Do you want to help kids and your community? Consider working with the Eugene School District 4J!

4J has many part-time and full-time school support staff positions open, including classroom, school building and food service assistants, bus drivers and aides, nurses, and more. Some positions offer evening hours or part-time school day schedules, to fit your life and responsibilities.

The list of jobs at 4J on Oct. 12 included 41 positions (from Assistant Boys Basketball Coach – North Eugene High School through Warehouse Operations Assistant): https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/laneedu/

by Lindsey Selser, City of Eugene

The noon City Council Work Session Oct. 13 will focus on planning to address the full spectrum of housing needs over the next few years.

The council materials for the Housing Implementation Pipeline (HIP) planning work identify two potential future affordable housing Land Bank sites:

• 13^th and Chambers – Former Naval Reserve Site (Jefferson West Side)
• 33^rd and Hilyard Site (Southeast Neighbors)

These sites, on land owned by the City of Eugene, are listed as potential future Affordable Housing sites in our HIP Materials, which will be available from the City’s website in advance of the meeting.

We are bringing these to your attention to assure you that both of these sites will have future Council discussion and would require necessary approvals before either could move forward.

Although these sites will not be the specific focus of the upcoming council work session, we encourage you to watch at noon Oct. 13 for information about the Housing Implementation Pipeline – how the City is proposing to move our collective housing work forward over the next five years and beyond.

Middle Housing Information and Q&A Sessions

by Sophie McGinley, City of Eugene

The Middle Housing Public Hearings process is about to begin! Join us for an opportunity to hear about Middle Housing project and changes coming to the Land Use Code. Staff will review the requirements of House Bill 2001, the public engagement process, what’s included in the draft code, and how to get involved in the public hearings process. Afterwards, there will be time for questions. This session will be held twice over Zoom and both sessions will include the same presentation. The presentation and both Q&A opportunities will be recorded for those who can’t join us live. Meeting information is below.

Session 1: Tuesday October 19, 2021 7:00 – 8:30pm

Zoom link: https://eugene-or-gov.zoom.us/j/81848116549

Meeting ID: 818 4811 6549

Passcode: Triplex3

Phone-In: +1 971 247 1195 US (Portland)

Session 2: Thursday October 21, 2021 4:00 – 5:30pm

Zoom link: https://eugene-or-gov.zoom.us/j/85806239620

Meeting ID: 858 0623 9620

Passcode: Quadplex4

Phone-In: +1 971 247 1195 US (Portland)

For more information, visit the project webpage, Engage Eugene, Facebook, and Instagram. To receive formal mailed notice or informal email project updates, sign-up for the new Interested Parties List. The project team has set up an email address for public comments about the middle housing project. Community members can send their comments to middlehousingtestimony@eugene-or.gov and staff will compile the public testimony for sharing with the Planning Commission and City Council at their respective points in the process.

If you have any questions about the information sessions or the project, please reach out. We hope to see you there!

The city is entering an exciting phase of work in planning for middle housing options – the formal adoption process!

Project staff kicked off the project in the summer of 2020, and spent 10 months reaching out to an Equity RoundTable, Healthy Democracy panel, boards and commissions and local partners, and the general public. To learn more about our outreach efforts to date for this project, check out this infographic. Outreach will continue as we reach more people and work our way through the formal adoption process.

Earlier this summer, the project team drafted middle housing land use code language, using the results of the technical analysis and community engagement work as a foundation. Highlights of the Planning Commission’s guidance to staff in preparing the draft land use code include:

• Focus on equity and inclusion as code choices are made.
• Encourage and incentivize middle housing across the community.
• Near transit routes, encourage compact development by reducing parking requirements.
• Pursue incentives and programs beyond the code as part of our ongoing housing work.

The project team completed technical and legal review of the draft code this month. The draft land use code and plan amendments are published on our website and will be presented to the Planning Commission in work sessions on September 28 and October 12.

The Planning Commission’s public hearing will be held over zoom on October 26, and deliberation sessions are scheduled for November. Once the Commission completes its recommendations, the Council will hold its own work sessions and public hearing, anticipated for January 2022.

We want to hear from everyone! The project team is planning a variety of outreach strategies to assist people in adding their voices at this important stage of the process. Look to our website over the next month for a summary of the middle housing proposal, informational videos, links, FAQs, and ways to get involved. To receive formal mailed notice or informal email project updates, sign-up for the new Interested Parties List.

The project team has set up an email address for public comments about the middle housing project! Community members can send their comments to middlehousingtestimony@eugene-or.gov, and staff will compile the public testimony for sharing with the Planning Commission and City Council at their respective points in the process.

For more information, visit the project webpage, Engage Eugene, Facebook, and Instagram,. If you have any questions about the project, contact Public Engagement Lead Sophie McGinley.

Dear East 40th Neighbors,
Following is a round-up of recent activities on the water storage project, more information about controlled underground blasting, and a traffic safety message.

What’s been happening at the site?

Topsoil excavation is still underway and on schedule.

A third-party contractor is performing pre-blast home inspections for neighbors within 500 feet of areas to be blasted.

EWEB’s Safety Officer visited the site to take noise measurements. Noise was within acceptable OSHA limits on the property and workers on the site were using appropriate safety measures while the equipment was operating.

EWEB met with the Lane Regional Air Protection Authority (LRAPA), the City of Eugene and the Contractor to discuss dust mitigation. As a result, additional rock was installed over the haul roads on the site, one laborer from the construction company has been dedicated to spraying down the haul road and each dump truck load as it leaves the site when conditions are dry, and dump truck load size has been reduced.

EWEB, the contractor and City staff worked together to improve stormwater management. Check dams were installed to keep turbid water from the newly installed rock on the haul routes from running off the site into the gutter.

EWEB hosted a drop-in information session for neighbors at the project site. The contractor was available to answer questions about controlled drilling and blasting.

EWEB worked with the contractor to add more signs on E. 40th that alert drivers to trucks entering the roadway.

Drilling work to prepare the site for underground blasting will begin soon. Expect elevated noise levels during the drilling phase.

Drilling and underground blasting is expected to begin the second or third week of October.

Underground Controlled Blasting Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is underground blasting?

Underground controlled blasting is a common infrastructure construction method used to break rock for excavation. Holes are drilled into the rock for placement of the blasting agent. Packed dirt is added to holes and above the rock. A seismograph records blast vibrations to verify they are within specifications.

Is it safe?

Yes. Controlled blasting is highly regulated and conducted using safe methods and procedures by trained professionals. Blasts will be monitored by seismographs to maintain acceptable levels of ground motion in conjunction with vibration controls. Each blasting event will occur only after verification of all safety precautions and the site is deemed cleared and secure by the blaster-in-charge.

What can I expect to hear/see/feel?

Air horn safety signals will sound 5 minutes and 1 minute before the blast and at the conclusion of the blast. In addition to the air horn, those very near to the construction site may feel a vibration comparable to a door slam or a large truck driving down the street.

Dust suppression systems and heavy blasting mats will be in place to minimize vibration and debris.

Watch an example of controlled underground blasting.

When will blasting occur?

Blasting activity will likely begin the second or third week of October and continue for approximately six months. Current plans call for a blasting event once a day between 1-1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The blasting schedule is subject to change and to the extent weather or project schedule necessitates blasting outside of those times, blasting would occur during daylight hours Monday through Friday. No blasting will be performed weekends or federal holidays.

What should I do to prepare?

Residents living adjacent to the project site may wish to keep windows closed for the brief period of the blasting, between the one-minute signal and the following all-clear signal. If you are near the construction site and hear an air horn, please be aware blasting activity will occur shortly and follow instructions of site personnel or any additional signage that may be posted.

Use caution as truck traffic increases
Vehicles and cyclists using E. 40th Ave. and Hilyard St. should use caution as dump truck traffic increases as part of the construction project.

“Hilyard Street as it passes by Tugman Park can start to feel a bit crowded with vehicles parked on both sides of the street,” said EWEB Senior Engineer Laura Farthing. “We’re asking people to slow down, keep an eye out for kids and drive cautiously.”

Contact us with questions

If you have questions or input, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the project team at 541-685-7899 or water.storage@eweb.org. Emails sent to this address will reach:

Laura Farthing, Project Manager/Senior Civil Engineer
Jen Connors, Communications Supervisor
Jeannine Parisi, Customer Relationship Manager
Wally McCullough, Water Engineering Supervisor

by the EWEB East 40th Water Storage Project Team

On Monday, Sept. 20, the blasting contractor will be on-site for drop-in Q&A. Feel free to stop by between 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. to learn about the blasting process, safety plan, schedule, etc. Please remember to wear your mask.

What is controlled drilling and blasting? Controlled drilling and blasting is used to loosen and fragment in-place rock materials to a size that can be removed, transported, or crushed.

A few facts about controlled blasting: Contrary to common perception, blasting in generally less disruptive than mechanical excavation. We will be very proactive in informing and preparing neighbors with information about when, where and how blasting will take place. Blasting is highly regulated and only proven and safe methods will be used.

As of today, the contractor anticipates that drilling and blasting will begin during the first or second week of October.

Click here to see a short video example of controlled blasting.

What is happening at the site? Site preparation activities are still underway and on schedule. Crews are removing approximately 15 feet of top soil in preparation for the next phase of excavation. This work is expected to wrap up within the next couple of weeks.

On Friday, 9/17 crews began installing rock on the haul routes around the site which were constructed to mitigate noise associated with truck beeping, and will also help to limit mud once it starts raining. The contractor is using a roller to compact the rock. This phase of work will be completed early next week.

If you have questions or input, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the project team at 541-685-7899 or water.storage@eweb.org. Emails sent to this address will reach:

Laura Farthing, Project Manager/Senior Civil Engineer
Jen Connors, Communications Supervisor
Jeannine Parisi, Customer Relationship Manager
Wally McCullough, Water Engineering Supervisor

by Jen Connors, EWEB Communications Team

This past year reminded us all of the importance of preparing for emergencies. The Covid-19 pandemic alongside a devastating wildfire in our watershed tested our community’s resiliency and ability to manage multiple risks.

At EWEB, when we speak of “resiliency,” we don’t mean preventing damage. No infrastructure can be completely immune to disruption from storms, earthquakes, or other extreme events. Rather, resiliency measures enable electric and water systems to continue operating despite damage or return quickly to normal operations when outages do occur.

As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, EWEB is serious about making the necessary investments to ensure we can provide safe and reliable water and electricity.

Our Resiliency Priorities
* Improving extreme weather preparedness and response
* Replacing and reinforcing aging infrastructure
* Developing redundant power and water sources and alternative delivery infrastructure

Learn more about investments in drinking water, electric system resiliency, and wildfire safety.

Prepare to Protect
Each September, we set aside some time think about preparedness and what it means for EWEB, our customers and our community. The theme for this year’s National Preparedness Month is “Prepare to Protect,” which highlights how preparing for disaster is one way to protect what we love—our families, our homes, our neighbors, and our community.

This year, EWEB is featuring a series of public service announcements on our social media channels designed to share how we are preparing our water and electric supply and infrastructure to be more resilient to the challenges we face – and what community members can do to be ready. We have also created a new National Preparedness Month website that features tips and resources such as:

* How to find the Emergency Water Station closest to your home
* Wildfire safety and prevention
* Preparing for winter storms
* Tips for landlords
* How to join the Pledge to Prepare
* EWEB’s backup generator program

Be sure to check out EWEB’s National Preparedness Month website and follow us for preparedness tips and resources.

National Preparedness Month
https://www.facebook.com/EWEButility

Sign up for the Southeast Neighbors Preparedness Committee

Check out our Wildfire Evacuation Tabletop Exercise

Sept. 8, 2021

by the EWEB East 40th Water Storage Project Team

What’s happening at the site?

Site preparation activities are still underway and on schedule. Crews are removing approximately 15 feet of top soil in preparation for the next phase of excavation.

Updates on controlled blasting and inspections

Once the soil is removed, controlled drilling and blasting will be used to loosen and fragment in-place rock materials to a size that can be removed, transported, or crushed.

As of today, the contractor anticipates that drilling and blasting will begin during the first or second week of October.

During the next few weeks, the contractor will submit to EWEB a blasting safety plan, vibration monitoring plan, and work schedule. The plans and work schedule will be shared with neighbors and posted on our website.

Pre-blast inspections of structures and privately-owned residences will be offered to neighbors within 500 feet of the areas to be blasted. The purpose of the inspection is to document the condition of structures, foundations, and windows prior to exposure to potential vibration from blasting.

EWEB will work with the contractor to contact property owners to schedule pre-blast inspections. The inspections are conducted by a third-party contractor who specializes in this work. There is no charge to the property owner and inspections are optional, but highly encouraged.

As of today, pre-blast inspections are planned to start Sept. 20. Soon we will contact neighbors who are within the 500 foot boundary with detailed information and instructions for signing up for inspections.

Save the date: Sept. 20 neighbor meeting with contractor — SIGN-UP REQUIRED

On Sept. 20, we will host a series of small group in-person meetings for those interested in meeting the contractor. The blasting contractor will attend to share information and answer questions about the blasting process, safety plan, schedule, etc. We will also discuss construction details and mitigation for the excavation phase of the project.

For COVID-19 safety reasons, we will ask neighbors to sign-up in advance to attend small group sessions (4-6 people per session). Look for more information and a link to sign-up in our next email update. Social distancing and a face coverings will be required. And if you can’t make the meeting or choose not to attend, we will follow-up with an email summarizing the conversations.

Construction Reports & Follow-up Actions

Report: Dust blowing off trucks

Action:
We addressed this with the contractor. They are going to ensure loads are “contained” within the trucks so soil does not come out while driving. They are also going to try wetting the loads as they leave the site to minimize dust. Gravel was also added at the Patterson St. entrance as a dust control measure.

Report: Hose from new hydrant leaking

Action:
Contractor will replace that section of hose.
Reminders regarding general construction impacts

Workers, trucks, and equipment will generally begin arriving on-site around 7 a.m.

We will only do work during hours that the City of Eugene noise ordinance allows and we will communicate work hours as the work progresses.

Truck noise such as beeping is not easily mitigated as that is an OSHA-required safety feature and needs to be loud enough for someone to hear while wearing hearing protection. When possible, trucks will be routed around the site to avoid the need to back up.

While we can’t anticipate or mitigate all impacts, we will be responsive to your questions, suggestions, or concerns. Please reach out to us directly so that we can quickly address any issues that arise by email at water.storage@eweb.org or by phone at 541-685-7899.

If you have questions or input, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the project team at 541-685-7899 or water.storage@eweb.org. Emails sent to this address will reach:

Laura Farthing, Project Manager/Senior Civil Engineer
Jen Connors, Communications Supervisor
Jeannine Parisi, Customer Relationship Manager
Wally McCullough, Water Engineering Supervisor

Due to rising COVID-19 case numbers in Lane County, and recommendations from City of Eugene leadership, the City’s E-Bike Expo planned for August 27 is being postponed until we can more safely gather together.

Are you curious about electric vehicles (EVs)? Have questions, need answers about EVs? Interested in a new or used EV with a 200+ mile range?

rEV Up! workshops teach the basics of owning an electric vehicle, new or used.

In September and October, the Emerald Valley Electric Vehicle Association (EVEVA) will be hosting three more sessions of our workshop to introduce local residents to the benefits and technology of owning an EV. The free workshops, led by experienced local EV owners, will be delivered via live Zoom video conference.

• Tuesday, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, Sept. 29, noon
• Saturday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m.

To register, see the Facebook event or visit revuporegon.org.