CORRECTIONS/
CLARIFICATIONS
• Last week’s cover story “Carbon
Nation” said Phase III of the Big
Sky Carbon Sequestration project
got $66.9 million from the DOE
from carbon injection into
sandstone rocks in Wyoming. While
the grant was indeed awarded, a
Big Sky spokesperson says the
project never moved forward due
to a lack of CO2 necessary for the
research project.
• Last week’s “Less Gas, More Ass”
story on the Naked Bike Ride had
an incorrect email for Ralph
Forrest-Ball. He can be reached at
tiedyeguy@hotmail.com
NEWS BRIEFS
CITY REVIEWS
RENTAL RULES
During its work session June 15, the
Eugene City Council reviewed the city’s
Rental Housing Program, a program that
attempts to enforce standards and resolve
landlord-tenant issues outside of the
courtroom.
The program is scheduled to sunset at
the end of this year, and although the
council made no decision whether or not to
keep the program, several councilors
expressed their support.
“I think this is an important, effective
and successful program,” said Councilor
Alan Zelenka. “I think it’s very successful
in the fact that it diverts people from going
to the court system.” He added, “It
facilitates communication.”
The Rental Housing Program was
created to ensure that landlords follow the
requirements laid out in the city’s Rental
Housing Code, which establishes minimum
habitability requirements for the city’s
approximately 29,800 rental units. If the
landlord is not meeting the requirements,
then the tenant can file a complaint with
the city, allowing the city to resolve the
situation without resorting to the courts,
which can be an expensive and time-
consuming process.
The program is paid for by a $10 per
unit tax, and has been somewhat
controversial in the past due to the
significant surplus the program accrued as
a result of the disparity between the
amount collected and what the program
actually costs.
“This is a very important program,”
said Councilor Betty Taylor. “This is one
of the strongest examples of citizen
participation in government.”
For more information on the Rental
Housing Program and the Rental Housing
Code, visit the program website at www.
eugene-or.gov/rentalhousing — Nils Holst
ACTIVIST ALERT
• Basic Rights Oregon’s 12th
annual Bites for Rights restaurant
fundraising is Thursday, June 23,
and several local eateries are
participating this year by donating a
percentage of Thursday’s gross to
BRO. Participating in Eugene are
Anatolia, Ratatouille and Sweet Life
Patisserie. In Corvallis, Interzone
Organic and Old World Deli. See
www.bitesforrights.com
• Moonshadow software, which
may be used for redrawing of County
Commission districts, will be
explained and demonstrated in the
county’s classroom below Harris Hall
at 1:30 pm Friday, June 24. The
software is controversial in that the
vice president of Moonshadow is
City Councilor Mike Clark, who is
expected to run against County
Commissioner Rob Handy in 2012.
Handy won a narrow victory in 2008
against Bobby Green in the district
that includes north Eugene.
Redistricting could affect the
outcome of the next election.
Conservative Commissioner Jay
Bozievich has advocated that the
county use Moonshadow software
rather than rely on Lane Council of
Governments for redistricting data.
• Reality Kitchen at 245 Van
Buren in Eugene will be hosting an
open house Sunday, June 26, during
the KLCC Garden Tour, to introduce
the Whiteaker neighborhood and
larger Eugene community to the
ongoing work the nonprofit will be
doing to support local young adults
with and without disabilities.
Numerous activities, food, drink and
music are planned. Contact Jim
Evangelista at 337-1323.
• The Lane County chapter of the
Oregon League of Conservation
Voters is planning its summer event,
“Food for Thought — Celebrating
What’s In Our Backyard,” from noon
to 3 pm Sunday, June 26, at a
private home in the River Road area.
Contact Ashley@olcv.org or call
968-8269 to RSVP.
• A free workshop on “Integrating
Sustainability Into Your Business”
with Regina Hauser, director of The
Natural Step Network, will be from
noon to 1 pm Tuesday, June 28, at
the Eugene Public Library. RSVP to
682-5541 or email eugene@
cascadiagbc.org
10 JUNE 23, 2011
EUGENE WEEKLY
C elebrating
our past,
Creating our future
Th Eugene
The
E
W
Water
t & El
Electric
t i B
Board
d i is a l leader
d i in utilizing
tili i clean,
l
renewable energy, including wind power. And for decades, EWEB
has promoted energy conservation by helping customers to
improve the energy efficiency of their homes and businesses.
We do much more than provide water and electricity 24 hours
a day, 365 days a year. For more information about EWEB and
our first 100 years, visit www.eweb.org.
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