CC Minutes - 12/12/05 Work Session

Home Browse Search

occur over between February and April 2006 and would be part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. He believed that there was increasing “buy-in” to the concept from all those involved. Mayor Piercy recognized Mr. Kelly for a motion. Mr. Kelly, seconded by Ms. Taylor, moved to initiate the required process to name the rdth 3/4 Connector “Shelton Boulevard.” Mr. Papé favored the motion but questioned whether the name was the appropriate name to honor the Shelton-McMurphy-Johnson House. Mr. Taylor noted there was concern that “Shelton” was the name of an existing street. He indicated he would return with a process to initiate a name change so the council could have a thoughtful discussion about the name change. Mr. Kelly said the reason for the name was because it was the most recent request from the board of directors that oversaw the house. The motion merely initiated the process. The motion passed, 7:0. B. WORK SESSION: River Avenue Improvements Michelle Cahill of the Public Works Engineering Division joined the council for the item. She called attention to e-mail correspondence received by the City since the packet was prepared. Ms. Cahill reviewed the public input process that led to the development of the recommendations before the council. She said the City formed a stakeholders group, which included representatives of the affected property owners, the two neighborhood associations, and the Eugene Bicycle Coalition. Ms. Cahill called attention to the amendments to the staff-prepared motion prepared at the request of Mr. Kelly and Ms. Taylor. Ms. Cahill described the proposed improvements, which included a center turn lane the full length of the street from River Road to the Beltline ramps, bicycle lanes on the west end of the street that stopped just short of the post office, a multi-use path along the east end of the project in lieu of bicycle paths, street trees along both sides of the west end of the project, and along the south side on the east end of the project; and bioswales where possible. In addition, the project included two additions that were not part of the scope of the original project: 1) operational improvements in the intersection of River Avenue and River Road; and 2) to move forward the extension of a path for bicyclists and pedestrians that would pass under the Beltline Bridge and connect to the Santa Clara neighborhood. Ms. Cahill noted the need for additional right-of-way due to the multi-use path, the bioswales, and tree plantings. Ms. Cahill noted the initial unanimous support for the proposal at the end of the process and the decision of the River Road Community Organization (RRCO) to withdraw its support, for a final vote of 8:2. However, that left a supermajority of stakeholders supporting the recommendations, which was the process agreed to by the stakeholder participants. MINUTES—Eugene City Council December 12, 2005 Page 3 Work Session