04/25/1988 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission Sludge Treatment Facility located north of Awbrey Lane. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, to adopt the resolution. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 5:0. III. PUBLIC HEARING: ESTABLISHMENT OF A WHISTLE FREE ZONE Copies of a telephone message from Ross West, dated April 25, 1988, expressing support for the petition to create a whistle free zone, were distributed to councilors. City Manager Mike Gleason introduced the item. Dave Reinhard of the Public Works Department presented the staff report. He said the Whistle Free Zone had been proposed in December 1986 in response to concerns from residents of Ya-Po-Ah Terrace apartments about noise. He said staff had expressed concern about pedestrian safety, and representatives of the Public Utility Commission had responded that no way existed to lessen the sound of train whistles. He also said the cities of Salem and Bend, Oregon, had established whistle free zones without experiencing any problems or accidents. Mr. Reinhard said the proposal had been sent to the City's commissions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and on the Rights of Aging Citizens, where no objections had been expressed. He also noted that the Commission on the Rights of Aging e Citizens had submitted a memo ,in support of the proposal. Mr. Reinhard said staff had considered input and now had no objection to establishing a whistle free zone for trains in downtown Eugene, from the area of Hilyard Street and 8th Avenue to the crossing at Van Buren Street. He said the process would involve submission by the City of a petition to the Public Utility Commission to establish the zone and was estimated to take between 60 and 90 days. It probably also would include a public hearing before the PUC, he added. Mayor Obie opened the public hearing. Bill Blair, 350 Pearl Street no. 1408, spoke in favor of the proposal. Mr. Blair said he had moved into the area about ten months ago, and at that time he had been unaware that train whistles blew quite often, with eight to 14 trains running each night. He said whistle free zones had been established and continued to operate with no problems in Pendleton, Bend, and Salem. He said he believed most residents of Ya-Po-Ah Terrace favored the proposal, and he suggested it might alleviate some health problems. John Humbert, 2786 Almaden, administrator of Ya-Po-Ah Terrace, spoke in favor of a modified whistle free zone. He said he recognized the issue of City liability and the importance of safety factors in creation of a whistle free zone. He proposed a modified whistle free zone to provide quiet during the e MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 25, 1988 Page 3