Item 2A: Approval of Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lloyd Henson, 2420 Wilbur Avenue, indicated that he owned property at 795 River Avenue. He opined it was an expensive project with unnecessary bicycle paths. He pointed out that there was already a bicycle path on the south side of the wastewater management plant. He questioned the wisdom of eliminating on-street parking for vehicles while creating bicycle parking. He noted that the post office and other businesses sometimes had parking overflow onto the street. He did not think wide sidewalks were necessary. He agreed that River Avenue needed work, but disagreed with the scope of the project as proposed. Ynri Samer, 1790 Brewer Avenue, related that he commuted by bicycle to the Yujin Gakuen Japanese Immersion/Corridor School every Monday. He attested to the need for road improvements as there were potholes in the pavement and motorized vehicles in close proximity due to the lack of a shoulder. He knew from work on committees in the City that there were plans to continue River Avenue and improvements in the future on the hook that went under Beltline Road. He thought that would allow pedestrians and bicyclists to come off the bike path and avoid all of the traffic on River Road and Beltline Road, while providing an intersection of the north-south bicycle route. He added that he had witnessed senior citizens and children walking by the side of River Avenue. Mr. Samer sympathized with people who were "clobbered" with the cost of improvements. He recommended finding a different funding resource. Lewis Rucker, 87448 Territorial Road, Veneta, said he owned two parcels on River Avenue. He also agreed that River Avenue needed work. However, he averred the scope of the project was overbuilt. He thought spending $2.3 million on eight-tenths of a mile was too much. He was puzzled why the increase in gasoline taxes would not help to pay for the improvements. He stated that the man who owned low- income apartments on River Avenue had indicated that residents would pay the cost of the assessments through increased rent. Mr. Rucker asked that the project be undertaken at night in order not to hinder the businesses in the area. Mike Lawrence, 2953 Dry Creek Road, spoke on behalf of the North Eugene Faith Center, Four Square Church, located at 151 River Avenue. He explained that he had been pastor at the church for one month. He said the church was a small congregation that had owned its property for 22 years. He stated that its outreach and ministry was to some of the less economically advantaged communities on River Road and River Avenue, particularly the low-income apartments across the road from the church. He indicated that the assessments to the church could potentially cost at least two jobs. He reiterated that while the road needed improvements, it did not need improvements on the magnitude the City had proposed. He noted that he traveled the east end of the avenue several times a day and had yet to see a pedestrian beyond the post office. He registered the church's opposition to the proposed LID as currently planned. Chuck Meeker, 309 River Avenue - 333 River Avenue, owner of Clemens Marina, said the project, as designed, was "way out of control." He referred to comments by Ms. Cahill in which she had indicated that River Avenue was classified as a maj or collector street, with traffic volumes in the mid-range of the major collector standards on the west end. He reiterated that the street was .8 miles long. He thought the traffic count numbers dropped dramatically once one drove past the post office. He questioned the wisdom of spending that kind of money on the entire road, given the dearth of traffic on the east end of it. He noted, as a point of information, that McKenzie View Drive, a 6.1 mile road with 82 driveways and 15 MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 11, 2005 Page 13 Regular Session