JEO Meeting - Eugene Issues List

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JEO Issues List – Page 2 of 4 (CCR) to help advise the City on next steps. Staff, with direct input from the CCR, revised the Council’s action plan which was adopted in May 2007. One of the foundational elements of the action plan is the development of a Diversity and Equity Strategic Plan. This plan, to be completed in 2008, will guide the organization’s work to ensure a respectful workplace for all City employees and equitable service delivery to all members of the community. Transportation Planning/Funding – At its November 8, 2007 meeting, the Metropolitan Policy o Committee (MPC) adopted the 2031 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The State Transportation Planning Rule (TPR) requires that Transportation System Plans, such as TransPlan, be consistent with RTPs. According to the TPR, once the RTP is approved by the MPC, jurisdictions that are party to TransPlan–Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County–have one year to do one of the following: Find that TransPlan is consistent with the RTP; o Update TransPlan to be consistent with the RTP; or o Develop a work plan for updating TransPlan to be consistent with the RTP and have this o work plan approved by the State Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC). Since the RTP adoption, staff members from the local jurisdictions have held two meetings with ODOT and DLCD staff as well as several meetings amongst ourselves to discuss next steps. The broad consensus is that the third bullet, developing a work plan to update TransPlan, is the right approach. This recognizes that an update is necessary and that it will take longer than a year, especially considering coordination with the comprehensive lands analysis and possible associated Metro Plan updates. City staff and regional partners will continue to coordinate with ODOT and DLCD on development of a draft work plan for a TransPlan update and will present a proposed timeline, draft work plan, and associated costs at the April 9, 2008 City Council Meeting. Area Commissions on Transportation: In 1996, the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) authorized regionally-based transportation advisory commissions known as Area Commissions on Transportation (ACTs) in order to expand opportunities for local citizen involvement in ODOT’s decision-making. The OTC responded to local jurisdictions and other stakeholders asking for more opportunity to participate in the early stages of transportation project selection. ACTs consider regional and local transportation issues if they affect the state system and they work with other local organizations dealing with transportation-related issues. ACTs play a key advisory role in the development of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which schedules funded transportation projects. ACTs establish a public process for area project selection priorities, and following adopted project eligibility criteria, prioritize transportation problems and solutions and recommend projects in their area to be included in the STIP. A total of ten ACTs have previously been formed representing all of Oregon except the Portland Metro area and Lane County. Lane County elected not to establish an ACT and, instead, ODOT works with the Eugene/Springfield Metropolitan Policy Committee and the Lane County Board of Commissioners to coordinate transportation project planning and construction. Transportation Funding: The City of Eugene has a documented backlog of deferred street maintenance in excess of $170 million while Springfield and Lane County also face shortfalls in transportation funding. A series of dynamic and complex issues related to intergovernmental transportation funding solutions adds both opportunity and uncertainty to the mix. Intergovernmental solutions, including the two mentioned below, are consistent with the recommendations of the transportation funding subcommittee, but the outcomes are less certain than those over which the council and the citizens of Eugene have direct control. Continue to pursue other opportunities such as a countywide vehicle registration fee and/or countywide gas tax