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(~ Public Works Engineering City of Eugene March 1, 2005 244 East Broadway Eugene, Oregon 97401 (541) 682-5560 (541) 682-8410 Fax 1704132100400000 93003693 HOWARD GORDON B & CONNIE R P.O. BOX 775 PLEASANT HILL OR. 97455 Subject: River Avenue Street Improvement Project - Job #3693 Dear Property Owner and/or Resident: Recent action by the Lane County Board of Commissioners has allowed the City of Eugene to continue to work towards improving River Avenue to urban standards. This letter provides updates and information on a number of issues related to the proposed River Avenue street improvement project. We've used a "question and answer" format we hope you will fred useful. 1. Why is the City of Eugene continuing to work on improvements to River Avenue? Improving River Avenue to urban standards has been identified for almost 20 years as a necessary improvement to the street network in the metropolitan area. River Avenue provides access to River Road, Beltline Highway, Division Avenue and the area north of Beltline in Santa Clara, as well as two connection points to the Willamette River bike path system, 32 commercial parcels, four residentially zoned properties, and the Regional Water Pollution Control Facility. As a result of increased use of the roadway, the existing roadbed is deteriorating and needs to be upgraded. Development in this general area has created a need to accommodate a variety of transportation users, including motorists, bicyclists, bus riders, pedestrians, and individuals in wheelchairs. There are safety concerns for all street users, particularly pedestrians and bicyclists, due to the existing shoulder widths being narrow and unpaved. Eugene, Springfield and Lane County in 1986 adopted the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, which included this project. The project was included in an update of the plan in 2002. The Eugene City Council in 1999 adopted the Arterial and Collector Street Plan, which established the street design standards used for this project. This project design Was initiated by the Council in June 2000 in the course of adopting the 2001 capital budget. 2.What actions have occurred since last summer? Upon hearing of the receipt of remonstrances (objections) at the City's public hearing in July 2004, the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) in August 2004 voted against giving the City permission to assess the 10 unincorporated properties adjacent to River Avenue. Without the ability to assess those properties for their share of the project costs, the City did not have sufficient funds to go forward with the project. Subsequently, the BCC agreed to discuss the issue again. On February 9, 2005, the BCC voted to allow the City to assess the unincorporated properties adjacent to River Avenue. 3. What process will the City Council use to decide whether to proceed with this project? The next step is a City Council public hearing regarding the formation of a local improvement district (LID) for this project. That hearing is tentatively scheduled for April 11, 2005. You will receive formal notice of the hearing, with the exact time and location, at least 10 days prior to the hearing. River Avenue Exhibit C