The City Club of Eugene Podcast

2025 Legislative Preview

What are the goals of lawmakers for the 2025 Oregon Legislature? City Club of Eugene heard from Rep. Julie Fahey (D) and Rep. Lucetta Elmer on the issues, potential sticking points for agreement, and shared goals for this session.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB3l9Trgqzo

1:20

You may also watch the entire program on City Club of Eugene's YouTube channel (starts at 1:20).

This program was recorded on Jan. 24, 2025.

Our Water Supply

Water, water everywhere...we hope. Eugene Water and Electric Board and the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission are doing more than hoping; they are working to ensure a resilient and sustainable domestic water supply, even in emergencies, and to recover wastewater resources, such as recycling the water. Learn about their work in this City Club of Eugene podcast episode!

City Club of Eugene's speakers include Karen Kelley, EWEB's chief operations officer, and Todd Miller, deputy director of Springfield Environmental Services/Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission.

You may also watch the entire program, including slides, on City Club of Eugene's YouTube channel (starts at 3:48).

This program was recorded on Jan. 10, 2025.

Boosting Mental Health

What techniques are available to help students and adults stabilize and improve their mental health? Attune Ed, a program developed by Oregon Mind Body Institute, is teaching helpful ways to boost mental health.

City Club of Eugene's speakers include Lori Allen, PhD, executive director of Oregon Mind Body Institute; Daniel Gallo, MAT, educator; Ryan Kruse, Lane ESD Career Academy; and Maureen Linn Medici, field coordinator/bus supervisor, Salem-Keizer Public Schools.

This program was sponsored by the Oregon Community Foundation.

You may also watch the entire program on City Club of Eugene's YouTube channel (starts at 2:58).

This program was recorded on Jan. 3, 2025.

Gifts to the City

What present would you give to the City of Eugene? Thirteen people give their gifts in this City Club of Eugene podcast episode!

Speakers include Talicia Brown, Black Cultural Initiative; Chris and Kathy Calise, Eugene Foodies; Charlie Conrad, retiring state legislator; Kevin Cronin, Housing Oregon; Larissa Ennis; Glorious Gastropause and Holly GoSlugly, former SLUG Queens, Kris McAlister, Carry It Forward; Melissa Scholz, attorney; Denise Thomas, Let's Move Fitness; Chris Wig, Emergence Addiction and Behavioral Therapies; John Winquist, Eugene Parks Foundation. Dan Bryant emceed.

You may also watch the entire program on City Club of Eugene's YouTube channel (starts at 4:55).

This program was recorded on Dec 13, 2024.

 

Exit Interview with Mayor Vinis

After eight years as Eugene's mayor, Lucy Vinis is stepping down. City Club of Eugene invited her to reflect on her tenure as well as answer attendees' questions. Listen to her perspectives in this podcast episode.

You may also watch the entire program on City Club of Eugene's YouTube channel (starts at 7:13).

This program was recorded on Dec 6, 2024.

Local Food Insecurity and Responses

About 16% of the residents of Lane County live in households with incomes at or below the poverty level. The proportion is higher in the urban areas. This poverty makes food insecurity a real threat. What are some of the local responses to this reality?

Speakers at this City Club of Eugene program include Meredith Branch, Student and Family Resource Coordinator at Springfield High School; Carrie Copeland, Education and Program Coordinator, FOOD for Lane County; and Mary Leighton, coordinator, Interfaith Food Hub.

You may also watch the entire program on City Club of Eugene's YouTube channel (starts at 4:42).

This program was recorded on Nov. 22, 2024.

Impact of Supreme Court Ruling, Grants Pass Homeless Case

What's the impact of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on homeless camping? In this City Club of Eugene podcast episode, learn about the case, the consequences of the decision and the experiences of those working with unhoused people.

Our speakers include Heather Marek, senior attorney at Oregon Law Center; R. Everett Meadows, co-host and co-founder, Oregon Reporter Podcast; and Renee Yandel, executive director of HIV Alliance.

You may also watch the entire program, including slides mentioned in the audio, on City Club of Eugene's YouTube channel (starts at 8:04).

This program was recorded on Nov. 15, 2024.

Tech Economy

Technology is big business in Eugene's economy. In this City Club of Eugene podcast episode, four speakers address how they utilize high tech in the Silicon Shire, whether creating games or supporting manufacturing, as well as the big picture for our region.

The speakers include Hogon Mulgrave, owner and president of WRICO Generators; Skip Newberry, president and CEO of Technology Association of Oregon; Anshuman Razdan, VP of research and innovation at the University of Oregon; and Dan White, co-founder of Pipeworks.

You may also watch the entire program, including slides mentioned in the audio, on City Club of Eugene's YouTube channel (starts at 8:30).

This program was recorded on Nov. 1, 2024.

Ghosts of Oregon History

Which Lane County sheriff was known to be kind but was killed while trying to capture a fugitive? How did Oregon's first female mayor take the job away from her husband? Learn more about the ghosts of Oregon's past in this City Club of Eugene podcast episode with history writer Jennifer Chambers.

You may also watch the entire program on City Club of Eugene's YouTube channel (starts at 3:17).

This program was recorded on Oct. 25, 2024.

Ranked Choice Voting

Should Oregon adopt ranked choice voting for some of its elections? Learn more about Measure 117 so you're ready to vote!

The speakers in this podcast episode are Melanie Billings-Yun, Portland League of Women Voters Ranked Choice Voting Committee; and State Rep. Edwin Diehl.

You may also watch the entire program on City Club of Eugene's YouTube channel (starts at 18:30).

This program was recorded on Oct. 18, 2024.