‘Safe Streets for All’ interactive workshop part two 3/9

It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work!

AARP Oregon, Better Eugene Springfield Transportation (BEST) and Safe Routes to School welcome you to join our neighborhood safe streets workshop part 2 on March 9, 2021 from 10 -11:30 a.m.

With inspiration and knowledge from part 1 of our workshop, now we’ll pull together a walk audit information and share it with decision makers.

Using the walk audit tool, we will meet to share and compile any information participants have collected and discuss a plan of action.

1. Download the walk audit tool – www.aarp.org/walkaudit
2. Take a walk by yourself or with a team using the walk (safe street) audit tool.
3. Share what you have learned at the upcoming workshop

You can send the completed work sheets to csnyder@aarp.org before the event. Please put your neighborhood name in the subject line.

Understanding the Oregon recycling bill HB 2065

by Rob Fisette, SEN Board Member, for the Environmental Stewardship Committee

If you’re like me, you try to recycle and do your part, but frequently get frustrated that much of the packaging bearing the three chasing arrows recycling symbol is not actually accepted for recycling.

I am sometimes guilty of hopeful recycling—putting an item in the recycling that may not belong there and hoping for the best. This confusion results in many commingle loads which include recyclable materials contaminated by non-recyclable materials. The contamination causes entire loads (recyclables and non alike) to be landfilled.

To help solve this and other gaps in the state’s recycling system, the Oregon legislature is considering Oregon House Bill 2065.

OHB2065 is designed to restructure Oregon’s recycling system:

  • Creating statewide standards for what packaging will be recycled;
  • Requiring that manufacturers and producers who sell products in Oregon identify their packaging’s recyclability in accordance with those standards; and,
  • Introducing Extended Producer Responsibility requirements that make producers financially responsible for funding changes to Oregon’s recycling programs.

The Environmental Stewardship Committee is tracking developments of HB 2065 and will attempt to keep SEN residents informed.

If you are passionate about this issue (or other environmental issues related to livability), reach out and get in touch! Please contact Devon Mann at manndevonsen@gmail.com for more information about joining the SEN Environmental Stewardship Committee.

Visit these online sources for additional OHB2065 for more information:

https://www.opb.org/article/2020/10/20/oregon-wants-companies-to-help-pay-for-a-new-recycling-system/

https://www.oregon.gov/deq/recycling/Documents/recHB2065sectionSum.pdf

https://www.oregon.gov/deq/recycling/Documents/recModORrecfs.pdf

City considers renewing franchise agreement with Northwest Natural Gas

by Nan Ahnert, Environmental Stewardship Committee

The Northwest Natural Gas (NWNG) franchise agreement is up for renewal by the City of Eugene. There are many moving parts involving the city and NWNG. The City of Eugene and NWNG have a franchise agreement allowing NWNG access to a right of way for which a fee is charged to them by the city. That 20-year agreement expired roughly a year ago. Prior to expiration, the city and NWNG entered negotiations for a new agreement. The city asked for a carbon reduction agreement as part of the renewal. Currently, consensus has yet to be reached and the existing franchise agreement has been extended three times; the most recent extension expires in May, 2021. The City Council recently met to discuss the agreement and, since no compromise exists, are considering whether to let the previous franchise agreement extension lapse.

Detailed information is available in the Amended Agenda for the Eugene City Council meeting on February 8, 2021 and the City of Eugene’s Climate Action Plan 2 (CAP2) as it relates to natural gas.

Police seek help in tire slashing spree

Call 541.682.5111 With Surveillance Footage and Tips

Since February 21, local residents in the 4600 Block of Hillside Drive, W. Amazon and University areas have reported 11 tire slashing incidents, with six additional residents still awaiting contact, for a total of 17 reports. That is a lot of people out the cost of new tires.

The incidents range from the 4600 block of Hillside Drive, through W. Amazon, and into University area. Investigators believe they likely occurred between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. Several victims reported hearing loud music between those hours. One witness heard the music and saw a beige sedan stop on the street before a person (unknown gender) described as having a medium build and long hair hopped out of the vehicle. The subject appeared to tamper with a parked vehicle before driving off.

The map shows the locations EPD has been contacted about. If anyone has surveillance images, video or tips in this case they are asked to call 541.682.5111.

EPD is looking for help after tire slashings at these locations.

Creating a fire-safer urban landscape

Environmental Stewardship Committee News, February 2021 by Devon Mann, SEN Board Vice Chair 

An unfortunate combination of land management practices and climate change have brought the risk of wildfire to our doorsteps. Much of the hills of the Southeast Eugene neighborhood are a wooded mix of Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, and Oregon White Oak. As a resident, I have concerns about how to best create and maintain a fire-safer habitat on and around my property. 

I recently enlisted the help of Ian Appow of Eco System Solutions to assess the defensible space of my home. The defensible space is the buffer between your home and the surrounding vegetation (trees, shrubs, grasses). For a nominal fee, Ian provides a defensible space evaluation of any property. 

Some of the important elements of my evaluation included:

  • Keep roofs clear of all debris (leaves, fallen twigs, branches, etc.). Many fires start from blowing embers igniting flammable materials on the roof of a home.
  • Removing trees from around your home does not necessarily make it fire safer. A canopy of healthy, well maintained trees keeps the ground damp and temperatures cooler helping to slow or stop the spread of fire. Do prune off branches lower than about 10 feet from the ground to keep fire from igniting the canopy.
  • Invasive weeds such as blackberry, gorse, and scotch broom need to be completely removed from the landscape or cut back to the ground regularly as these types of dense plant materials are excellent fire fuel sources.

If you are interested in a Defensible Space Evaluation of your property, please contact Ian Appow, Community Development Director at Eco System Solutions, 541.600.4416 or ian@eco-systemsolutions.com.

Metro offers sessions on regional transportation plan

The Central Lane Metropolitan Planning Organization (CLMPO) is conducting an online open house to support the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP).

The RTP serves as a blueprint for Central Lane County’s long-term transportation projects and is updated every four years. It guides how we spend federal money on transportation projects in Eugene, Springfield, and Coburg and outlines how to proceed with ongoing projects and programs. These programs include expanding different types of travel options, as well as environmental, job growth, and equity initiatives. 

With our region expected to grow by over 50,000 people in the next 25 years, it’s important that we create a plan that considers the community’s current and future transportation needs. Your input can help us better understand these needs so that we can create a transportation system that works for everyone.  

Specifically, you can help us identify areas in Eugene, Springfield, and Coburg where getting around is challenging; things you like about the current transportation system; what types of transportation — roads, public transit, bike and walking trails — you’d like to see more (or less); and any new types of transportation you’d like to see. 

Learn more about the project and provide feedback about transportation in Central Lane County. Participate in the online open house now through February 28, 2021 – ¡Comparta su opinión!  

Those who participate in the online open house or mail in the questionnaire will be entered into a raffle to win one of four $25 gift cards to Fred Meyer.   

Learn how Oregon communities are preparing for urban wildfire

The Eugene Wildfire Preparedness Coalition will present the Zoom webinar “Community Engagement for Urban Wildfire Resilience” on Weds. Feb. 24 at 6:00 p.m.

Hear latest strategies for neighborhood and community resilience from two Oregon advocates:

  • Katie Gibble, Fire Adapted Communities Coordinator, Ashland Fire & Rescue
  • Amanda Rau, Assistant Professor of Practice – Willamette Valley/Cascades Regional Fire Specialist, OSU Extension

Click this link to register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/8016128828321/WN_VfIR3a7WRACBRxdP-6WTPg

For more information, email Eug.Fire.Prep.Coalition@gmail.com.

How would you like to travel?

How do you travel to work, school, and to run errands? How would you like to travel? What is challenging about our current transportation system — our sidewalks, streets and roads, public transit, bike and walking trails? 

Read more about the Central Lane Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) open house, now through Feb. 28.

Vaccine preregistration now available from Lane County

Vaccine preregistration is now available for all Lane County Residents! Lane County Public Health has opened up preregistration for vaccination to all members of the public. This preregistration information effort will help populate a centralized database to help vaccinating health partners countywide contact those who wish to be vaccinated and schedule an appointment when they are eligible. For more information, see this link.

Get vaccine information from 211: Older Oregonians can text ORCOVID to 898211 to get text/SMS updates about vaccination clinics (available in English and Spanish). Seniors can also email ORCOVID@211info.org.

  • If you can’t get your COVID-19 vaccine question answered on the website, by text, or by email, you can call 211 or 1-866-698-6155, which is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, including holidays.
  • Please be aware that wait times may be long due to high call volumes.
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