Item 2G: Res.on LID/West Univ. - Laserfiche WebLink

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MEMORANDUM DATE: April 20, 2005 FROM: Mark Schoening, City Engineer TO: Hearings Official SUBJECT: PROPOSED LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FORMATION FOR 23 VARIOUS ALLEY LOCATIONS IN Tile WEST UNIVERSITY NEIGItBORItOOD GENERALLY BOUNDED BY WILLAMETTE STREET, 19TH AVENUE, KINCAID STREET, AND FRANKLIN BOULEVARD. (JOB//4172, 4309 AND 4310) (SEE ATTACItMENT "A" FOR DESCRIPTIONS OF ALLEYS) BACKGROUND The West University Neighborhood area generally bounded by Willamette Street, 19th Avenue, Kincaid Street, and Franklin Boulevard is adjacent to downtown and is the City's most densely populated neighborhood. Due to an increase in criminal activity and nuisance behaviors, in the last few years, the riot of 2002, and concerns about the decline in appearance of the area, Eugene former Mayor Jim Torrey and University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer formed the West University Neighborhood (WUN) Task Force to develop immediate and long-term solutions to the safety and livability issues facing the area. The task force was comprised neighborhood stakeholders, such as residents, local business owners, and non-profit organizations. Representatives from the Eugene City Council, Planning Commission, Police Commission, and the Associated Students of the University of Oregon were also included, as was staff from the City and University. The meetings were open to the public and run in an informal manner to invite broad participation by other interested members of the public. The City Council held a work session on June 9, 2003 to review and approve the WUN Task Force Final Report (see Attachment B). The City Council directed the City Manager to analyze the recommendations of the Task Force and provide the Council with an implementation plan. One of the high priority long-term recommendations was to improve the alleys in the neighborhood. The City Council held a work session on November 24, 2003 to review a report from the City Engineer covering feasibility and estimated cost to improve the unimproved alleys, funding sources, range of estimated assessments, assessment code issues, design standards, timing and a proposed implementation plan. City Council directed staff to proceed with the implementation plan to improve the unimproved alleys, and to pursue other potential additional funding sources to replace Community Development Block Grant monies for the non- assessable costs of improvements. On January 12, 2004, City Council adopted a motion directing staff to proceed with design and bidding of a project to improve the unimproved alleys within the WUN. On May 10, 2004, Council revised the assessment code for alleys to assess all costs associated with the alley improvements. The 23 unimproved alleys in the WUN were separated into three bidding contracts and were opened on April 5, 6, and 7, 2005. The apparent low bidder(s) were 2G Construction for Job//4172, & Job #4310 and Brown Contracting Job #4309. The property owners were notified of the pending Local Improvement District (LID)