RRCO and SCCO invites community to respond to antisemitism with love.

Anti-Semetic propaganda is being distribute in River Road and Santa Clara neighborhoods.
https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/local/2023/02/21/antisemitic-flyers-found-neighborhoods-eugene-oregon/69928169007/

Our communities are responding
Communities respond to hate with love – join us Sunday, Feb. 26, at 2 pm for a neighborhood gathering and community canvass near Santa Clara in a show of love and unity after finding antisemitic hate flyers in our neighborhood. For all of our safety, RSVP on the link to receive the location and further details:
https://tinyurl.com/santaclaralove

What to expect: Representatives of the Social Justice Committees of both Santa Clara and River Road Community Organizations* will host a short gathering to talk about what happened, practice talking to our neighbors about antisemitism and how we can overcome hate with unity, then divide into pairs to knock on doors and leave positive information for neighbors impacted by recent hate activity. Rain or shine! Wear weather-appropriate clothes/shoes, bring water, a snack, and a bag or backpack to carry your flyers.

For all of our safety, please do not share the location of this event (to be announced after you RSVP) or post the location information publicly or on social media, but you may invite known, trusted friends and family to join us and ask them to RSVP here:
https://tinyurl.com/santaclaralove

*Cosponsored also by Springfield-Eugene Showing Up for Racial Justice and Community Alliance of Lane County. RSVPs will go to the 4 event organizers to respond.

PS. We also have other activities for those who do not want to or cannot canvass. Let’s have a big turnout as we did for the paintball incident a couple of years ago.

If you would like to be part of this effort and other work of the Social Justice Committee please send us a note at rrco_social_justice@riverroadco.org

Testify on the Willamette Greenway Code Amendment Hearing

Information for 1/10/2023 Eugene Planning Commission Willamette River Greenway Code Amendments hearing

(This document was prepared by members of the River Road Community Organization Willamette Greenway Advisory Committee and can be found at https://tinyurl.com/Willamette-greenway-Guide

The following information about the Eugene Planning Commission’s Public Hearing on Willamette River Greenway Code Amendments to be held on Tuesday January 10, 2023 at 5:30 PM. is provided by members of the RRCO.  This is a rare opportunity to have your concerns and suggestions heard.

If adopted there will be two tracks an applicant can choose to obtain a Willamette Greenway Permit for development within the Willamette Greenway Zone.  The existing discretionary path has proven to be ineffective because the criteria for approval are often stated to be “to the maximum extent practicable” which Hearings Officials find themselves unable to interpret. The code proposed here intends to add a second Clear and Objective Path for which compliance is intended to be easily determined. When an applicant is proposing to develop housing on a parcel, they choose which path they want to be used to have their application evaluated. 

The criteria for the discretionary path can be found at 9.8815 and the criteria for the Clear and Objective Path can be found at 9.8812 in the proposed code.     


Notable Key Points identified for possible testimony (written and/or oral). Specific proposed code references are included at the end of points for those who want to review the specific proposal language and/or to include them in your testimony if desired.

  1. Planning Commission is unaware that this process is the venue for deliberating and developing proposed code to implement the Draft Neighborhood Plans goals etc. therefore either extend this hearing or commit to holding another hearing once that work is done. Therefore, we request that The Greenway goals from the Draft RR/SC Neighborhood Plan will be evaluated by the Eugene Planning Commission and appropriate revisions will be incorporated into the WRG Clear and Objective code amendments. For example, consider the proposed code amendments that are intended to preserve the natural ambiance of the Willamette River Greenway. One addition could be to reduce allowed heights for C-2, C-3, G-0, R-2, R-3 and R-4 for the Willamette Greenway Zone within the boundaries of the River Road Community Organization.   
  • Willamette River Greenway Tree Preservation Zones 1, 2, & 3 when located on public land should be required to only be planted with species native to the western United States.         ( Exhibit F to Ordinance No. 2035 part 2) as required in the 10-foot native plant landscape buffer zone immediately outside the Willamette River Greenway Setback

Preserved Tree Preservation code is found at 9.6885 (2)(d)(5)   

  • The 10-foot width and the L-2 standards for the 10-foot native plant landscape buffer zone immediately outside the Willamette River Greenway Setback are inadequate. Increase width to 20 ft and use the High Screen Landscape Standard (L-3).  Additionally, this buffer should be required only for lots located immediately adjacent to parklands.     

Proposed Code: 9.8812(3)(a)

Our concern is that the majority of the tree preservation zones primarily lie within Eugene Park land and while admirable, they provide less than anticipated benefit to Eugene’s tree canopy.

Hearing Relevant links:

Oregon Land Use Goal 15 Willamette Greenway links:

Oregon Land Use Goal 5 Natural Resources, Scenic and Historic Areas, and Open Spaces links:

How to testify:  

            To provide written testimony, send an email to:  greenwaytestimony@eugene-or.gov

To provide oral testimony during the Public Hearing: join using one of the two following options:

1. Join on your computer, tablet, or smartphone

Visit: https://eugene-or-gov.zoom.us/j/88568352100

Sign up to speak by clicking once on the “raise hand” icon

2. Join on your phone:

Dial one of the below numbers and enter the Webinar ID: 885 6835 2100

+1 833-548-0276 (Toll Free); or

+1 833-548-0282 (Toll Free); or

+1 877-853-5257 (Toll Free); or

+1 888-475-4499 (Toll Free);

For higher quality, dial a number based on your current location.

International numbers available: https://eugene-or-gov.zoom.us/u/kbEgyMKe59

Sign up to speak by dialing *9 (Star-9)

How to watch: To watch a webcast of the meeting live visit: https://www.eugene-or.gov/2109/Planning-Commission-Webcasts

Appendix A References to Public Paths

GOAL 15: WILLAMETTE RIVER GREENWAY (OAR 660-015-0005)

C. CONSIDERATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

3. Use Management Considerations and Requirements.

c. Access — Adequate public access to the river shall be provided for, with emphasis on urban and urbanizable areas,

F. IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES

3. Greenway Compatibility Review:

b. The review of intensification, changes of use and developments as authorized by the Comprehensive Plan and zoning ordinance to insure their compatibility with the Greenway statutes and to insure that the best possible appearance, landscaping and public access are provided.

(2) Necessary public access will be provided to and along the river by appropriate legal means;

Existing Willamette Greenway Permit Code Language

9.8815(2) To the greatest possible degree, necessary and adequate public access will be provided along the Willamette River by appropriate legal means. 


Link to this PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zp84l9IgW4CbJnstFJ2BI2O3ojWEczXK/view?usp=sharing


Report on Zip-O Noise Pollution and Public Hearing

KEPW has published a news article about the Zip-O-Laminator noise pollution situation and the upcoming Eugene City Council public hearing on November 21st at 5:30pm. It’s running on the radio this week and can be streamed here as well.

Below is a flier being passed around the neighborhood to help get folks to show up at the upcoming public hearing. This is what folks being awakened at 4am have been working towards. This is our most important opportunity so far to put a stop to it.

RRCO Has a THREE Board positions open NOW!

Do you want to help improve and protect the livability of the River Road neighborhood? • Do you want to stay informed about activities and decisions affecting the neighborhood? • Do you want a say on policies and decisions that affect the neighborhood? • Do you want to work collaboratively with other concerned neighbors? RRCO is actively recruiting RRCO members in good standing who are interested in serving on the RRCO Board. We want people who care about our neighborhood! The three open positions are replacing members who are moving away or retiring. Replacements will be appointed by the board and affirmed at the August General Meeting.
If you are a member in good standing and want to be considered for appointment take these steps.

Step 1: Please review our mission and charter at https://riverroadco.org/about-rrco/ and the board member job description at https://tinyurl.com/boardjob The job description is here 

Step 2: Please complete and submit an application https://forms.gle/y14ZtjvNYz6cz3T16

Step 3: Candidates will be invited to the July 18th Board meeting.

River Road residents, renters or property owners, or persons who operate businesses in River Road may become RRCO members, if they are 18 years old or older. To be a “Member in Good Standing” and, therefore, be able to vote in an RRCO election or run for a Executive Board position, a member must have attended at least one prior General Membership meeting or Executive Board meeting within the immediate preceding 12 months.
(Of course, new RRCO attendees may attend membership and board meetings and sign-in to become a new member or renew their membership at any time throughout the year!)

If you have any questions, email Cochair@Riverroadco.org.

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March board elections

Do you want to help improve and protect the livability of the River Road neighborhood? • Do you want to stay informed about activities and decisions affecting the neighborhood? • Do you want a say on policies and decisions that affect the neighborhood? • Do you want to work collaboratively with other concerned neighbors? RRCO is actively recruiting RRCO members in good standing who are interested in serving on the RRCO Board. The March election is an opportunity to increase the diversity of the board. We want people who care about our neighborhood!
Time to put your name in the hat! If you are a member in good standing and want to run for the Board:

Step 1: Please review our mission and charter at https://riverroadco.org/about-rrco/ and the board member job description at https://tinyurl.com/boardjob The job description is here 

Step 2: Please complete and submit an application https://forms.gle/y14ZtjvNYz6cz3T16

Step 3: Candidates will be invited to the July 18th Board meeting.

The three open positions are replacing members who are moving away or retiring. Replacements will be appointed by the board and affirmed at the August General Meeting.

About the RRCO Executive Board: Nominations and election of Executive Board members are held at the General Membership meeting in March of each year. There is a total of nine RRCO Board members. Board members serve staggered two-year terms, so this March 14th, four of the nine positions will be voted on.
Becoming an RRCO Member in Good Standing: River Road residents, property owners or per sons who operate businesses in River Road may become RRCO members, if they are 18 years old or older. To be a “Member in Good Standing” and, therefore, be able to vote in an RRCO election or run for a Executive Board position, a member must have attended at least one prior General Membership meeting or Executive Board meeting within the immediate preceding 12 months.
(Of course, new RRCO attendees may attend membership and board meetings and sign-in to become a new member or renew their membership at any time throughout the year!)

If you have any questions, email Cochair@Riverroadco.org.

Neighbors Getting Organized

Savanah Forster wrote the reflections below after our November RRCO general meeting.

Why get organized as a neighborhood?
One of the most popular breakout groups at the November RRCO zoom meeting was for those interested in working with their neighbors on ways to address climate change. In that session my question was “How do we get our neighbors together for discussions and actions?”

Louisa de Heer (Community Advisory Committee of the Neighborhood Plan and Eugene Sustainability Commissioner) gave an enlightening presentation Addressing Climate Change in River Road (https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1S_UlP7kxyGBw2cgVk1_tDI-NhrFZWDei/edit#slide=id.p1) . Now what do we do with this knowledge?

Jan Spencer is a one-man ecosystem. He’s produced a beautiful video https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGlkrwsLsnxPFpCHCdzWbkZXwpr?projector=1 describing what he’s been doing for many years and invites the public on tours of his gardens.

Back to the breakout group. Climate change is upon us, and severe weather and fires are now a regular part of life. And Covid 19 is still here. Darwin’s theory of “survival of the fittest” has been replaced with new knowledge that survival comes through cooperation. We need each other. We are social beings, and in this age, where extended families rarely live geographically nearby, we need to create that network of interdependent households.

I really like my neighborhood and my neighbors, but I admit I don’t know them. Most of them I don’t even know a first name. Why do I want to?

Much caring and sharing could be going on by getting organized. Our 5-block neighborhood has 3 book-sharing boxes and at least one neighbor who puts free veggies out every fall. So, there’s already an energy of caring and sharing.

But what about the elderly lady we wave to on her daily walk? What happened to the older gentleman who would occasionally walk with her but hasn’t been around for months? Are they okay? What if we are quarantined by Covid or smoke? Will they have medications, food, help?

There are things we can do as neighbors to address climate change due to consumerism. Sharing and trading goods and services with each other instead of shopping for them is one way.

  • But how to do we do it?
  • What is an effective way to welcome sharing without invading privacy?
  • How do we build trust with each other?
  • How do we get it started?

I would love to hear your suggestions and experiences with organizing neighbors. I believe more than ever we need to create hives of cooperation to survive the challenges of the pandemic and climate change. You can reach me by email at savanah2233@gmail.com and the RRCO cochairs at cochair@riverroadco.org

Fears and Facts

Recently the community was asked to consider a safe sleep parking facility in the previous Park and Ride station at River Road and River Avenue. The city was considering that spot or one a block or so away at a church that had closed. There was a long thread in Next Door about this possibility. Many important and legitimate concerns were voiced including prevalence of North Eugene High School students who congregate there, the busy traffic and freeway entrance, and the fact that it is very close to a service center for the unhoused across the street.

But the thread also surfaced many fears that the presence of homeless folks seem to raise. Some of these fears are based on assumptions about that population, primarily that they are criminals and sex offenders. For most of us with modest security, it is hard to understand their circumstances. This is an opportunity to learn more.

So RRCO endeavored to document some facts. It turns out that facts are hard to come by because the population is transient. There are two sources of data: the Point In Time count done every January, and the By Name count compiled by agencies that serve the unhoused population. Obviously these two methods are going to come up with different numbers, and many of the questions we have aren’t answered in the data.

To me the biggest take-away is that we have a very high rate of mental illness in Oregon that is not adequately resourced.

Here is our fact sheet. This will likely be revised as we learn more.