12/22/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Public hearing was held with no testimony presented. e Mr. Murray moved seconded by Mr. Hamel to award the contract to the low pre-qualifying bidder. Mr. Williams raised a question about the fact that there was a lower bidder and wondered if the policy of awarding to a pre-qualifier should be reconsidered. Assistant Manager noted the City has no authority to accept a bid from a contractor who has not prequalified. Rollcall vote. Motion carried unanimously. II, - ESATS Alternatives Selection I-A-4 December 15 official report from the Planning Commission has been distributed to Council. Mr. Williams inquired about the language in the Planning Commission report referring to an additional 10% reduction in auto trips. He wondered if it meant an additional 10% to that recommended in some ESATS alternative studies or did it mean a reduction of 10% in total number of trips. Mr. Maxwell, Planning Commission member, responded it is his interpretation that it meant 'a net reduction of 10% in per capita auto trips. Mayor Anderson explained that Council should arrive at an educated and reasonable estimation of transportation modal split as it will develop. That will be found e somewhere between idealism and reality, he said. There must be a goal offering a reasonable chance of success and the first goals should be mobility, minimizing the effects of the auto on the community, and providing alternatives sufficiently attractive to be supportable. There is no mode that will have significant impact unless it is faster, more economical, more comfortable and convenient than existing modes. He feels it is necessary to face the fact that the auto is not only transportation but also a symbol to many of freedom of mobility, independence and access to areas outside daily living patterns. Failure to provide adequately for auto traffic will not necessarily encourage a switch to other modes. Mayor Anderson does not envision a satisfactory alternative to the bus as a mass transit mode in the near future. Providing additional incentives will be the biggest challenge in developing significant use of bike and pedestrian modes. It is necessary to realize, too, he said, that decreased auto use will be made difficult by flexibility and adaptability of the auto industry and capability to adjust more quickly than other modes. Finally, without an areawide comprehensive plan, chances of success in implementing alternate modes are less than with a cooperative effort. He personally feels that the Planning Commission recommendations are reasonable and a good calculated set of alternatives. He noted the statement in the official report that the City should "continue to endorse the goals set out in the Community Goals and Policies and the 1990 General Plan, which recommend increasing the percentage of bike, pedestrian, and mass transit trips." He feels there is no need to develop a document more elaborate than recommended and that now it is a matter of competent planning and implementation. Mayor Anderson referred to the Planning Commission recommendation which favors a goal of 15% mass transit usage for the urban area's internal person trips, plus an equitable method of funding transit sufficient to provide resources for a 15% modal split, e with specific recommendations for changing transit financing. Mayor Anderson feels perhaps a slightly lesser figure would be a reasonable estimate. To achieve 15% will require an 8% increase compounded annually from now to the year 2000; 30% would require an 11.2% increase compounded annually. He added that for LTD to reach 6.2% by 1980 would require more than a 50% increase in ridership compounded ~~ 12/22/75 - 3