[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6639471,"mediaKeyId","3660911-eb11984c1e027fd9228583e64f707ac3","parentId",3660911,"title","Sustainability Commission splits on turf and leaf‑blower guidance; turf memo sent to council","audioSeconds",1743,"startMs",4257000,"endMs",6000000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3660911-eb11984c1e027fd9228583e64f707ac3&start=4257&end=6000","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3660911-eb11984c1e027fd9228583e64f707ac3/thumbnail_4257000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6639471/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Sustainability-Commission-splits-on-turf-and-leafblower-guidance-turf-memo-sent-to-council","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6639471-60059964af1023df9267d971f7c977fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146269&Signature=Unbzlvy7OEHYTTuRGFhWuLrWyNRaHssRaqFKPXv7IIAAFrjMJGZcNZwSuHaUqc9udwb6kPtFb5oHFCrFbwMRtksHVrGNewqJ-A-AeJXYQALBXzgnR5vhnUaTbctMRu2-jgkE5Xkn90UcDUzh6X9KjwGypyxGMpQriysOjyqMmqKUXVl1bspUUAPsg6QgZZslNJhKUfMdfj-EeXF7qh2YxgTxVuLZmFQhbkpWrYdrCkXz3Tf6WNi8t45~R2lK1d7MrNTUv94Kt0Y~Z6LuwX9CTWD1iQ-xtHlw-64KckXPO31uCj7zik8vVs22-p0XLzLC6LndItpGTp8IzZ7olNAk8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Eugene, OR","date","2025-06-04T21:20:19Z","article","Commissioners debated two informational memos prepared by a Sustainability Commission committee: one on artificial turf and one on gas‑powered leaf blowers.

On artificial turf, commissioners voted to forward an informational memorandum about artificial turf to City Council for consideration alongside the city’s Golden Gardens work. A motion to approve the turf memo passed in a recorded vote described in the meeting as 4–3; the transcript identifies three commissioners as opposing the motion. The memo is described in committee notes and the meeting packet as informational rather than prescriptive; it summarizes what other jurisdictions have done and lists potential environmental and lifecycle concerns (recyclability, PFAS/\"forever chemicals,\" volatile organic compounds and end‑of‑life disposal), with links to sources the committee compiled.

Members who opposed forwarding the turf memo said the city is already funding a triple‑bottom‑line study of Golden Gardens and argued the commission should incorporate that analysis before sending a memo to council. Supporters said the council should have information about other jurisdictions’ experiences with turf — including cases where contractors did not deliver promised recycling solutions — before council decisions on Golden Gardens.

On the leaf‑blower memo, commissioners did not forward the draft to council. Several commissioners urged returning the memo to the committee for further work. Concerns raised included the memo’s apparent recommendations language and tone, missing analysis on enforcement mechanisms and charging/charging‑infrastructure needs for electric equipment, the triple‑bottom‑line impacts (including economic effects on small landscapers), and a lack of stakeholder outreach documentation. Commissioner Laura clarified the committee’s intent was to produce a research document summarizing policy options and examples, not to make final recommendations; several members nonetheless said the draft read as recommending policy. The commission directed members to send detailed comments back to the committee and signaled the leaf‑blower material should be reworked to address equity, enforcement and transition‑assistance considerations before council review.

No new city ordinance or regulation was enacted. The actions were informational: the artificial turf memo will be placed before council; the leaf‑blower memo will return to committee for revision.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sustainability Commission Meeting: May 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Sustainability Commission voted to forward an informational memorandum on artificial turf to City Council but sent a proposed leaf‑blower memo back to committee for more work after members raised equity, enforcement and scope concerns.","taxTitle","Eugene , Lane County, Oregon","taxId",2848,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6639473,"Sustainability Commission approves public handout on clean backup energy systems",315,3855000,4170000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3660911-eb11984c1e027fd9228583e64f707ac3&start=3855&end=4170","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3660911-eb11984c1e027fd9228583e64f707ac3/thumbnail_3855000.jpg","/articles/6639473/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Sustainability-Commission-approves-public-handout-on-clean-backup-energy-systems","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6639473-1b52bce6f05a53d5cdf304309b1e219c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146269&Signature=UlGvpLPHFqGnFb9MEfadOC4OZNGJVsv9hbPQZJa0YNAaKhO03wQ9gtbxXb7kfio-VR1NvMYYZa0snIEP-AmhQymsRt2OmhVRcduovMaiv4j7VftavS6YFGvUwMIw1qnehMO8wJNYGyKugsf1PaL4N0uCQ02-xCfMw~WhbsW~8DJSp~ze-AzZYzGnIOjJVICAiHzi7O5ObSkxkvCoJ1OM8~Oesqhy7PMcYC0JSas3cGlfpMn5kRd5q4RLk4DKUA0izUf88aS0xVTMxTjudIlojDe2YkwVNGednRllfcXKwCIaCgTDfdmTOZ1~F2tWPQOYrxYEW3p~wK654MriyY9-xA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Eugene Sustainability Commission voted to approve an updated public handout on clean and reliable backup energy systems after committee members added citations and rewrote the preface to clarify scope and tone.

Alexi (committee presenter) said the working group had incorporated feedback from Northwest Natural and a hearth‑dealer letter and added source citations to figures in the document. Jan moved to approve the revised handout and the commission voted to adopt it for public distribution.

Committee members said the changes were intended to remove any appearance of partiality and to make the memo more informational: the preamble was revised to list recent local power interruptions (January examples) and to frame the document as a user‑facing overview of options rather than an endorsement of a particular technology.

The commission’s decision follows an earlier committee session in which members met with an industry representative and with EWEB staff to test factual assertions. The approved version includes attribution to the Sustainability Commission and links to source material, according to the committee presenter.

Commissioners emphasized the memo is informational. No new city policy or regulation was adopted at the meeting; the handout is intended for public education and to accompany the commission’s outreach work.","After committee revisions and added citations, the Eugene Sustainability Commission approved a two‑page public handout explaining options for clean and reliable backup energy systems.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6639480,"Lane Transit District details ridership recovery, previews Connect 2045 planning",634,334000,968000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3660911-eb11984c1e027fd9228583e64f707ac3&start=334&end=968","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3660911-eb11984c1e027fd9228583e64f707ac3/thumbnail_334000.jpg","/articles/6639480/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Lane-Transit-District-details-ridership-recovery-previews-Connect-2045-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6639480-113e5f273d2eef3094142baeb3ff4e1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146269&Signature=fg6LKv~8MJxfdY5vS8A5yIz3ne9QMpWozDA0jxjwfDjT2tx9rtLaD6cbRvg-FS3EEd5xUZrn3SAWbdJOLCrQRm~CL9lfaDwx9JjKoekBgOR~iIugQ~O0WH0WYwIcRORJj-ds8HBYvCCKwZWxHZeTaDvYlKGiTx6Ch2s2fLHXqQuKl6xNoLUQbyH40-EHwB3pKs~25no6gCQ8NuCHvVFKXBM6JAIrEtgEke96lFOWwVrMEnY9Wq7BaG-zc20NoqczpY34hDete7Eah8~yhkyhRMpPemA6SGHgyDUfYiaQXkW6JOiRufDAD9SCLfOV84x05zsqofZXtj3zDviBt5l9Sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brandon Melton, a senior planner with Lane Transit District, told the Eugene Sustainability Commission that the agency has regained much of its pre‑COVID service capacity but still lags in ridership.

Melton said total annual ridership before the COVID‑19 pandemic was about 10,000,000 boardings and that current totals are about 6.2 million, adding that weekday service hours dropped to roughly 40% of pre‑pandemic levels during COVID and are now about 84% of what they were. \"Frequency is king,\" Melton said, describing frequency as central to convincing choice riders to return to transit.

Melton summarized a recent system review — a routine, multi‑year examination of routes and service — that led to short‑term route adjustments and longer‑term recommendations the district adopted in October. Short‑term changes included restoring high‑frequency MX peak service (about 10‑minute headways during peak on some corridors), returning some core routes to 30‑minute frequency and creating a 15‑minute combined frequency on the Coburg corridor between Eugene Station and Harlow Road by consolidating multiple routes. LTD expanded or adjusted coverage in response to development in the Willow Creek area and an extension to Peterson Barn, Melton said.

Commissioners asked about specific recovery patterns and service options. Melton said some peer systems — Salem was cited — are closer to pre‑COVID ridership, and that multiple factors likely shape ridership recovery, including changes in telework, the relative affordability of cars during the pandemic period, and lingering public‑health concerns. He said UO (University of Oregon) student travel strongly affects local ridership patterns, producing pronounced dips during academic breaks.

Commissioners and the public raised alternatives for lower‑ridership areas, including smaller vehicles and mobility‑on‑demand pilots. Melton said LTD lacks many midsize vehicles and typically operates 40‑ and 60‑foot buses; the agency has a Cottage Grove connector (a cutaway vehicle) and recently obtained a federal ATTAIN grant to pilot demand‑responsive service in the Bethel School District area. He also said LTD is exploring expanded bike‑share partnerships to improve first‑/last‑mile access.

Questions addressed paratransit and student access. Melton said RideSource, LTD’s paratransit program for eligible riders within three‑quarters of a mile of fixed routes, remains funded at current levels and is undergoing an operations analysis. He also confirmed K–12 students have free passes (Melton cited about 14,000 student passes) and that LTD is pursuing youth engagement and travel‑training efforts to encourage sustained ridership among younger riders.

Melton described airport service as possible but operationally challenging because some early morning or late‑night flights would require running buses outside normal service hours. LTD will evaluate scenarios and scenarios’ costs before proposing a service change. He told commissioners LTD is also assessing ways to accommodate heavier ebikes on bus bike racks after commissioners reported some current racks do not fit wide‑tire bikes.

Looking ahead, Melton said LTD will launch Connect 2045, a long‑range mobility plan that will revisit the 2014 plan’s recommendations, define a 20‑year vision for transit, and identify specific investments. He emphasized aligning transit service with land‑use decisions in Eugene, Springfield and Coburg, and said the plan will include robust public engagement in the coming months.

Melton closed by inviting commissioners and the public to participate in outreach for Connect 2045 and for LTD pilots.","Lane Transit District told the Eugene Sustainability Commission it has partially recovered service and ridership since COVID and is launching a long-range mobility plan, Connect 2045, that will consider smaller vehicles, mobility-on-demand pilots and expanded bike-share to rebuild transit use.","actionData","errors"]

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Sustainability Commission splits on turf and leaf‑blower guidance; turf memo sent to council

Sustainability Commission approves public handout on clean backup energy systems

Lane Transit District details ridership recovery, previews Connect 2045 planning