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Councilor Papd reiterated that federal funding would be needed to pay for highway projects and it was not too early to start lobbying for funding. Mr. Heuser said it would be premature to look for construction funding at the current time. He said United Front funding was used for projects that were ready to proceed. In response to a question from Councilor Papd regarding the Delta Ponds project, Mr. Heuser said there was a new highway bill in the works on the Federal level. He said Congressman DeFazio was poised to make the project happen as soon as possible. Councilor Bettman said she was unenthusiastic about the wetlands education center. She questioned whether it was more important that other projects that had not made the list. In response to a question from Councilor Bettman regarding the process for getting projects on the United Front priority list, Mr. Heuser said the process involved finding available federal funds and trends in the national budget priorities. He said projects were chosen from a list of candidates. Councilor Bettman asked for an informal list of projects that had been proposed for United Front lobbying. In response to a question from Councilor Taylor regarding who determined which projects would make the list, Mr. Heuser said himself and public works staff, and planning staff, worked with Smith Dawsen & Andrews to make a list of likely projects. Councilor Bettman reiterated her desire to see projects that had not made the list. Mr. Heuser said the only project he was aware of that had been eliminated was a west bank bike path. Mr. Schoening said transportation projects on the list were dictated by TransPlan. He said river bank bike paths had an appeal to legislators. He said other projects that did not make the list did not have that high visibility. Councilor Bettman said she was unsure of how the differing types of projects should be allocated on the list. She reiterated her desire to see all of the considered projects in full context. Mr. Heuser said he would look at the process and make the desired changes. In response to a question from Councilor Bettman regarding Southern Willamette Rivers and Ridges National Heritage Area Study, Councilor Pap~ said it was a pot of funding intended for historic roadways and for park infrastructure such as signage and trail systems. He remarked that the funding would go elsewhere if it were not used locally. Mr. Heuser added that the funding would also help tourism in that people traveling to the area would stay to enjoy the local trails and natural areas. There were no objections to the recommendations made by staff, and by general consent, the recommendations were approved without a vote. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 25, 2005 Page 6 Committee on Intergovernmental Relations