07/11/1988 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e for prohibiting turning movements (left turns) during certain hours. Ms. Jackson said prohibiting right turns on red lights during the morning would significantly increase safety without hampering automotive traffic in any substantial way. Ms. Jackson also stressed the importance of preventing business parking from spilling into the surrounding residential area. Mr. Holmer closed the public hearing. In response to a question, Mr. Duke mentioned several reasons behind the recommendations of staff and the Planning Commission to delete the study.s suggestion that right turns on red lights be prohibited during certain hours: (1) the City has no precedent for restricting right turns during certain hours; (2) the relatively low pedestrian volumes at the 19th and Agate intersection do not warrant such a prohibition; (3) the intersection has no accident history suggesting that right turns should be restricted at certain times; (4) such a restriction would probably be ignored by many drivers and would be difficult to enforce; and (5) statistics comparing states that prohibit right turns on red lights with states that do not indicate that such restrictions have no significant impact on accident rates. In response to a question from Mr. Miller, Ms. Decker emphasized that the Planning Commission recommended deleting the study's recommendation calling for a restriction on right-turn movements at certain hours; however, it did not ignore the safety issue altoge~her. The commission recommended that the study call for staff to search for ways to increase the safety at the 19th and Agate intersection. e Mr. Bennett asked if residents have complained about noise from night events at Condon School. Ms. Decker said there have been some complaints. Ms. Bishow added that the dialogue that occurred during task force meetings between resi~ents and University representatives has begun to address this situation. She said noise from Condon School is monitored better than it was in the past; also, communication between residents and the University has improved. Ms. Bishow said the special area study encourages the University to recognize Condon School's proximity to a residential area and to operate the building in a manner compatible with this area. Ms. Bascom asked why the study did not recommend that a children's play area be built in Washburne Park. Ms. Decker said residents and staff felt that the park should remain as a passive recreation area. She added that if the play area were in Washburne Park instead of on the Condon School site, many children who live northeast of the intersection would have to cross 19th Avenue to go to the play area. In response to a question from Ms. Ehrman, Ms. Decker said that at the request of the University, the study does not recommend paving as the first approach to addressing problems with the alley east of Condon School (e.g., dust and noise); however, the study does recognize that paving ultimately may be necessary. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 11, 1988 Page 3