The City Club of Eugene Podcast

The Eugene Airport seeks to expand, but it needs federal funding. Several federal grants were put on hold when the airport could not comply with demands to ignore Oregon's sanctuary law. Learn about the resolution of this issue and about the airport's expansion plans in this City Club of Eugene podcast. The speakers are City Councilor Greg Evans; Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO B...

Three area school superintendents give their perspectives on their districts and education in general in this City Club of Eugene podcast. The speakers are Todd Hamilton, then-superintendent of Springfield Public Schools; Miriam Mickelson, superintendent of 4J School District in Eugene; and Kraig Sproles, superintendent of Bethel School District in Eugene. You may watch the program  on City Club o...

Oregon's ash trees are under threat of infestation from the Emerald Ash Borer. In this City Club of Eugene episode, three arborists share their information and suggest countermeasures to maintain the health of these trees during climate change. The speakers are Erik Burke, director of Friends of Trees (Eugene-Springfield); Jeff Chandler, owner of Chandler's Tree Service; and Alby Thoumsin, registe...

Employer-provided health plans may not include behavioral health coverage or it may be fragmented. In this City Club of Eugene podcast, three speakers address the gaps, complications, costs and hopes for behavioral health care provided through employers. The speakers are Stephanie Evans-Wondra, licensed professional counselor with Cascade Health; Pete Kerns, president and CEO of Serenity Lane; and...

Eugene's downtown riverfront is being redeveloped. In the second look at regional development along the Willamette River, attendees of the City Club of Eugene and the City Club of Springfield heard about residential development located between the University of Oregon and the Market District. Speakers were James Atkins, developer with Atkins and Dame; and Will Dowdy, community development coordina...

What is the future of development along the Willamette River? Because the river runs through Springfield and Eugene, the two area city clubs collaborated on a two-part program about planning and creating riverfront development. In this episode, the clubs studied the Glenwood Master Plan Area. The speaker was Allie Camp, head of the City of Springfield's Economic Development Team. Part 2 of this su...

Eugene has a public oversight mechanism for its police, but is it working? And how does it function? The June 12, 2026 City Club of Eugene program studied this system of accountability. Our speakers include Craig Renetzky, Eugene's independent police auditor; Chris Skinner, Eugene's chief of police; and Elise Josephenson, incoming chair of the Citizen Review Board. You may watch the program  on Ci...

Cybersecurity is essential for individuals and businesses. In this City Club of Eugene podcast, hear how experts are working together to counter threats, thanks to the Oregon Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. Our speakers are Robin Mayall, director of information services for the City of Eugene; Brenda Moore, executive director of Lane Council of Governments; and Reza Rejaie, professor and head...

What would it be like to discover the emaciated and dead prisoners in German concentration camps? And what would be the lasting impact on you and your family? Clarice Wilsey's father was a doctor who worked with the camp survivors in the days after liberation, and she wrote a book with Bob Welch about her family's experience. Welch speaks at this City Club of Eugene meeting about the letters Dr. W...

The 2026 Turtle Awards winners - people and organizations that stick their necks out - were honored by City Club of Eugene. This podcast features, in order of appearance:    Jennifer Scurlock (introduced by Deb Lange)    Jenny Jonak (Colt Gill)    Black Thistle Street Aid (Lauren Regan)    Judge Michael McShane (Paul Solomon) You may also  view the program  on City Club of Eugene's YouTube channel...

Eugene's public library has enough card holders to fill Autzen Stadium twice. How have its services grown so popular, and what's planned for the library's future? Find out and hear about the May 2026 levy measure in this City Club of Eugene program. Speakers include Angela Ocana, the library's director; and Dana Fleming, executive director of the Eugene Library Foundation. You may also  view the p...

The arts reach youth. In this City Club of Eugene program, learn about two local arts groups moving beyond enrichment to make art with youth as examples of lifelines for well-being. The speakers are Miranda Atkinson, executive director of #instaballet; and Wynter Eddins, executive director of Simply Youth Institute. You may also  view the program  on City Club of Eugene's YouTube channel. This pro...

In this September 2025 City Club of Eugene program, speakers address the status of mobile crisis response in Eugene. CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) became a nationally recognized mobile crisis response program. When service hours were cut by White Bird Clinic, the Eugene City Council allocated funding and directed the City Manager to prepare a proposal to restore some of th...

May 1 is celebrated as Law Day. Speakers in this podcast episode discuss the role of civics education in creating informed citizens. Speakers include Nikki Darling, Southwest Oregon regional program manager for Civics Learning Project; Jenny Jonak, attorney; Martha Walters, retired chief justice, Oregon Supreme Court; Marty Wilde, attorney; and Elizabeth-Yvette Williams, student. You may also view...

In this City Club of Eugene podcast episode, candidates for District 1 and District 5 of the Lane County Board of Commissioners responded to questions from KLCC's Rebecca Hansen-White. Speakers included Heather Buch and Bob Zybach, vying to represent District 5 (their opponent, candidate Jake Pelroy, did not respond to the invitation to speak); and Thomas Hiura, who wants to represent District 1 (...

A broad coalition has developed ACT (Advancing Community Together) Now Lane to address homelessness issues in our area. Learn about its role in this City Club of Eugene podcast episode. Speakers include Larissa Ennis, chair of the Homes For Good board; Brittany Quick-Warner, executive director of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce; and Karen Saxe, director of policy, advocacy and strategic relati...

With new DEI directives from the federal government, how can people and institutions remain allies of DEI compliance, community and culture? And what is an imperfect ally? Our speakers are Remi Calalang, PhD, assistant superintendent of Bethel School District; and Anna Lardner, mental health therapist and community organizer. You may watch the entire program on City Club of Eugene's YouTube channe...

Deportation actions by the federal government raise questions about due process and the threat to our democracy. Four speakers provide the history of immigration  and update us on the current situation. Speakers include Tobin Hansen PhD, University of Oregon's Robert D. Clark Honors College; Katrina Kilgren JD, Kilgren Law; Benjamin Wang JD, Benjamin Beijing Wang PC; and Christine Zeller-Powell, J...

Lane County offers a deflection program, which moves people to programs and treatment. Is it working? Learn about this project in this City Club of Eugene podcast episode. Speakers include Chris Parosa, Lane County's district attorney; Clint Riley, Lane County's Deflection Program coordinator; and Art Zamudio, navigation team supervisor for Ideal Option. You may watch the entire program on City Cl...

What is the state's plan for meeting Oregon's future energy needs? An Oregon Energy Strategy is being developed, and City Club of Eugene attendees got a sneak peek. They also heard about "Beyonce" - bring your own new clean energy! The Oregon Department of Energy speakers were Edith Bayer, Energy Policy Team Lead, and Alan Zelenka, Assistant Director of Planning and Innovation. Due to technical di...

Museums are "windows and mirrors," according to one of the speakers at City Club of Eugene's program on local stories and local museums. Who gets to tell those stories? How are they told? Speakers include Keith Lohse, executive director of the Lane County History Museum; and Madeline McGraw, curator of the Springfield Museum. You may watch the entire program on City Club of Eugene's YouTube channe...

"It's the most fun you can have while strengthening the economy." Dr. Mike Wilkerson, quoted in this podcast episode, was referring to the impact of sports, via travel and tourism, on local economies. City Club of Eugene asked two keen observers of the local sports scene to explain the economics of sports, using the Prefontaine Classic as an example. Our speakers include JB Carney, senior director...

The 2025 Turtle Award winners are Sharon Posner, Paul Solomon and Oblio Stroyman, all of whom are honored for their community work and sticking their necks out for the good of all. City Club of Eugene also inducted seven new members of the Order of the Turtle. You may watch the entire program on City Club of Eugene's YouTube channel (audio-only in the beginning). This program was recorded on May 3...

Oregon Country Fair has grown from humble roots to become a major event. In this episode of the City Club of Eugene's podcast, we hear more about how it grew as well as its community and philanthropic efforts. Speakers include Kirsten Bolton, OCF's general manager; Paxton Hoag, OCF board member and coordinator; and Arna Shaw, OCF board member and vendor. You may watch the entire program on City Cl...

What is the role of public health, and prevention programs, studies and services does Lane County Public Health provide? City Club of Eugene gathered four speakers to address how local prevention efforts promote health and wellness: Dr. Patrick Luedtke, Lane County's senior public health officer; Anne Marie Mauricio, PhD, associate research professor at the University of Oregon's Prevention Scienc...