Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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Mr. Zelenka advocated for seeking funding through Representative DeFazio, suggesting that the cost be included on the City’s list of federal funding “asks.” Intergovernmental Relations Manager Brenda Wilson indicated that while the United Front priorities had been sent, an item could be added; however, federal transportation funding was appropriated in cycles, and the next appropriations would not come out until 2010. She said that the federal dollars mentioned by Mr. Larsen were available only for quiet zones with 50 percent street closures, and the deadline for other federal dollars had passed. Mr. Poling agreed there was a need for a quiet zone but he was also concerned about safety issues, including the response times by police and fire, which would be affected by the closure of streets. He favored the quad gates as the best approach, even with the cost involved. He acknowledged the costs of maintaining the gates. He recommended that the City’s representatives to the United Front broach the topic with the federal delegation. Mr. Poling opposed street closures for the reasons mentioned by Ms. Solomon. City Manager pro tem Jones indicated that staff recommended a consultant be hired due to work load issues. If staff did the work involved, another work task would have to be postponed. Ms. Taylor also did not support closing streets, hiring a consultant, or forming a local improvement district to pay the costs, although she found it no more unfair here than in other situations where people were asked to pay for facilities that other people used. Ms. Taylor confirmed with Mr. Larsen that the City could install one or two quad gates that would have an overall affect on safety. Mayor Piercy suggested the council needed to decisively convey its interest in the quiet zone, and recom- mended the City start the conversation with its federal delegates now even if the zone was some time away. She said the council could direct staff to work with Representative DeFazio’s Office on ways to fund a quiet zone because she was not convinced the City was aware of all the funding sources available. Mayor Piercy agreed about not closing streets for the reasons mentioned. Mayor Piercy reiterated that the council needed to contact Representative DeFazio about what it had in mind. Ms. Ortiz, seconded by Mr. Pryor, moved to direct the City Manager to continue to pursue options for creating a quiet zone as a council priority, including directing staff working with the United Front to start a conversation with Representative Peter DeFazio’s Office about funding for a quiet zone of the magnitude set forth by staff with quad gates at every cross- ing. Ms. Ortiz thanked staff for the information and hoped the council considered it a priority for the sake of things like safety and downtown development. Mr. Zelenka supported the motion. At his request, Mr. Larsen described a quad gate. Mr. Zelenka asked if the railroads and ODOT supported quiet zones. Mr. Larsen said that ODOT was generally neutral, and the railroads tended to believe there was an increase in their liability because of their MINUTES—Eugene City Council February 25, 2008 Page 8 Work Session