sincerely,
Terri Harding, AICP, Principal Planner
And the Envision Eugene Team
City of Eugene Planning Division
(541) 682-5635
Terri.l.harding@ci.eugene.or.us
http://www.envisioneugene.org

(2) Eugene Trails Plan

Open House – Tuesday, July 28
Parks and Open Space Division (POS) has received quite a few comments and suggestions since the last meeting in February related to the Eugene Trails Plan. POS has since updated the maps and plans with some of the suggestions and requests incorporated and they’ve done our best to develop a balanced plan that provides both a vision for the future as well as a range of specific implementable projects and studies that will help us begin to realize the vision.

Considering current budgets and funding it is very unlikely POS will be able to implement and maintain all the potential projects outlined within these draft maps over the next decade or two but POS has carefully prioritized the projects into three implementation categories: short range (1-5 yrs out); medium range (6-10); and long range (11-20). The project priority list will be available on the webpage soon and will be available for review at the open house.

The final open house will be on Tuesday, July 28, from 6:00-8:00 PM, at the Parks and Open Space Facility Conference Room, at 1820 Roosevelt Boulevard, Eugene, OR 97402. This will be a drop-in meeting, where staff will be available to review maps, projects, and answer questions. Feel free to stop by anytime between 6 and 8pm.

For details and downloadable maps and documents, please visit http://www.eugene-or.gov/index.aspx?NID=2543

Emergency Preparedness Notes

(1) Emergency Preparation Made Easy:

Emergency Water Supply Storage from EWEB
We all know we should have stash of critical emergency supplies at the ready in case of a severe storm event or natural disaster. But many of us don’t quite get around to assembling our kits, which should include safe drinking water supplies.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends that each household store a three‐day supply of water (one gallon of water per person or pet, per day) for drinking and sanitation.

EWEB is again partnering with the Oregon Pacific Chapter of the American Red Cross and the city of Eugene to cultivate a culture of preparedness in our community. The ability for our community to recover quickly from emergencies and disasters begins with us.

Our local partnership is again offering three‐gallon water bottles at a discount price to make it easy for households to obtain emergency water storage containers. Each bottle is just $5 (retail price $17 to $21) and the cost will be applied to your EWEB utility bill. Each bottle will have useful water and electric outage preparation tips on the container, including instructions for keeping your water safe.

These BPA‐free, three‐gallon water storage containers have a reusable twist cap. Once your family has used your stored emergency water supply you can disinfect and refill your emergency water storage container or if needed, bring the container to fill at an emergency water distribution site.

EWEB customers can pre‐order an emergency water supply storage container in August 2015 for pick‐up in October 2015 at http://www.eweb.org/waterreliability. There’s a four‐container limit per household; available while supplies last.

(2) Map Your Neighborhood Earthquake Training

15 Southeast neighbors attended a workshop on June 27 to learn how to help prepare their immediate neighborhood in the event of an earthquake or other major disaster. During the hour and a half training, we identifed sources of information that will be helpful before, during, and after an emergency such as our neighborhood meeting place and care center and communication channels.
• If you would like to participate in our next training, please sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084fa5ab2ba13-mapyour

Looking for Volunteers

(1) Help Build a Sustainable Eugene!

Volunteer with the Eugene Sustainability Commission
The City of Eugene is seeking interested community members to serve on the Sustainability Commission. There is one vacancy for a term that begins July 1, 2015 and runs until June 30, 2017. The Sustainability Commission is a 13 member advisory group that provides input and advice to the City Manager and City Council on programs that will create or enhance sustainable practices within the community.

The Commission meets the third Wednesday of every month, from 5:30-8:30 PM. Volunteering with the Commission requires roughly 8-10 hours per month of your time, dedicated to meetings, project work, and attendance at community events. If you are interested, please apply online or contact Babe O’Sullivan for more information: (541) 682-5017, babe.osullivan@ci.eugene.or.us.

To learn more about the commission and the current work plan visit http://www.eugene-or.gov/sustainability . Applications are due by 5:00 pm Friday July 24, 2015.

(2) Downtown Sunday Streets! July 26!

On July 26th Downtown Eugene from Park Blocks, to Kesey, and all the way down Broadway to Monroe Park will be car-free and filled with fun. Enjoy a relaxing roll though a utopia of food, music, fitness classes and bike demos. New things at Sunday Streets this year: “Art on a Box”- enjoy 20 minute open mic sets from local artists, DUNK TANK! And an upcycle t-shirt decorating competitions- Are you Sunday Street’s Top Fashionista? There is something for everyone!

We need MORE VOLUNTEERS to join the crew and have a blast in the process. This free community event is joyfully supported by an amazing crew of volunteers, like you! It’s not too late to sign up, we need you now! Volunteer time slots average two hours between 9am and 5pm. The event is open from noon-4pm. We also need a group to go out Sunday July 19th to hang door flyers. There is a role for everyone.

Job roles include:
INTERSECTION SUPERHERO-Help with participation traffic flow, answer questions, redirect neighborhood traffic, and set up or take down barricades at your intersection. Some volunteers will be asked to count event participants at different intervals.
REHYDRATORS-Make Intersection Superheroes smile by rehydrating them with water on a hot summer day!
SURVEY TEAM- Approach participants and ask them to fill out a quick survey for the event. Do either in the Activity Center or walk the route.
INFORMATION SUPERSTAR-Answer people’s questions, hand out brochures and help set up or take down info booth
And PARK SETUP and CLEANUP CREW.

Go to
http://www.eugene-or.gov/index.aspx?NID=1668
to sign up today!
We will have two Volunteer Trainings:
• Tuesday July 21st 5:30- 6:30pm or
• Wednesday July 22nd Noon-1pm
Contact the Sunday Streets Coordinator Emily with questions or to signup- 541-501-0390 SundayStreets@ci.eugene.or.us

From the editor

The weather has cooled off a bit while the issues are heating up!

HOT ISSUES

As we mentioned in the last email, neighbors concerned about the South Willamette Street special zone have been organizing themselves. On Monday, before our Board meeting on Wednesday, SHiNA chair Juan Carlos Valle sent a letter requesting a special meeting between the members of the planning commission and residents of South Eugene. We received no response.

Also on Monday at the meeting of the planning commission, the many items that needed discussion about the special zone were not all covered. So that meeting has been continued and its second session of the meeting will be next Monday. There will be an opportunity for public comment but not on the special zone since the public record on that is already closed before the planning commission.

On Wednesday a group of neighbors came to the Board meeting and strongly expressed their views about the special zone as well as about the pending hearing on another issue, the request to redesignate the land at Rest Haven.

SHiNA promised to gather up statements about the special zone and forward them with emphasis to the planning commission and to the Council. The Board also urged the neighbors to arrange to present their concerns repeatedly at every public comment.

Once the planning commission issues its recommendations to the Council, the Council will start its own process with its own opportunities for written and oral public commen (see the note below from Jennifer Knapp).

Though we received no response to our request to the planning commission, we hope to arrange a meeting between the neighbors affected and the three city counselors (Taylor, Brown, Pryor) who represent the SHiNA area.

As I mentioned in the last email, it’s unfortunate that people were not sufficiently attentive or informed about many meetings that took place at earlier stages of this planning process, but now we need to do what we can to bring their opinions prominently before the commission and Council.

PICNIC

Whether the weather be hot or cold, we will have our annual picnic on August 9 at the farmhouse and shelter at the Wayne Morse Family Farm. The picnic will feature a potluck, free ice cream, free music from international groups including drummers from Eugene Taiko, an experience not to be missed.

Because the discussion of the picnic scheduled for last Wednesday was preempted by zoning issues, a Board meeting dedicated solely to the picnic has been arranged for this Saturday at 2 PM, at the farmhouse. Because of time constraints, no other agenda items will be addressed at this meeting.

——

FIGHT BACK THE INVADERS
Battle Plant Bullies in Tugman Park!
Saturday, July 18

Will you help to care for Tugman Creek? Volunteers are needed to weed the landscape beds and newly planted park trees as well as remove invasive vegetation from the waterway in Tugman Park. Seeking people who have a desire to battle bullies (of a plant nature) and passion for native plants, but all are welcome! Please dress for Oregon’s changing weather! Tools, gloves and a snack provided. Please bring a reusable cup. Meet at Tugman Park at 9am on Saturday, July 18. Contact carrie.l.karl@ci.eugene.or.us or 541.510.4850 to RSVP or for more information.

——

SOUTH WILLAMETTE ZONE

From the Planning Department, Jennifer Knapp writes:

“South Willamette Special Area Plan Update: Additional Deliberations Meeting Scheduled. The South Willamette Concept Plan created by the community between 2011 and 2013 is now in the implementation phase – this includes a Special Area Zone and Design Code update for the South Willamette area. The goal of the plan is to support an attractive, healthy, walkable neighborhood with successful businesses and new opportunities for jobs and housing.

The Planning Commission is currently in deliberations considering a recommendation of the plan to the City Council. Deliberations were scheduled to be complete on Monday, July 6.

However, the Commission needed additional time to craft its recommendation and another meeting has been scheduled.
July 13, 2015 at 11:30 am, Sloat Room, Atrium Building, 99 W 10th Ave.

An agenda for the meeting is available online. Webcasts of this meeting and past meetings are available online as well.
Please note that the public record for these deliberations is currently closed; Commission may only hear public comments that are not related to the South Willamette Special Area Zone.

However, staff are continuing to gather public comments for the upcoming City Council process. The record will be open again as the City Council considers the Planning Commission’s recommendation this fall. The City Council will make the final decision on adopting code revisions. Please submit written comments to: Jennifer.L.Knapp@ci.eugene.or.us.”

——

Downtown Sunday Streets! July 26!

On July 26th Downtown Eugene from Park Blocks, to Kesey, and all the way down Broadway to Monroe Park will be car-free and filled with fun. Enjoy a relaxing roll though a utopia of food, music, fitness classes and bike demos. New things at Sunday Streets this year: “Art on a Box”- enjoy 20 minute open mic sets from local artists, DUNK TANK! And an upcycle t-shirt decorating competitions- Are you Sunday Street’s Top Fashionista? There is something for everyone!

We need MORE VOLUNTEERS to join the crew and have a blast in the process. This free community event is joyfully supported by an amazing crew of volunteers, like you! It’s not too late to sign up, we need you now! Volunteer time slots average two hours between 9am and 5pm. The event is open from noon-4pm. We also need a group to go out Sunday July 19th to hang door flyers. There is a role for everyone. Job roles include:

INTERSECTION SUPERHERO-Help with participation traffic flow, answer questions, redirect neighborhood traffic, and set up or take down barricades at your intersection. Some volunteers will be asked to count event participants at different intervals.

REHYDRATORS-Make Intersection Superheroes smile by rehydrating them with water on a hot summer day!

SURVEY TEAM- Approach participants and ask them to fill out a quick survey for the event. Do either in the Activity Center or walk the route.

INFORMATION SUPERSTAR-Answer people’s questions, hand out brochures and help set up or take down info booth

And PARK SETUP and CLEANUP CREW.

Go to the Eugene Sunday Streets to sign up today!
We will have two Volunteer Trainings:
Tuesday July 21st 5:30- 6:30pm or
Wednesday July 22nd Noon-1pm
Contact the Sunday Streets Coordinator Emily with questions or to signup- 541-501-0390 SundayStreets@ci.eugene.or.us

——

2015 Northwest Permaculture Convergence August 28, 29 & 30

Plans for the 2015 Northwest Permaculture Convergence and its embedded Green Neighborhood Summit are moving forward. The Summit is an unprecedented opportunity for eco-minded neighborhood leaders from all over the Northwest to meet and greet. The plan is to include several caucus periods for participants to hear each others’ stories and learn about “green preparedness,” Block Planning and the idea of forming a Northwest network specific to greening our neighborhoods.
There is now a draft schedule for the Green Neighborhood Summit that will include a site tour of several beautiful front yard gardens and a home site full of “green preparedness” features. The tour will check out the Filbert Grove – a restoration project thanks to a citizens and City partnership and Rasor Park where citizen activation prevented much of the 6 acre site from being built and paved over.

Visit the website http://www.northwestpermaculture.org for a schedule and more information.

From the editor (this was sent out by email yesterday; my apologies for the delay posting it here)

The heat continues and we have fire dangers. Fireworks have been banned in South Eugene, and we are contemplating at the ruins of Civic Stadium. Signs have gone up about rezoning along South Willamette and nearby streets, and people are upset.

An apology

Amid all this I have to apologize. The Board had scheduled a meeting for July 2 at Market of Choice. It turned out that almost no board members would be able to come on that date, due to other commitments. So we rescheduled the meeting for July 8 at 6 PM also at Market of Choice. I notified people I knew were coming to the meeting about the change, but there were others who had been encouraged to attend and I did not know whether they were coming or not. It was my fault that I neglected to inform them of the change. They came to the meeting and the board was not there.

This would have been annoying but it became more serious because what they were anxious to talk about is happening this Monday morning, before the rescheduled Board meeting. The planning commission is meeting about the zone changes for the South Willamette area.

The next time for public comment will be before the City Council in the fall. People are understandably upset and feel that massive changes are being forced upon them quickly without sufficient notice.

A Partial Defense

An email we received complains about the speed and “abysmal lack of timely information” about this project. In response, while admitting my fault last week, I want to defend SHiNA, and point out the city has made many efforts to obtain public input while the plan was being developed. SHiNA has been notifying people since 2011 about meetings connected with this zoning. Here are five examples, among others, from past issues of our newsletter.

(1) From Oct 2011

Redesigning South Willamette

Monday October 3rd, 5:15 to 8:30 PM, Bascom Tykeson room, Eugene Public Library will be a design workshop, or “charrette” to work in groups to imagine the future of the area and record ideas for developing an urban design plan. You will be asking yourself questions such as: What areas need to stay the same?, Where might change happen?, What is really terrific about the area and where should we have more of it? Also, where and what kinds of new buildings would fit in, how tall should they be and where do we need more open space or pedestrian connections. We hope you can be part of the team that evening! The event will be held in the Bascom Tykeson Room at the Eugene Public Library at 10th and Olive Street.

There is a brief survey that is posted so you can share what is important to you in thinking about the area’s future. You will find links to the video, slide show and survey here: http://www.eugene-or.gov/oppsiting

(2) From May 2012

1) South Willamette Area Update
The South Willamette Draft Concept Area Plan is moving forward and unfolding with exciting ideas.

Two events are planned for discussing next steps for the overall draft concept area plan. These discussions focus on the range of housing and business types, building forms and enhancing the vitality and identity of the district. Transportation discussions will be coming up this summer, as you can read below.

Eugene Planning Commission

This Monday, May 7th, the Planning Commission will hear its first presentation and hold a discussion about the South Willamette Draft Concept Area Plan, as part of ongoing Envision Eugene discussions.
11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, McNutt Room, Eugene City Hall, 777 Pearl Street. Please note that the South Willamette topic is later on the agenda and could be extended or postponed to May 21st.

See the Planning Commission meeting materials here. You can follow the meeting progress on the webcast.

Public Workshop: Next Steps for South Willamette Area Planning
Wednesday, May 30th, Bascom Tykeson Room, Eugene Public Library.
6:00-8:00 PM

These will both be good ways to stay current with progress of the plan and you will be able to participate in discussions of next steps at the May 30th workshop. We hope to see you there!

(3) from June 2012

South Willamette Draft Concept Plan, June 2012

More and more people are joining the conversation to envision a long-term plan for shaping the future of the South Willamette district, between 24th and 32nd Avenues and Amazon Park and the base of College Hill.

A concept plan is an integrated vision for how an area might develop over time. South Willamette is an important district to plan because this area is beginning to grow and change, adding more kinds of homes and businesses. Similar to Envision Eugene, which has created a vision for our city’s growth over the next 20 years, community members are giving input to the South Willamette concept to help shape a more vibrant and walkable living and business district. You can see an enlarged version of the plan and hear a presentation on the City of Eugene’s web page at: http://www.eugene-or.gov/SWillamette.

Share your ideas! We are still looking for feedback and community input and your participation is encouraged. You may join the Interest List with the contact information below and attend an upcoming public workshop:

Public Workshop: South Willamette Area – Draft Concept Plan
– Review an updated draft concept plan, and
– Help define future building heights, setbacks, and transitions for residential and shopping areas.

June 27, 2012; 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Hilyard Center, 2580 Hilyard St.

On the South Willamette web site you will also find answers to some frequently asked questions. To learn how the district fits into the larger community vision, visit Envision Eugene.

For more information contact: Patricia Thomas, City of Eugene Urban Design Planner patricia.thomas@ci.eugene.or.us
City of Eugene Planning Division
99 West 10th Ave.; Eugene, OR 9740

(4) in the September 2012 printed newsletter, there was an article linking the zoning plans to the dispute over restriping the street lanes.

(5) From Fall 2013

Willamette Street Request
Beyond Travel Lanes: Long Term Vision and Streetside Character

We received this message from the team developing plans for the future development of the South Willamette area. This group is separate from the group working on the options for redoing the lanes on the street.

“The Street Plan and the Concept Plan for the South Willamette Street district are closely linked. One of the next steps in refining the district vision is to explore design options for the space between the curbs and the face of the buildings along Willamette Street, or the “streetside character.” Your input on these options will help refine the concept plan.

Please consider giving your input in this shared learning process by viewing an engaging presentation and filling out a questionnaire at the following link: http://www.eugene-or.gov/SWillamette
We will be collecting responses through October 30th and hope it will include your input!”

A Plea for Suggestions

So I think is fair to say that information has long been available.

The best summary of the current state of the plan and its disputed parts is found through the links on
http://www.eugene-or.gov/index.aspx?nid=2675

Our problem appears to be communication, finding ways to get neighbors to notice and take issues seriously early enough. If you have any ideas about how SHiNA can improve this process, let us know. (dkolb@bates.edu, vallecom@gmail.com)

* * * * * *

From your hot, sweaty editor

Last Sunday we had a well-attended meeting emphasizing the danger of wildfires in our neighborhood and explaining what we can do to protect our homes. Three members of the state Forestry Office team spoke and showed off one of their patrol and response trucks. We all enjoyed free ice cream, and we congratulate this month’s door prize winner, Robert Meyer.

We feel that what the fire experts said is important — we are going to send it out in a separate email later today, and post it on our sites at nextdoor.com and at swhillseugne.com (crestdriveca.com).

More speeders, but this time on bikes:

A neighbor writes: “Lorane Highway has increasing problems with downhill racing by bicyclists.  Lorane Highway is riddled with blind curves and driveways.  Many of us depend on listening for traffic when leaving our driveways, but we obviously cannot hear bicyclists.  Our household has had several near misses this year – one racer was going so fast he actually passed us on the right when we left our driveway.  If you ride a bike in this area or know of someone who does, please remind them that slowing down and riding defensively may well save their lives.” 

More mail box crime:

A neighbor writes: “the bank of mailboxes on Crest Drive at the intersection of Ful Vue (the Horizon Rd. mailboxes) was broken into either Friday or Saturday. The thieves used a crowbar to pry open the backs. Some of our opened mail was found by a Good Samaritan I assume and left on our porch. We talked to the USPS on Willamette and they oddly were unable to provide much info. The are not sure when it happened, whether anybody is doing anything about it, etc. That seems odd as I assume if the postal carrier was unable to deliver mail on Saturday due to the condition of the boxes he would have noticed! We had some deliveries due and the USPS tracking info stops on Saturday with a note the packages are “in transit” but no confirmation they were delivered, so I have no idea if they were stolen or returned to the facility and now are lost. The USPS said they have inspectors working on this, but encouraged us to report it online. ”

Speaking of fires…

Fireworks – Keep it Safe, Keep it Legal

Illegal Fireworks Amnesty Turn-in Day June 28

Fireworks went on sale Tuesday. This will be year two for enhanced prevention, education and enforcement regarding illegal use of fireworks in Eugene. This is in response to increasing complaints of illegal fireworks use and their impact on veterans, pets, and fire safety. Eugene Springfield Fire and Eugene Police and the Metro Explosive Disposal Unit will be taking steps to reduce the volume of unlawful displays, including through public service announcements, education and enforcement. The goal is to raise awareness and reduce illegal fireworks hazards.
 
Eugene Police will be staffing additional officers on Friday, July 3, though Saturday, July 4. They will respond proactively when they see or hear illegal fireworks.  To report illegal fireworks within the Eugene city limits, call 541.682.5111. Fire crews will patrol neighborhoods in their response areas on July 4, to note and report illegal fireworks activity. 
 
Illegal Fireworks Amnesty Turn-in Day will be on Sunday, June 28, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at 2nd and Chambers. This event is only open to private individuals, not commercial parties. If someone misses this event, there is a year-round process that is by appointment only:
• Make an appointment by calling 541.682.5111. 
• Do NOT take fireworks to a fire station or police department
Note, last year people asked questions about sparklers. The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s website information states that wood core sparklers are considered legal retail fireworks and as such, would be subject to the new code. The  10-inch wire core sparklers are considered an unclassified item and not a firework and can be sold and used throughout the year.  More info at Oregon State Fire Marshal’s website at http://www.oregon.gov/osp/sfm
 
What are Legal Fireworks? 

Legal fireworks in Oregon can be sold from June 23 through July 6 of each year. These include fountains, spinners and wheels available at retail fireworks outlets. Additionally, legal fireworks produce only smoke, sparks or fire but DO NOT explode, eject balls of fire, fly into the air more than 12 inches or travel more than six feet on the ground. When both legal and illegal fireworks are improperly handled, injuries and fire damage occur. Fireworks may only be used between June 23 and July 6 and on December 31 and January 1. The base fine for violations is $250.
 
Illegal fireworks include but are not limited to, fire crackers, bottle rockets and roman candles, fly into the air, explode and behave in an uncontrolled and unpredictable manner. Illegal fireworks are extremely dangerous and create extreme fire danger. Possession of illegal fireworks is a class B misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of $2,500 and six months in jail.
 
Cherry bombs, M-80’s and larger and any legal or illegal firework that has been modified are considered an EXPLOSIVE DEVICE and should not be handled. Call the Eugene Police Department immediately and do not transport.
 
Reporting Illegal Fireworks: use in progress: 541-682-5111; Safety info at: http://www.oregon.gov/osp/sfm
 

 
After all this about fire, what about water emergencies?:
 
Outlook: Eugene Water Supplies
Update: in Consideration of Dry Conditions

Water availability has been in the news a lot lately with California facing another year of drought conditions and Oregon experiencing record low snowpack levels.  What does all this mean for the McKenzie watershed and Eugene’s drinking water supply?
 
Recent modeling suggests the McKenzie River will be at 60 percent of normal flow. It is unlikely that Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) will be required by the State of Oregon to restrict water use.  However, depending on weather conditions later this summer, voluntary reductions or restrictions are not out of the question. EWEB staff will monitor several key criteria throughout the summer that could trigger the need for water restrictions. The criteria include daily water consumption, daytime temperatures and stream flows.
 
Whether or not mandatory restrictions are put in place, wise water use is especially important this year to keep as much water in the river as possible for fish and other users downstream. For this reason, EWEB is asking customers to be more vigilant about water consumption.  
 
To support water conservation, local water utilities have an established Green Grass Gauge (GGG) program that has become a popular and effective tool to manage outdoor irrigation (typically the largest demand for summertime water use).  Weekly watering recommendations are posted on Facebook and Twitter, from mid-June through late-September, to help avoid over watering.  The public may subscribe to a weekly watering recommendation e-mail update sent directly to a personal mailbox at eweb.org/ggg.  
 
For more water conservation tips, and other resources regarding water supplies, visit eweb.org/2015drinkingwater.
 
 
And speaking of emergencies in general:
   
Is Your Neighborhood Prepared? Event Saturday
What is your emergency response plan?
Are you and your neighbors prepared in the event of an emergency? The City of Eugene Emergency Management Program is hosting an event on June 27 to assist individuals and neighborhoods with the disaster planning process.  
 
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2015
Time: 10 AM to noon
Location: Tugman Park, 3666 Hilyard Avenue
 
Being prepared means that you can support yourself and your household for three days minimum in the absence of electricity, water service, supermarket access, and first responders. “You can be the hero” if you are prepared, and that starts with four important steps:
 
Be informed about emergencies that could happen in your community, and identify sources of information that will be helpful before, during, and after an emergency.
Make a plan for what to do in an emergency outlining how your family will meet, evacuate, and communicate. 
Build an emergency supply kit to support family and pets for a minimum of 3 days.
Get involved in community groups. Meet your neighbors, share your skills, and volunteer. 
 
Preparedness takes the whole community. This event focuses on turning awareness into action by encouraging all households and neighborhoods in Eugene to make an emergency plan. From 10–11, participants will learn how to effectively conduct a Map Your Neighborhood session. From 11-noon, we will walk through the process of creating a neighborhood disaster plan.

Then there are other folks’ emergencies:

FOOD for Lane County Summer Program
Kids eat free during the summer thanks to FOOD for Lane County’s Summer Food Program. Staff and volunteers serve meals at schools, parks and community centers located throughout Lane County during the summer months. Children and youth 18 years of age and younger are invited to eat at one of 60 sites. Most sites open in June and run through August. No registration is required. Children ages 1-2 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. We cannot provide food for parents or guardians, but we do invite you to bring your own food and eat with your kids.
 

FOOD for Lane County also needs volunteers to pack the lunches from June 22 – August 21, 2015 in the FFLC kitchen! Shifts available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Contact Sheyla to sign up! 541-343-2822.
 
See the Schedule>>

 
And, finally, a history note, with links to videos:
 
Eugene City Hall Update
What’s New?

The demolition phase of the City Hall project is now complete, and we are pleased to report that everything went very smoothly. We were able to meet and, in some cases exceed, our very ambitious green demolition goals:
• 95% of materials from the former building were reused or recycled. 
• Nearly 100% of the concrete from the building was crushed by machines on site and used for fill, avoiding transportation costs, dumping costs, and adding to the landfill. 
• Prior to crushing, steel and other metals were separated and recycled. 
• Due to the diligence of McKenzie Commrcial and their subcontractors, we had virtually no problems or complaints with noise or dust. In fact, the project team has actually received compliments on the deconstruction process! 
• Take a look at the site next time you are downtown and you will be amazed! Here are a couple of very brief videos to show you more about the deconstruction process:

 
A short time lapse video of the demolition:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBchbR9Cc8A&feature=youtu.be

A video by the demolition company:

From the editor

Here is a special notice about an event in Salem this weekend that you might want to consider. It would be too short notice to put it in our egular email.

“Celebrate and explore culture at Oregon’s largest multicultural event all year. 25,000 visitors, 125 performances, 70 cultures, 2 days, 1 world

Discover The Drum: Rhythm of the World connecting cultures with Maraval Road Steel Drummers, Am Hough Samba and Maracutopdx (Brazil) Okropong and Ekome (Ghana), Ebenezer Adewusi’s talking drums (Nigeria), Shabava Persian Drums, Portland & Monmouth Taiko groups (Japan), the main stage drum jams and steel drum jams with drummers from every continent.

Taste the culture of Filipino lumpia, French crepes, Nepali momos (potstickers), Dutch poffertjes (sweet cakes), Somali chicken in beri-beri sauce, lamb gyros with tzadziki and feta, Nigerian akara (fried bean cake), Vietnamese fried coconut rice and German sausage.

Buy your Taste the World experience now. Click here to purchase four $5 tickets which allow you to enjoy 4 different cultural tasters at four different food vendors on site. Available for just $16 in advance NOW
Join in the steel drum workshop, help make the Swedish mahstang (maypole), dance the Japanese Bon odori, try classical fencing, get yourself a Nigerian head wrap, help make Micronesian outrigger pandanus leaf sails.

Bring the kids and march in the Children’s parade 10am Saturday morning, explore the free cultural activity tents in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa and The Americas Villages, collect a Passport and gather stamps from around the world, discover the youth performances of Mexican folklorico, Korean Martial Arts, Ok2Botay steel drums and West Salem High School drum line, youth cultural heritage hip hop, and the Native American Powwow.

Dance celebrating, preserving and passing on cultural heritage with Ballet Folklorico Tlanese (Mexico) , Baratha Natyam (India), Spirit of Micronesia, Rainbow Dance Theater (Africa), Ceili of the Valley (Irish) O-bon odori (Japan), Canoe Family Dancers (Native American), the Black Hat dance (Bhutan), Okaidja (West Africa), Maypole dancing (England), and Bloco Algeria Samba.

Experience music exploring Iraqi and Kurdish heritage, Pan-Asian fusion, west African rhythms, Native American rock, Mexican bolero, Scottish bagpipes, Taiko Jazz fusion, Rwandan pop, Vietnamese folk, and mariachi.

Meet locals from Ireland, Vietnam, The Marshall Islands, Rwanda, Cambodia, Scotland, Ecuador, Somalia, Georgia, Japan, Aztec, Samoa, the Middle East, Tanzania, the Philippines, Nigeria, England, Guam, Syria, and many more.

Celebrate your heritage by showing us where you are from on our huge Heritage Wall.

Be there, June 27-28 in Salem.

No admission fee, we ask for a $5 individual and $15 family donation at the entry gate.”

=-=-=-

While I have your attention,

There is an accidental error in our newsletter; it turns out that our new URL only works if you leave off the “www.” So the proper URL is swhillseugene.com. (Remember also that our old URL still works too, crestdriveca.com.)

Stay tuned for our regular newsletter next weekend.
* * * * * *

Next Meeting

Board meeting, Thursday July 2
7 pm, MoC at 29th,
on the balcony. Come with ideas and suggestions and stay as long or short a time as you prefer.

There will be no general meeting in July but keep in mind our Annual Summer Picnic on August 9, this year with drums and music.

From the editor
Mainly we want to remind you about our gathering tomorrow.
Sunday, at 2 PM, at the Morse Family Farm Park farmhouse on Crest Drive, we will gathjer with the theme “Fire and Ice” – a speaker from the state forestry service will talk about wha to do here in our tree-filled hills to protect our homes and ourselves against wildfires, and we will dish out some free ice cream. The Forest Service the service is also bringing one of their firetrucks, which might interest our children.
Tomorrow is also Father’s Day, and the summer solstice, so there’s lots to celebrate.
Because of conflicts of scheduling we’re going to delay our discussion of private roads in the area for a few months.
Remember too that our picnic is coming on August 9, with the theme of international music and featuring Eugene Taiko, a potluck, friends and eighbors, and more free ice cream.
Coming in a few days to your mailbox: a printed newsletter welcoming new neighbors and explaining the changes in the Association

More Speeders: a neighbor writes “I empathize with the neighbor concerned about speeding on Lorane! I have the same problem on 28th between City View and Chambers. We have hills, curves, and a few places lacking sidewalks so speeding makes a problem. All mailboxes are on the south side of the street so everyone on the north side must cross the street to obtain their mail and newspapers. I have called the city several times because a 20 MPH sign has been removed and never replaced at the west end of 28th. But no response and no replacement. The sign on the east side is simply ignored. As I write, two more cars used 28th as a joy ride and must have passed my house going well over 30 MPH. The hills with curves make for blind spots and it’s only a matter of time before we have a tragedy. What CAN we do about the unruly and late-to-work or just chronically speeding?
Polk street had this problem and eventually the city inserted rumble/noise strips and obstacles to slow the traffic. It may be that we need this everywhere in the city! Oh for automatic traffic trackers that can simply produce fines for speeding cars as they move through the city….on the other hand, big brother…… :-(”

Notes from the city and organzations:

New item:

2015 Northwest Permaculture Convergence August 28, 29 & 30

Plans for the 2015 Northwest Permaculture Convergence and its embedded Green Neighborhood Summit are moving forward. We are impressed and grateful for the strong working relationship between RRCO and the Convergence. We are also working with ENI. It is not an accident that the Convergence is here in River Road and a major focus of the Convergence is greening our neighborhoods and the Convergence is hosting the first known “Green Neighborhood Summit.”

Speaking of the Summit; there is now a draft schedule for the Green Neighborhood Summit that will include a site tour of several beautiful front yard gardens and a home site full of “green preparedness” features. The tour will check out the Filbert Grove – a restoration project thanks to a citizens and City partnership and Rasor Park where citizen activation prevented much of the 6 acre site from being built and paved over.

The Summit is an unprecedented opportunity for eco-minded neighborhood leaders from all over the Northwest to meet and greet. The plan is to include several caucus periods for participants to hear each others’ stories and learn about “green preparedness,” Block Planning and the idea of forming a Northwest network specific to greening our neighborhoods.

Three benefactors are offering encouragement for the Summit. One to facilitate participation from out of town, one to underwrite much of the cost of educational posters about greening neighborhoods so the cost is very low to Summit participants. Another assist is a scholarship offer. Low income members of Eugene neighborhood associations can apply for a Summit Scholarship so they can attend. The first offer will be for six full day scholarships. There will be a simple application process with the potential for additional scholarships in the future.

Visit the website http://www.northwestpermaculture.org for a schedule and more information.

Important notices repeated from last week,, for new subscribers:

ACLU Civil Conversation:
Implementation of Ballot Measure 91: Legalization of Marijuana
Tuesday, June 23 from 5:30-7:00 PM

The Lane County Chapter of the ACLU will host a Civil Conversation on the implementation of Measure 91 on Tuesday, June 23 from 5:30-7:00 at the Eugene Public Library (100 W. 10th Ave.) in the Tykeson Room. The discussion will feature perspectives from Anthony Johnson, Executive Director, New Approach Oregon; Lieutenant Jennifer Bills, Eugene Police Department; and Steve Marks, Executive Director, Oregon Liquor Control Commission.

Measure 91, approved by Oregon voters on November 4, 2014, will end decades of marijuana prohibition in Oregon and legalize the cultivation, possession, and use of marijuana for adults 21 and over. Additionally, Measure 91 provides for the creation of state licensed retailers overseen by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, and levies a tax on sales. Beginning July 1, 2015, adults in Oregon will be permitted legally to possess and cultivate small quantities of marijuana for personal use. On January 4, 2016, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission will begin reviewing applications for licensed retail outlets.

As these dates approach, the OLCC, Oregon Legislature, and legalization advocates are in the process of creating and refining several important aspects of the Measure’s implementation. Some of these include: labeling standards, testing standards, inspection standards, background check requirements for retailers, home-grow rules and regulations, advertising restrictions, sales restrictions, and tax collection and distribution systems.

The Civil Conversation will address these and other important aspects of the implementation of Measure 91. Please join us to learn and share your opinions.

==

Our Community. Our Health. Our Vision.
A Simulcast County-Wide Meeting

We all want Lane County to be a healthy place to live and learn, work and play. Come share your ideas of what a healthy community would look and feel like. This visioning session is part of a community effort to create a community health improvement plan for Lane County. Join us in creating a better future.

Simulcast County-Wide Meeting
Thursday, June 25th
5:30- 8:00 pm
Locations:
Eugene/Springfield: River Bend Hospital
Cottage Grove: Cottage Grove Hospital
Florence: Peace Harbor Hospital
Light dinner provided – ASL and Spanish Interpreted

Registration Required: http://ow.ly/NsyRO Please register by June 19th. Please forward this invitation to anyone who may be interested. Interested in learning more about the Community Health Program? Click Here: http://ow.ly/NspYB
For additional questions on registration please call or email:

Heather Amrhein, Community Health Program Manager, United Way of Lane County, 541-741-6000 x122, hamrhein@UnitedWayLane.org

==

Going on Vacation?
Let EPD keep an eye on your home!

Seniors on Patrol, trained volunteers from the Eugene Police Department,
will perform a thorough inspection of your property while you are away on vacation. Vacation checks entail a visual check of your home and outbuildings and ensuring that vehicles, gates, lighting and the general security of the home is intact and in accordance with the request. When a vacation check reveals something suspicious, volunteers are trained to back out of the immediate area and request a patrol officer be dispatched to investigate further.

Vacation checks will be performed, as staffing allows, with the goal of checking the home 2 to 3 times each week that you are gone
e or 1 time a week for vacations longer than 30 days. Upon your return, you will receive a letter detailing the dates/times that your home was checked along with any notations made by the volunteers.

Program Guidelines:
For City of Eugene residents only.
For vacations of a minimum 5 days and a maximum of 90 days (or 3 months).
For residential properties only. Business locations, vacant properties, homes for sale and homes with a house sitter or other guest(s) staying in the home are not eligible for vacation checks.
Applications must be submitted at least one week before your departure. If you submit your application on-line, you will receive a confirmation that the application has been received and will be processed. Telephone requests for vacation checks cannot be accepted.
More Information & to Apply>>

==

Is Your Neighborhood Prepared?
What is your emergency response plan?
Are you and your neighbors prepared in the event of an emergency? The City of Eugene Emergency Management Program is hosting an event on June 27 to assist individuals and neighborhoods with the disaster planning process.

Date: Saturday, June 27, 2015
Time: 10 AM to noon
Location: Tugman Park, 3666 Hilyard Avenue

Being prepared means that you can support yourself and your household for three days minimum in the absence of electricity, water service, supermarket access, and first responders. “You can be the hero” if you are prepared, and that starts with four important steps:

Be informed about emergencies that could happen in your community, and identify sources of information that will be helpful before, during, and after an emergency.
Make a plan for what to do in an emergency outlining how your family will meet, evacuate, and communicate.
Build an emergency supply kit to support family and pets for a minimum of 3 days.
Get involved in community groups. Meet your neighbors, share your skills, and volunteer.

Preparedness takes the whole community. This event focuses on turning awareness into action by encouraging all households and neighborhoods in Eugene to make an emergency plan. From 10–11, participants will learn how to effectively conduct a Map Your Neighborhood session. From 11-noon, we will walk through the process of creating a neighborhood disaster plan.

June 13, 2015

Next Meeting

Board meeting, Thursday June 18, 7 pm, MoC at 29th

“Dangers: Fire and Ice” Gathering, June 21, 2 pm, Wayne Morse Family Farm

From the editor

Last weekend your editor was called out of town for a sudden family event,
so our newsletter skipped a week. But this week we have a long issue. There
are changes to announce and important announcements from the City and other
organizations.

Changes

After a puzzling delay, the city Council has approved our new charter, so
that the name of the organization changes from the Crest Drive Citizens
Association (CDCA) to the name YOU created and selected by majority vote.
The organization is now the Southwest Hills Neighborhood Association (SHiNA
— like Tarzan’s Sheena!).

The old name (Crest Drive Citizens Association) seemed to suggest that
SHiNA’s area was centered on the area around that street and the Wayne
Morse Family Farm. That was partly true, in that most of the controversial
development issues in the past few years concerned streets in that area
(Lorane Hwy, Crest Dr., Storey Blvd., Friendly St.), or the area around
Cascade Manor.

But the area has always extended west to Chambers and City View, and now
south to the city boundary. Also the major issues now involve the whole
area: people subdividing properties, or proposed cell towers, property
crime and traffic, and the changes happening just north of us in what the
city calls the South Willamette special development zone.

Our area is for the most part built out, though there is still some land to
be developed, notably around Rest Haven (see the notice below), and also in
other spots that need to be monitored carefully.

The name change suggests that we should change the name of our Web site
from [1]crestdriveca.com to something else. We can change the name on the
Web page itself, but the address URL is not easily altered. So what we’ve
done is set up a new domain. [2]swhillseugene.com, and arranged for it to
open up the old Web site. Both addresses still continue to work; you can
take your choice.

Traffic note

A neighbor writes: “Hi…would it be possible for you to put some kind of
request for drivers on the straightaway of Lorane Hwy. 4 curves up from
Friendly to please SLOW DOWN? We are having a real issue with drivers
going 45-50 mph before the curve and it’s just a fatality waiting to
happen, to animals or humans! It’s hard enough for people to walk or ride
bikes on Lorane, but with this, it’s downright dangerous Thanks.”

Any thoughts on what to do?

D A N G E R ! ! !

Our Father’s Day gathering

FIRE and ICE

wildFIRE and ICEcream

Learn what you can do to protect your house from wild fires!

A speaker from the state Forest Service will address the association at our
June gathering, next Sunday, June 21 at 2 pm at the farm house in Wayne
Morse Family Farm Park on Crest Drive.

The meeting will also feature free ice cream (Fire and Ice) and a free door
prize raffle.

It’s Father’s Day, and if you bring items to donate, we will take them to
Goodwill and famly shelters.

A neighbor on[3] nextdoor.com highlighted the imporatance of being
prepared:

“Last night’s house fire on Jefferson quickly spread to nearby trees and
threatened to spread to other homes. Whole neighborhoods can burn down when
a small fire has wind and dry conditions to help it spread. Over 3,000
homes were lost in 1991 in the Oakland Hills Fire (see
[4]www.facebook.com/FriendlyNeighborsForum for more photos). 25 people died
and over 150 were injured. This could *easily* happen in South Eugene,
with our forested hills and tree-lined streets to help spread a fire in dry
weathe.

( You can learn more about creating a defensible space against wildfires
around your home or business here:
http://www.readyforwildfire.org/defensib%5B5%5D…)”

More from the City on emergency plans:

Is Your Neighborhood Prepared?

What is your emergency response plan?

Are you and your neighbors prepared in the event of an emergency?

The City of Eugene Emergency Management Program is hosting an event on June
27 to assist individuals and neighborhoods with the disaster planning
process.

Date: Saturday, June 27, 2015

Time: 10 AM to noon

Location: Tugman Park, 3666 Hilyard Avenue

Being prepared means that you can support yourself and your household for
three days minimum in the absence of electricity, water service,
supermarket access, and first responders. “You can be the hero” if you are
prepared, and that starts with four important steps:

Be informed about emergencies that could happen in your community, and
identify sources of information that will be helpful before, during, and
after an emergency.

Make a plan for what to do in an emergency outlining how your family will
meet, evacuate, and communicate.

Build an emergency supply kit to support family and pets for a minimum of 3
days.

Get involved in community groups. Meet your neighbors, share your skills,
and volunteer.

Preparedness takes the whole community. This event focuses on turning
awareness into action by encouraging all households and neighborhoods in
Eugene to make an emergency plan.

From 10–11, participants will learn how to effectively conduct a Map Your
Neighborhood session. From 11-noon, we will walk through the process of
creating a neighborhood disaster plan.

Another kind of preparedness.

VACATION WATCH

(Your editor has used this free service; it is thorough and reassuring; the
volunteers really know their job well.)

Going on Vacation?

Let EPD keep an eye on your home!

Seniors on Patrol, trained volunteers from the Eugene Police
Department, will perform a thorough inspection of your property while you
are away on vacation. Vacation checks entail a visual check of your home
and outbuildings and ensuring that vehicles, gates, lighting and the
general security of the home is intact and in accordance with the request.
When a vacation check reveals something suspicious, volunteers are trained
to back out of the immediate area and request a patrol officer be
dispatched to investigate further.

Vacation checks will be performed, as staffing allows, with the oal of
checking the home 2 to 3 times each week that you are gone or 1 time a
week for vacations longer than 30 days. Upon your return, you will receive
a letter detailing the dates/times that your home was checked along with
any notations made by the volunteers.

For City of Eugene residents only. For vacations of a minimum 5 days and a
maximum of 90 days (or 3 months). For residential properties only. Business
locations, vacant properties, homes for sale and homes with a house sitter
or other guest(s) staying in the home are not eligible for vacation checks.

Applications must be submitted at least one week before your departure. If
you submit your application on-line, you will receive a confirmation that
the application has been received and will be processed. Telephone requests
for vacation checks cannot be accepted. Information and applications
at [6]https://www.eugene-or.gov/index.aspx?NID=1969

Rest Haven Development News

From the city plannning office: “i am writing you since you were on the
interested individuals emails list regarding the re-designation and zone
change for the Rest-Haven property….The property owner has filed their
own similar application to change the Metro Plan land use designation and
zoning of the property.

We are now reviewing the property owner’s application.

A public hearing on the request has been scheduled for July 14th, 2015 and
the hearing notice is at this link
http://pdd.eugene-or.gov/LandUse/DocumentDetails?file=MA-15-0001&id=1260989
. The full set of application materials are at this link
http://pdd.eugene-or.gov/LandUse/SearchApplicationDocuments?file=MA-15-0001

Transportation news

“Toward a More Walkable Eugene” June 17

featuring Jeff Speck – free public lecture

Join acclaimed urban designer, city planner, and author Jeff Speck for his
presentation, Toward a More Walkable Eugene, on June 17, at 6 p.m., in The
Studio at the Hult Center. The talk will be preceded by a reception at 5:30
p.m. Seating is limited, so please RSVP to dxoregon@gmail.com.

Speck is the author of “Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One
Step at a Time”, and one of the most engaging writers on community design
today. He will address how to transform downtown into a walkable
environment that is useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting. Learn about
best practices from around the nation, and ideas for Eugene.

Speck is a city planner and urban designer who advocates internationally
for more walkable cities. As director of design at the National Endowment
for the Arts, from 2003 through 2007, he presided over the Mayors’
Institute on City Design and created the Governors’ Institute on Community
Design. Prior to this, Speck spent 10 years as Director of Town Planning at
DPZ & Co., the principal firm behind the New Urbanism movement. Since 2007,
he has led Speck & Associates, a boutique planning firm that specializes in
making American downtowns thrive. For more about Speck, visit
http://www.Jeffspeck.com.

Hult Center Studio, 7th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

5:30 pm happy hour/ Hors d’oeuvres

6:00 pm presentation

7:00 pm Q&A

Please RSVP to dxoregon@gmail.com

http://www.jeffspeck.com.

High News

ACLU Civil Conversation:

Implementation of Ballot Measure 91: Legalization of Marijuana

Tuesday, June 23 from 5:30-7:00 PM

The Lane County Chapter of the ACLU will host a Civil Conversation on the
implementation of Measure 91 on Tuesday, June 23 from 5:30-7:00 at the
Eugene Public Library (100 W. 10th Ave.) in the Tykeson Room. The
discussion will feature perspectives from Anthony Johnson, Executive
Director, New Approach Oregon; Lieutenant Jennifer Bills, Eugene Police
Department; and Steve Marks, Executive Director, Oregon Liquor Control
Commission.

Measure 91, approved by Oregon voters on November 4, 2014, will end decades
of marijuana prohibition in Oregon and legalize the cultivation,
possession, and use of marijuana for adults 21 and over. Additionally,
Measure 91 provides for the creation of state licensed retailers overseen
by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, and levies a tax on sales.
Beginning July 1, 2015, adults in Oregon will be permitted legally to
possess and cultivate small quantities of marijuana for personal use. On
January 4, 2016, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission will begin reviewing
applications for licensed retail outlets.

As these dates approach, the OLCC, Oregon Legislature, and legalization
advocates are in the process of creating and refining several important
aspects of the Measure’s implementation. Some of these include: labeling
standards, testing standards, inspection standards, background check
requirements for retailers, home-grow rules and regulations, advertising
restrictions, sales restrictions, and tax collection and distribution
systems.

The Civil Conversation will address these and other important aspects of
the implementation of Measure 91. Please join us to learn and share your
opinions.

Health News

Our Community. Our Health. Our Vision.

A Simulcast County-Wide Meeting

We all want Lane County to be a healthy place to live and learn, work and
play. Come share your ideas of what a healthy community would look and feel
like. This visioning session is part of a community effort to create a
community health improvement plan for Lane County. Join us in creating a
better future.

Simulcast County-Wide Meeting

Thursday, June 25th

5:30- 8:00 pm

Locations:

• Eugene/Springfield: River Bend Hospital

• Cottage Grove: Cottage Grove Hospital

• Florence: Peace Harbor Hospital

Light dinner provided – ASL and Spanish Interpreted

Registration Required: http://ow.ly/NsyRO Please register by June 19th.
Please forward this invitation to anyone who may be interested. Interested
in learning more about the Community Health Program? Click Here:
http://ow.ly/NspYB

For additional questions on registration please call or email:

Heather Amrhein, Community Health Program Manager, United Way of Lane
County, 541-741-6000 x122, hamrhein@UnitedWayLane.org

Another opportunity: No travel needed: A chance to expand your family’s
horizons

Northwest Student Exchange

Host an Exchange Student – Families Needed

Parents seeking ways to supplement educational and personal growth
opportunities for their children may want to consider hosting an exchange
student! Children and adults alike can broaden their perspective on the
world and meet new people, discover new cultures and ideas.

NorthWest Student Exchange places international high school students with
families here in Eugene. We currently have 11 kids placed who participated
in the exchange this past school year and are scheduled to depart this
month. They all had an outstanding year building lifelong friendships and
expanding their families.

Families can be couples with young or teenage children, no children, empty
nesters, grandmas and/or grandpas, single parent families with or without
children in the home. NorthWest Student Exchange candidates are screened
for motivation, academic and language skills and maturity. We offer solid
support seven days a week for students and host families! It’s easy to get
more information about hosting. Just call Cynthia Burgeson, Regional
Manager, NorthWest Student Exchange with questions at (541) 207-3897 with
no obligation to host!

* * * * * *

References

1. http://crestdriveca.com/
2. http://Swhillseugene.com/
3. http://nextdoor.com/
4. http://www.facebook.com/FriendlyNeighborsForum
5. http://www.readyforwildfire.org/defensible_space/
6. https://www.eugene-or.gov/index.aspx?NID=1969

The City council has approved our new charter, boundaries, and name. You will see changes begin to percolate through our publications.

One change: this website will remain with the URL crestdriveca.com, though we will be switching the name inside the site. But we also now have a new website swhillseugene.com. For now it simply redirects you to this website. We will be using it in our information from now on.