City Council a community forum
When the city of Eugene considered im
plementing the West University Parking
Program in December, students proved
they care about city government. They
made their opinions heard and became
part of the governing process.
University students filled the City
Council chamber to defend their stand on
a controversial plan, and they made an
impression on the council members. They
showed that, although every city issue
doesn’t merit student action, students
will act when the time is right.
Eugene's governing process is formed
to encourage public involvement, with
eight City Council members chairing
community committees and task forces on
topics ranging from budgeting to human
rights.
The council holds regular meetings in
the council chamber at City Hall, 777
Pearl St., where about 200 seats and two
microphones await concerned citizens.
Each Wednesday (except the first
Wednesday of every month), the council
holds a meeting to take care of smaller
matters, leaving the second and fourth
Mondays of every month open for public
hearings and more important decisions.
Wednesday’s meetings are held at
11:45 a.m.. and Monday’s meetings begin
at 7:30 p.m.
Along with attending council sessions,
city residents can voice their opinions
through their council representatives.
Most University students are
represented by Debra Ehrman, the council
member in charge of Ward 3, which in
cludes the University and its surrounding
neighborhoods.
Ehrman, a 1980 graduate of the Univer
sity law school, has served as a staff at
torney with the Lane County public
defender’s office since 1981...
As a former president of the Student
Bar Association and as a long-time stu
dent of the University, Ehrman says she
has a genuine interest in listening to the
student voice and in giving it more
consideration.
“One voice says we want community
input,” Ehrman said when she was runn
ing for her position in the May primary
election. ‘Tve talked to students and a lot
of community neighbors who are
frustrated. They feel that it’s all window
dressing.”
To contact Ehrman or to get more infor
mation about the city government, call
687-5010.
___________
BA SKET MARKET
OPEN 9 to 6:00 Monday thru Saturday
475 W. 5th Ave., Eugene • 683-5614
r ^ i
MasterCard
Enormous Selection! Fantastic Prices!
Celebration —
Continued from Page 3
The celebration parade will
begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at
South Eugene High School and
will make a loop around the
downtown mall before heading
back to the high school.
On the same day a Children’s
Faire on the Mall is planned
from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Faire
will have everything im
aginable in store for all ages, in
cluding breakdancing exhibi
tions, singing, mural painting,
a balloon send-off, face pain
ting, mask making and even an
area set aside just for bubble
blowing.
Another sampling of first-rate
fun for the young-at-lieart is the
Funtastic Carnival with all the
rides, games and carameied ap
ples an adventurous crowd
could hope for. The carnival
will be set up across from The
Bon on the comer of Chameiton
Street and Broadway and will
be open all weekend.
For those seeking a more
cultural experience, the Oregon
Wine Growers’ Association will
host a wine tasting Friday
through Sunday between West
8th Avenue and Broadway on
Olive Street. To add to the
pleasure, walking minstrels
from every musical category
will tour the downtown streets
throughout the event.
Local wineries are adding
their own touch of hospitality
by offering Harvest Tours on
Saturday afternoon. Persons in
terested in a visit to the coun
tryside vineyards should con
tact area growers for informa
tion on tour hours and
directions.
Antique iovers should take
delight in an antique car show
and an antique logging display,
both held Saturday from noon
to 5 p.m. The car show will be
located on East 5th Avenue bet
ween Willamette and Oak
streets, and the logging display
will follow a logging competi
tion on West 8th Avenue at the
Willamette Street parking lot.
The Saturday Market and the
Farmer’s Market will make their
appearances during the celebra
tion on Saturday and Sunday,
offering out-of-town visitors the
chance to take a slice of Eugene
handiwork back home with
them.
A wide variety of art presenta
tions will add color and flair to
the city’s sidewalks and will
give local artists of all types the
opportunity to show their
talents.
The Eugene Celebration also
is going to give bakers
throughout the county their
own time to shine this year. A
cake competition at 11 a.m.
Sunday at the Hult Center's cen
tral lobby will offer imaginative
bakers free dinners and tickets
to the Hult Center as prizes.
After Eugene Mayor Gus
Keller announces the winners at
noon, spectators will be allow
ed to sample all entries.
Other celebration events in
clude a full free day of musical
entertainment at the Hult
Center, bike races, an eight
kilometer fun-run and a rock
and roll dance. The celebration
will open at 5:30 p.m. Friday at
the downtown mall fountain,
followed by a spectacular
fireworks display at 9 p.m.
O’Brien says the Eugene
Celebration's wide variety of
events represents the nature of
the area. "There’s such a diver
sity in the community. This is
kind of a celebration of that
diversity," he says.