Author: Brenda Wills

Look at this 3 minute movie of all the fun from River Celebration 2023 on Saturday September 23. See if you can see yourself!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ol2elctAlw

(new post every day till it starts!)

Play Beanbag toss win real prizes from Locally Owned Businesses – Lonches to Go, Lube It USA, River Road 2nd Hand, Paramont Sewing & Vac, Panaderia Y Peposteria Bendicion, and more. Also prizes for kids!

Spoken Words from authors and readers with a shady place to listen near the Grove (Hazelnut Grove area). Here is the schedule:

	SPOKEN WORD area (in THE GROVE)
12:20	Gabriel Gallon “Through Dalton’s Eyes” a Story of Science
12:40	AUTHORS Sandi Goldie & Jim Bronson “Gray Love”
1:00	AUTHOR Margo Solod “Washed Up in the Waves” Chidren’s rhyming children’s book
1:30	Ravi Logan: Discussion circle – Transition to a new Era: humanity at a cross road
2:15	Drasmin – poetry
2:30	Jan Spencer: Discussion circle – Permaculture
3:00	What do the Kalapuya people have to teach US about FLOURISHING into the 21st century ?
3:30	Brenda Wills reading several children’s picture books
3:50	Culminating circle with Drums from Merry Lane

Here is the Big Picture

There was discussion at the last RRCO General Meeting about the proposed new stadium for the EMS. As a newcomer to the City of Eugene (less than 5 years) I was curious and asked a friend who sent me the link below and some highlights that I found helpful. Perhaps others will as well. —— Brenda Wills, RRCO Board Member

saveourems.com

Here are main points:

Why can’t you just keep using PK Park at the UO?

There are both scheduling and facilities issues that make sharing PK Park no longer possible. The new full-season schedule format means that both teams need the stadium at the same time. The Ducks use the PK locker room and facilities until they finish their season, which results in the Emeralds without access to the home facilities until well into their season. 

Even more importantly, PK Park does not provide a visiting locker room, or other facilities to meet the MLB minimum requirements for High A Teams. Currently the Ems rent construction trailers to house players, trainers, coaches and female staff. The Ems did approach the UO about expansion potential, but without an additional practice field and facilities, it’s not possible to share PK Park.

Why don’t the Giants/Major League Baseball pay for the stadium?

The relationship between Major League Baseball and a team’s community is a partnership. The league pays for the talent on the field, signing the players, paying their salary and health insurance, housing, meals, and associated costs. The community is responsible for providing a suitable place for them to play. 

The proposal for a new stadium in Eugene is a collaborative effort between the team and the community. The Ems will be sharing financially in the cost of construction and operation of the new multi-use stadium with the community (see below). The new building will be available year around for much more than baseball. In addition to the support of youth sporting and many charitable events, the new facility will be available as an arts and concert venue, as well as an emergency response site for disasters such as wildfires and other events requiring evacuation and temporary service delivery. The Ems have agreed to be the operator of the new stadium, which contributes significantly to pay ongoing costs.

How will the cost of the new stadium be funded? Will this increase my property taxes?

The plan for financing the new stadium does NOT include any increase in local property taxes. 

We have been working with Lane County for about two years to develop a funding plan and have made all of our information public in meetings with the Lane County Commissioners. The original cost was much lower but over the time of planning for the new stadium construction costs have increased significantly.

The current estimate is about $90M to build the new stadium/multi-use facility, and about $10M to replace the existing livestock barn which will be displaced with a new stadium.

To date, the confirmed funding plan totals $57.5M including:

• $35M in tourism taxes
• $13.5M direct payment from the Ems
• $7.5M allocation from the State of Oregon
• $1.5M allocation from the Federal government

We are working hard to secure a contribution from the City of Eugene, which will help close this gap. Additionally, the funding plan includes a request to the State or Oregon for an additional contribution, and a large private sponsorship as part of naming the stadium. Together, these contributions will close the gap.

Here is a PDF of the information that was brought to our General Meeting by Sonya Carlson, EWEB Board President, Wards 6&7 and Frank Lawson, EWEB CEO and General Manager.

At noon on Tuesday, Aug 15, classes in the pool were cancelled re smoke. Please give a call to the rec center to confirm your class is happening during these extreme smoke conditions. Phone: (541) 461-7777. Website https://www.rrpark.org/ today at 1:40 said:

8/15

Due to the poor air quality, the Park District is taking the following measures.

• The Aquatics facility is closed.
• Community Center and Annex Adult Recreation classes after 12 PM are cancelled.
• Community Center Summer Camps will close @ 4 PM.
• Gymnastics NW is operating as usual.

8/16

• Community Center and Annex Adult Recreation classes are cancelled.
• Gymnastics NW will re-evaluate and notify participants.

8/17

• Live Music Concert cancelled. 

Please check our website or call us for updates and questions. Be safe!!

Sign up for SPOKEN WORD – read your own words, tell a favorite story, read a favorite book aloud. https://forms.gle/DzbubX4aXt5eLk4b9

1055 River Rd. or Online
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87348605633?pwd=NGowZG5OTEZqOWIzNzc0VEpJaitSQT09 
Meeting ID: 873 4860 5633 Passcode: 1055RRCO

At our annual check in with elected officials we are focusing on the City council and EWEB so there is time for deeper discussion.

Lyndsie Leech will fill us in on the pressing issues she is dealing with on City Council including new rules for homeless camping, potential funding of a baseball stadium, new state land use mandates and the issues that you bring to the discussion.

Sonya Carlson, our EWEB Commissioner  and the Chair of the EWEB Board, along with a staff member will share their strategic planning for maintaining sufficient electricity and water in a changing environment of demand and supply.  Hint: there will be significant changes are coming and your utility bill will likely be higher. Also, Mike Gerot, Chair of the River Road Water District, will explain how they ensure that unannexed residents receive Fire/EMS, water, and street light services.We realize that our recent hybrid meetings haven’t been optimal for those who join us via Zoom so we continue to try to fix our audio problems.  Fingers crossed that we will be better heard this month but if you want to ensure you hear from Lyndsie, Sonya, and Mike come join us in person at the RR Park Annex at 1055 River Road..

River Road Community Organization Board is reaching out to renters who live in the River Road area.  We are teaming up to canvas and invite  Renters to the Sept. 9 River Celebration and invite them to our monthly RRCO General Meetings, the second Monday of each month at 7 pm. 

Canvasing will be

Thurs Aug 24, from 6-8

Sat Aug 26 from  4-6

Thurs Aug 31 from 6-8

Sat Sept 2 from 4-6

Please use this sign up link to help us reach out: 

https://forms.gle/jJmnWgwiUxHEnesr9

Fuel tank farms provide gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to people in Oregon. However, many tanks in Oregon may be vulnerable to earthquakes, which means they present a risk to the local communities and the environment.  

Under the rules created in this process, facilities will develop plans that include actions to protect public health, life safety, and environmental safety within the facility, in areas adjacent to the facility and in other areas that may be affected as a result of damages to the facility. The plans must consider the impacts of a magnitude 9.0 Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, the potential consequences of that event and the resources needed to respond.  

DEQ will accept comments by email, postal mail or verbally at the public hearings. Anyone can submit comments and questions about this rulemaking.

The virtual public comment hearings will be held on 3 dates, see below email for full details and to register.

• 7 p.m., Thursday, June 15, 2023 
• 2 p.m., Saturday, June 17, 2023 
• 12 p.m., Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Thank you,

Charlsey Cartwright and Joel Robe

HERE are the details from the DEQ

DEQ Rulemaking – Fuel Tank Seismic Stability — DEQ is Asking for Public Comment on the Proposed Rules

Summary

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is in the process of creating rules to implement the fuel tanks seismic stability requirements enacted in Senate Bill 1567. The bill requires operators of large capacity fuel handling facilities to assess their facility’s ability to withstand a magnitude 9 Cascadia earthquake event and propose mitigation to minimize risk.

Public comment

The Department of Environmental Quality is seeking public comment on the proposed rules More information on this rulemaking, including the draft rules, can be found on the Fuel Tank Seismic Stability webpage.

How to comment: DEQ will accept comments by email, postal mail or verbally at the public hearing. Anyone can submit comments and questions about this rulemaking.

• Email: Send comments by email to SeismicStability.2023@DEQ.oregon.gov 
• Postal mail: Oregon DEQ, Attn: Fuel Tank Seismic Stability Team, 700 NE Multnomah Street, Suite 600, Portland, Oregon 97232-4100 
• At a public hearing (see below):

•  7 p.m., Thursday, June 15, 2023 
•  2 p.m., Saturday, June 17, 2023 
•  12 p.m., Tuesday, June 20, 2023 

DEQ will only consider comments on the proposed rules that DEQ receives by 4 p.m., on June 21, 2023.

Rulemaking Hearing: DEQ will hold three public hearings, with registration details below:

Hearing 1 
June 15, 2023, 7 p.m. PT 
Register via Zoom 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

Hearing 2 
June 17, 2023, 2 p.m. PT 
Register via Zoom

Hearing 3 
June 20, 2023, 12 p.m. PT 
Register via Zoom

Note for public university students: 

ORS 192.345(29) allows Oregon public university and OHSU students to protect their university email addresses from disclosure under Oregon’s public records law. If you are an Oregon public university or OHSU student, notify DEQ that you wish to keep your email address confidential.

Additional Information

To view copies of the notice documents, learn more about this rulemaking, and how to submit comments, you can view the rulemaking web page at: Fuel Tank Seismic Stability webpage.

If you want to receive future email notices about this rulemaking, you must sign up at: Fuel Tank Seismic Stability GovDelivery

You can also obtain more information about this rulemaking by contacting:

Svetlana Lazarev 
Svetlana.lazarev@deq.oregon.gov

Here is a link Videos for staying up to date on our local Emergency Preparedness.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChyvm3RpwB4uRgsc4u2b6jQ