We look forward to seeing our neighbors. Please join us. 1. Update from Emerald Valley Electric Vehicle Association. Phil Barnhart will speak about how the city is preparing and what residents can do to be more resilient. Q & A to follow.
2. Nominations for SHiNA Board members will be accepted for our November election. If you would like to be a part of making your neighborhood safer, more informed, or would like to be a leader in creating neighborhood activities, SHiNA welcomes you and needs your input. NEW board members welcome!
Topic: Southwest Hills SHiNA General Meeting Time: Oct 9, 2022 03:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting
This was mailed to homes in the SHiNA area, but you can also click this link to view the PDF version in a new tab. Highlights include: SHiNA and FAN combo neighborhood picnic info (also see below), changes adopted in Eugene residential zoning codes, tree work at Wayne Morse Family Farm, wildfire risks, Waste to Taste info, Eugene Public Library news, and upcoming SHiNA dates.
The annual SHiNA summer picnic, this time in collaboration with our Friendly Area Neighbors, FAN, returns this summer to a new location, Washington Park and YOU are invited to join in the fun! This free, family-friendly event is an annual tradition with friends and neighbors gathering on the grassy expanse behind the Community Center at Washington Park.
Sunday, August 21, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Washington Park, 2025 Washington St.
* Bring your own picnic, blanket or chairs* Live Music • Games for the Young and Young at Heart Enjoy a Free Root Beer Float served by Friendly Street Church of God! Community Walkway of Community Organization outreach tables Prize Drawings for Gifts from Neighborhood Businesses The Blank Slate Banner – Give us your Feedback !
This year we will be co-hosting the picnic with our adjacent neighborhood association, Friendly Area Neighbors (FAN). Not only will you have the opportunity to meet and greet your SHiNA neighbors, now we also get the opportunity to meet and celebrate with FAN’s neighbors!
Tighten up your sandals for races for the young and young at heart! The games will happen following the first set of music, and there might even be prizes!! The park’s spray play will also be operating to keep everyone cooled off and entertained.
Come learn what is going on in our community. The community walkway offers opportunities to talk with representatives from community partners and nonprofits that benefit our neighborhood and community. You can learn what SHiNA and FAN neighborhood associations are up to and how you might become involved. Get your burning questions answered and share your comments about the work being done in the community.
Be sure to sign-in to receive a ticket for drawings for gifts from our wonderful neighborhood businesses. Our area businesses are a vital link in supporting a healthy and vibrant community, and we thank them for their donations to the picnic. (A complete list of donors will be shared at the picnic.)
Last but not least, there will be a beautiful paper banner to accept all your thoughts about your neighborhood association, what do we do well, what you would like to see happening, how can we improve and better engage. Your thoughts will help strengthen our neighborhood associations.
Help make this a waste-free event by bringing your own utensils & taking them home!
Waste to Taste Food Presentation Eugene Public Library New Services
It’s your neighbors at ZOOM! SHiNA Neighborhood General Meeting
Sunday, April 10, 6:30 p.m. via free ZOOM link below
Waste to Taste presentation: Jennifer Denson will speak about Waste to Taste and Burrito Brigade, groups that rescue food and distribute to those in need in our community. Eugene Public Library: Will O’Hearn will speak about services and programs available since the library’s reopening.
For the first time since the COVID-19 response started earlier this year, Lane County has increased the local alert level to high. This means there are increased cases and spread in our community, local healthcare facilities are stressed but still have some room, and most importantly, we must all take measures to limit contact and modify everyday activities to reduce exposure.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Lane County has grown at an alarming rate since early September. According to Lane County Public Health, we are on an upward trajectory that could have exponential growth over the coming weeks.
“This should serve as a reality check and wakeup call for people in Eugene and throughout Lane County,” Mayor Lucy Vinis said. “If we don’t recommit to drastic measures now – things like limiting our interactions with others, wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing, staying home when we’re sick and washing our hands – this virus could devastate our community. Our neighbors, friends and family could get sick, need to go to the hospital and in some cases – even die.”
According to Lane County Public Health, social gatherings have been the biggest driver of increased cases, especially among people ages 17-28. There have been seven recent outbreaks among this age group. Some of the people at those outbreaks contacted a large number of people after contracting the virus. It is important to understand that young people can and do get the virus, and can then spread it to even more vulnerable populations without knowing it.
“This is a community-driven virus and we all need to look at our own actions and behaviors, regardless of age,” Incident Commander of Eugene’s response Chris Heppel said. “We don’t live in vacuums, we’re all connected in some way. We need to evaluate when and how we’re having those social interactions. If they’re not necessary at this point, it’s probably best to hold off.”
Lane County Public Health is expecting this uptick to last for at least three to four weeks, longer if people don’t modify their behaviors. We urge you to please think about your actions over the coming weeks and make sure you’re practicing the four Ws:
Wear a face covering – indoors and outside when you can’t maintain 6 feet of space, it’s a statewide requirement
Watch your distance – stay 6-feet apart from those outside your household and limit your gathering size
Wash your hands – often with soap and water for 20 seconds throughout the day
Wait it out – stay home if you are sick
Asflu shotsbecome available this season, please utilize this public health tool. Preventing flu cases helps COVID-19 efforts in our community by decreasing the strain on our healthcare resources.
Answer the Call – Contact Tracing is Important to Stop the Spread
If you get a call or voicemail from a Public Health contact tracer, please answer or return the call. Contact tracing is critical to our community’s ability to continue limiting the spread of COVID-19. People who participate in contact tracing are actively helping to keep their community safe by helping public health officials track the virus. For more information from Lane County Public Health on contact tracing please visit their contact tracing webpage. The State of Oregon’s contact tracing web page also offers useful information and resources.
COVID-19 Resources
See a list of Community Resources for physical and mental health, food, housing, businesses, employees, schools and children, as well as information in Spanish.
Also learn how you can help. Our partners have a significant amount of information available online. Please visit these resources for the most up to date information:
The Eugene City Council received extensive input from the community on the FY21 budget, which was approved on June 22. In addition to their on-going commitment to 21st century policing reform, members of the City Council have also noted the need to take thoughtful and deliberate actions addressing discrimination and systemic bias. As part of that effort, the Council is scheduled to meet at 5:30 pm on July 20 to specifically begin working on issues related to public safety funding including the Community Safety Initiative (CSI). That meeting will be available live on Comcast channel 21 and online, both live and recorded, at www.eugene-or.gov/webcasts.
Public Comment for Administrative Rules begins July 6
passed by Eugene City Council in June 2019 to provide long-term funding for community safety services. The Community Safety Payroll Tax will generate funds to provide faster, more efficient safety responses, deter crime, connect people to services, engage and help at-risk youth, support more investigations and court services, and add jail beds to reduce capacity-based releases and hold those who commit crimes accountable.
Visit the Payroll Tax web page to review the proposed Administrative Rules, provide comment, or learn more about the Community Safety Initiative, including to check if your business is within the Eugene city limits.
Citizen Advisory Board
One of the accountability measures for the Community Safety Payroll Tax is a Citizen Advisory Board. The Citizen Advisory Board is responsible for preparing an annual report separate and distinct from the report prepared by the outside auditor, documenting the City’s use of the tax revenue and noting whether the tax revenue was spent in compliance with the purpose and use set forth in section 3.750 to 3.768 of the City Code of Ordinances.
Board members must be city residents and/or subject to the payroll tax. They are selected based on their interest in the Community Safety Initiative and/ or local government, and are appointed by the City Manager to represent a cross section of Eugene residents. The Citizen Advisory Board is comprised of community members, business owners, employers, employees and local community organization leaders. Their background and experience will provide important perspectives and oversight on the work of the Community Safety Initiative.
The Board held its first meeting on June 16. See the meeting packet and presentation slides on our website. We look forward to sharing more about the work of the Advisory Board in future emails.
SHiNA 