CC Minutes - 01/24/05 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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included two public hearings. Ms. Ortiz agreed with Mr. Pap6 that to do nothing was not an option. The council had responsibility to provide the community with safe roads for cars to drive along and sidewalks for people to walk along. City Manager Taylor emphasized the importance of continuing the dialogue between the City and the residents. Ms. Bettman said she found the neighborhood to be organized, respectful, and informed about the issues involved. For example, the neighborhood had conducted its own transportation study. She had not heard from the neighbors that they did not want to improve the roads. She heard that they understood the need, wanted the roads to be safe, and wanted the improved road not to affect their property values. Ms. Bettman thought the residents had been reasonable and sensible about the need to pay for street improvements. She thought they were the optimal group of neighbors to work with. Ms. Bettman said she did not consider the neighborhood meetings that initially occurred to represent a two- way dialogue. She found the design charette chaotic and did not think it achieved the goals. She thought it was premature to ask for an LID at this point without the neighbors having any assurance of the ultimate design. She believed that if the council sought to form an LID ahead of the design agreement and the residents agreed, they would be trading away their influence. Mr. Poling asked what type of public involvement had occurred since the council's last discussion on the topic. Mr. Schoening said the only public outreach that occurred was notice of the City Manger's decision to delay the decision in November 2004. Neighbors were notified of this meeting and the availability of related materials on the City's Web site last week. Mr. Poling determined from Mr. Schoening that if the proposed resolution passed, the City would be borrowing money from the Assessment Fund to start the design process; those residents involved in the LID would see no assessments until the completion of construction. Mr. Poling referred to Option 3, and asked what effect soliciting funding from the County would have on the City's future efforts to secure Road Fund money for preservation and maintenance. Mr. Schoening believed it would send a mixed message to the Board of County Commissioners. In this case, modernization funds would be involved rather than preservation and maintenance funds. Mr. Poling wanted to know the answers to the questions posed by Mr. Kelly regarding other City road projects. Mayor Piercy asked the manager for suggestions on how to proceed. City Manager Taylor supported the staff recommendation. He said that the City did not have a ready source of funds outside the Assessment Fund to underwrite the design process. He noted that the improvements on Garden Way and Ayres Road were largely funded by assessments. Mayor Piercy called on the council for a second round of comments and questions. Ms. Taylor recalled the reopening of Broadway was paid for by County Road Funds. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 24, 2005 Page 6 Work Session