02/09/1987 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e Mr. Gleason said the council adopted a work plan which estab1ished a schedule for hearings concerning changes to Willamette Street. He said the Downtown Commissioners will be confused if the schedule is not maintained. Answering questions from Ms. Wooten, Mr. McKinley said the funding for projects in the CIP begins July 1. Consequently, the feasibility study for opening Willamette Street to traffic would not begin before July 1. Ms. Wooten said she is undecided about the opening of Willamette Street to vehicular traffic from 8th to 10th avenues but it seems that the council is being pressured to approve the opening. She said including the project in the CIP seems to be a way of getting the project started before the council has made a decision about it. She suggested the project be delayed in the CIP until the council has made a decision about it. Replying to questions from Mr. Bennett, Mr. McKinley said including projects in the CIP permits work to being on them soon if the projects are approved. He said the opening of Willamette Street will be included in the CATS and Urban Renewal Plan and the council will consider them specifically when it considers those plans. Mr. Gleason added that the inclusion of a project in the CIP does not force or preclude approval of the projects by the council. However, the projects in the CIP are included in the proposed Executive Budget. Mr. Bennett said the Willamette Street projects have been discussed by the council and the schedule is consistent with the discussions. He said the Downtown Commissioners are following the schedule and he is prepared to discuss the projects. Mr. Miller said projects included in the CIP have momentum. He said the council could insert the Willamette Street projects in the CIP after approving them. Mr. Rutan said the council received the CIP some time ago and deletion of the Willamette Street projects would be disconserting. Ms. Schue said the council indicated it would not make a decision about opening up Willamette Street to two-way traffic until it had more information. She said including the project in the CIP indicates a decision has been made. Ms. Ehrman poi nted out that the recommendation to move $200,000 for the redesign/reconstruction of Willamette Street from 8th to 10th avenues had not been discussed by the Budget Committee or the council. Answering questions from Ms. Bascom, Mr. McKinley reviewed the recommendation to move $200,000 for redesign studies of Willamette Street ahead in the CIP. He said a study of converting Willamette Street to two-way traffic from 13th to 20th avenues is in the CATS and the $20,000 in the CIP is for implementing the change if it is approved. Ms. Bascom said the council should respond to the concerns expressed by the Budget Committee about including the Willamette Street projects in the CIP and to the Downtown Commission recommendation about moving $200,000 for the redesign of Willamette Street ahead in the CIP. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 9, 1987 Page 14