DEVELOPMENT & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER - FALL 2021
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From the Director
Welcome to the fall edition of the Development and Public Works Department newsletter. I don’t know about you, but I can’t believe how fast the time has gone in the last year and a half during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, as we move full steam ahead towards the end of the year, I’m cautiously optimistic that there might be a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Oregon Health & Science University is predicting that Oregon will reach herd immunity by the end of the calendar year, based on recent data models, and Lane County’s numbers line up with that so it’s looking more likely that most office staff will be able to return to City Hall at the beginning of the new year as well.
There’s a tremendous amount going on in the Environmental Services Division right now, including the recent renewal of the City’s MS4 NPDES Stormwater General Permit, which will set the course for our stormwater programs for years to come. The 2021 UpStream Art contest was a success this summer, and if you haven’t seen the artwork, check it out by taking a virtual tour! Also, if you like dogs, don’t forget to check our Canines for Clean Water Calendar. This year’s calendar features 14 local canines in natural spaces throughout Springfield, and over 4,000 copies were recently distributed throughout the community.
Not to be outdone, the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) expects to get its own renewed NPDES wastewater discharge permit in the first quarter of 2022, which will require an update to our pretreatment ordinance, as well as the MWMC’s 20-year facilities plan and capital projects list. Our Renewable Natural Gas project at the wastewater plant is almost entirely complete, and this month we expect to begin injecting renewable methane gas into NW Natural’s pipeline. We’ve also been trying our hand at logging, with tree felling at our third management unit in the Biocycle Farm just wrapping up.
Finally, as we give thanks and prepare the turkeys this month for Thanksgiving, remember to properly dispose of your fats, oils, and grease (FOG) to keep our wastewater system running smoothly.
Matt Stouder, Environmental Services Division Director
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Available NOW! Free 'Canines for Clean Water' 2022 Calendar
Perfect for Springfielders who love dogs and spend time in the great outdoors, this calendar shows off 12 adorable, local pooches. It also reminds us of the everyday behaviors that prevent water pollution and keep waterways safe for everyone, and especially our 4-legged friends. When we “scoop the poop,” we prevent bacteria, viruses, and unhealthy nutrients from washing into storm drains and out to the Willamette and McKenzie Rivers.
The Stormwater Team started creating this tenth edition of the calendar in the spring of 2021, starting with a dog photo contest through the City of Springfield’s Facebook page and website. From the entries, City staff voted for their top 12 favorites. Then we grabbed the camera, squeak toys, and treats, and met each pooch and their family for a romping photo shoot.
We hope this calendar is as fun to look at as it was to make! Plans are underway to do it again next year, so be sure to watch for your chance to enter.
For more information about Canines for Clean Water, and our mission to prevent water pollution by always picking up after our pooches, visit the project webpage.
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Don’t Let a Clogged Drain Ruin Your Holiday Cheer |
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Don’t be a turkey this Thanksgiving! After cooking up your holiday feast, dispose of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) properly. These items stick to the inside of wastewater pipes, causing clogs, which can lead to costly repairs and wastewater overflowing into neighborhood parks, yards, and streets.
When cooking this holiday season, pour grease into metal cans and let it harden before disposing of it in your trash can. Additionally, wipe pots, pans, and dishes with a paper towel before washing them, and minimize garbage disposal use as much as you can. This will prevent an expensive plumbing bill, plus protect our shared wastewater pipes and pumps and our community's health and environment. Thanks, Springfield community members, for all you do to keep our City beautiful!
Thank you for keeping Springfield beautiful!
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Bagged Leaf Pickup Program
With all the leaves falling to the ground that means it’s time for Springfield’s Bagged Leaf Pickup Program. To help keep leaves out of stormwater drains and prevent flooding the City offers a FREE leaf pickup program. All you have to do is collect your leaves in medium-sized garbage bags and place them on the curb for pickup before the following dates.
Leaves are collected throughout the City in two rounds. The first round of pickup of bagged leaves begins Monday, November 29th for residents west of 28th/31st Street. If you live east of 28th/31st Street pickup begins Monday, December 6th. The second round begins Monday, January 3rd for residents west of 28th/31st Street and Monday January 10th for residents east of 28th/31st Street.
The leaf pickup program promotes public safety by keeping leaves out of bike lanes, streets, and sidewalks. Large piles can also be considered a nuisance by City Code. Piles of leaves on the side of the road can be very hazardous, examples include:
- Vehicles may swerve out of their lane to avoid piles of leaves.
- Dangerous items may be covered up inside piles (large rocks, bicycles, etc.)
- An attractive nuisance for children to play in.
- Forces bicycle commuters into the travel lane of vehicles.
It can take more than two weeks for all bags to be picked up within each part of the City depending on the weather and the number of bags set out for pick up.
All residents can enter a drawing for a $100 gift card to a local home improvement store when you pledge to properly dispose of your leaves. For full program and pledge details visit the Leaf Pickup Program webpage.
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Upgraded Street Lights on Main Street and South A
If you’ve traveled on South A Street or Main Street at night recently then you may have noticed things seem a little brighter. 200 streetlights were upgraded to LED fixtures through a partnership with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to improve visibility and increase safety. Operating and maintaining these lights is also more economical, the cost to power the new lights is less, LED bulbs last longer, and they require less maintenance. In addition to the upgraded lights, over 100 new LED streetlights will be added to the existing lighting in the next couple of months to improve visibility for drivers and aid them in seeing pedestrians and bicyclists along this corridor.
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RAISE Grant Awarded for Phase 2 of Franklin Boulevard Partnership Project
The City of Springfield along with partners City of Eugene and Lane Transit District have been awarded $19 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding America Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program the Franklin Boulevard Partnership project.
Within this award Springfield will receive $7.6 million and will focus on building a roundabout at Mississippi Avenue and Franklin Boulevard. Additional funding will be pursued in the future to continue to make efforts to build the entire planned corridor. This current funding will continue to transform Franklin Boulevard and create better transportation between Eugene and Springfield.
The project will connect nearby neighborhoods, improve the bus rapid transit (BRT) system, deliver significant environmental benefits, and improve safety for travelers by adding continuous sidewalks, and safer more convenient connections to the regional bicycle network. An additional roundabout will be added at Mississippi Avenue along with a new roundabout and other improvements in Eugene to increase the number of people who can move through and along the corridor.
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Upon hearing the news of being awarded the RAISE grant Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon said, “The City of Springfield is honored to receive this RAISE grant to help rebuild Franklin Boulevard. Our community deserves a modern transportation corridor which emphasizes roadway safety and mobility. We are grateful to our partners at the City of Eugene and Lane Transit District for their teamwork in bringing these competitive funds to our region. This award will set the tone locally for America’s planned reinvestment in critical infrastructure over the next decade to support quality of life, jobs, transportation choices, and a healthy local economy. We cannot thank our Federal Delegation, including Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, and Congressman Peter DeFazio enough for their support and leadership.”
For more information about the RAISE grant, the Franklin Boulevard Partnership project, and to sign up for our project e-update list, visit https://newfranklinblvd.org
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