Mike Kuykendall, Vice-President of Downtown Services for the Portland Business Alliance, will discuss the operations of the Business Improvement District and the results of the SAFE (Street Access for Everyone) collaboration. Mike manages the downtown Business Improvement District which is responsible for cleaning, security, and marketing of a 213 block area of one of America's great downtowns. A former Multnomah County prosecutor and attorney in the US Department of Justice, Mike has led efforts to reduce inappropriate behavior on downtown sidewalks while offering improved services for the homeless.

The fourth annual Downtown Excellence Awards Celebration will honor individuals and organizations that have significantly contributed to building community vision through downtown revitalization. Awards will recognize outstanding accomplishments in the following categories: Leadership & Visioning, Economic Development, Arts & Culture, and Physical Development.

On the same Friday, City Club Members are invited to The Bite of Downtown beginning at 5:00 p.m. Join us for an afterhours celebration of our unique downtown eateries.

This program is coordinated by Michelle Emmons and Pat Skipper, through a partnership of the City Club of Eugene and Downtown Eugene Inc. (DEI).

Our first questioner will be Eugene City Councilor Alan Zelenka.