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<br />th <br />Ms. Taylor asked why there were no hanging flower baskets on 10 Avenue. City Manager Taylor said the <br />City maintained flowers in the downtown area but they were actually placed by Downtown Eugene, Inc. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor commented on the continuing problem of bicycle theft. She received complaints from constitu- <br />ents regarding fireworks and hoped that the council would seriously consider banning fireworks before <br />th <br />people began to plan for the next 4 of July. She indicated she would likely request a work session on the <br />subject. <br /> <br />Ms. Piercy referred to an earlier discussion about waiving parking fees during the Eugene Celebration and <br />encouraged the council to discuss the possibility. She said it was inconsistent to invite everyone downtown <br />and then impose parking fines. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly said he was encouraged to learn that parking revenues during the celebration were only $5-6,000 <br />and suggested that perhaps a contingency allocation could be placed on the Consent Calendar to address <br />downtown parking during the celebration. <br /> <br />City Manager Taylor noted the departure of Captain Elvia Williams to become the police chief in Maywood, <br />Illinois and the retirement of Fire Chief Tom Tallon. He also observed with sadness the death of former Fire <br />Chief Everett Hall, who served as a firefighter with the City for over 40 years and went on to become the <br />State Fire Marshal. <br /> <br /> <br />B. WORK SESSION: Collaborative Process to Identify a Transportation Solution for West <br />Eugene and the FY06-09 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program <br /> <br />City Manager Taylor referred to a letter from Matthew Garrett, director of the Oregon Department of <br />Transportation (ODOT), related to the West Eugene Parkway (WEP) decision. He introduced City <br />Engineer Mark Schoening to provide an overview of the issue. <br /> <br />Mr. Schoening reviewed the council’s proposed resolution that would move forward the Metropolitan Policy <br />Committee’s (MPC) adoption of the FY06-09 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) <br />and the collaborative process for west Eugene transportation solutions. He said the Federal Highway <br />Administration (FHWA) proposed an alternate southern route at the MPC’s June 8, 2006, meeting and <br />illustrated that alignment on an aerial photograph. He noted that the letter from Mr. Garrett indicated a <br />collaborative process was unacceptable because of the cost and potential delay, and if the City of Eugene <br />was unable to accept either the WEP or the alternative southern alignment, then ODOT would recommend a <br />“no build” decision, conclude the environmental process and terminate the WEP project. He reviewed a <br />letter from Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) board chair Gary Williams expressing the board’s <br />concern with the MPC’s lack of action on the FY06-09 MTIP and its inability to move forward on its <br />delegated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) responsibilities and directing that a more effective <br />dispute resolution process be established. <br /> <br />Ms. Piercy relayed a request from Councilor Gary Papé that the council not act on the WEP issue until he <br />was able to join in the discussion at the council’s July 12, 2006, meeting. City Manager Taylor relayed a <br />similar request from Councilor George Poling. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council July 10, 2006 Page 2 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />