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Written testimony regarding the CIP received by the Planning Commission <br /> <br /> 1350 Lawrence #1 <br /> Eugene, OR 97401 <br /> 5 January 2005 <br /> <br />Eugene Planning Commission <br />99 West 10th Avenue <br />Eugene OR 97401 <br /> <br />Re: Draft Capital Improvement Plan <br />Commissioners <br /> <br /> Before ! comment on the Draft CIP ! would like to suggest a change in the procedure <br />followed in developing the CIP. Years ago annually each neighborhood submitted a <br />Neighborhood Needs Request. As its name implies, this document was a list of those things that <br />the neighborhood felt it needed or wanted. Over the years the list submitted by the Jefferson <br />Area Neighbors (now part of Jefferson Westside Neighbors included requests for a pedestrian <br />overpass across 18th Avenue (which was constructed after several years on the list), a swimming <br />pool (never constructed despite being requested for years) traffic calming, street trees, traffic <br />signals, sidewalk ramps and pedestrian refuges. These requests were merged by Neighborhood <br />Services and then distributed by them to the appropriate city departments to be considered when <br />they developed their part of the CIP. <br /> <br /> Given declining public resources, ! believe it is time to reimplement the Neighborhood <br />Needs Request program. By doing so City Staff would have an indication of the projects the <br />residents of Eugene consider important. Hopefully the City Staff would develop a CIP that the <br />public would support. <br /> <br />Capital Improvement Program <br /> <br /> As ! have bi-annually for too many years, ! will start my comments by requesting that the <br />Neighborwoods (street trees), street lights, sidewalk ramp and traffic calming programs be fully <br />funded. ! am at a loss to understand why every draft CIP lists these as unfunded while the <br />adopted CIP provides funding. As the amount of traffic in Eugene increases the need for these <br />programs also increases. <br /> <br /> As a frequent pedestrian ! am fully aware of the need for the proper lighting of our streets <br />to provide increased safety and security (as well as making flooded sidewalks visible at night). <br /> <br /> A the son of an elderly parent ! understand the need for sidewalk ramps at every street <br />crossing. The absence of these ramps converts our streets into impassable obstacles. <br /> <br /> L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M050307\S0503074.doc <br /> <br /> <br />