01/23/1984 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e Barbara Kelley, 540 Kingswood Avenue, speaking for the 1,000 members of Save Our EcoSystems, asked the City Council if they had read the SOS letter to the Planning Commission. She summarized the letter which addressed the lead fumes found in Los Angeles and how trees help clean the air. Referring to page 18 of the Environmental Assessment, she said the carbon monoxide levels are above the national average and that widening the streets and inviting more traffic would increase those levels. She felt that it is against the public trust to hear the majority in opposition to the project and then approve the project. She felt that the testimony presented to the Planning Commission was eloquent and know- ledgeable. She said a referendum should be established to have the public vote on the project if the City Council wants to go against the majority. She questioned the reason for having public hearings if the council did not listen to the public opinion. She said the Eugene and Springfield Metropolitan Plan does not accommodate the automobile. She felt that it is sometimes best not to compromise in public life and that any excess money in the State Budget should be put to use in other areas such as bicycle paths and seatbelts in vehicles transporting athletes. Sharon Genasci, 980 East 19th Avenue, said the City should concentrate on the history of the trees. She reviewed the history of Francis Wilkins, a former Mayor of Eugene and member of the Park Board, who was responsible for numerous City parks and tree plantings. She said his father planted orange trees in various areas around Eugene. She said the trees on 6th and 7th Avenues are an important part of Eugene's heritage and the present discussion should focus on how to maintain the trees for future generations. She stated that she had an audio tape of a conversation with Gladys McCready and would play it for the council if time permitted. Mayor Keller asked that the tape be held until the end of the public hearing, at which time it would be heard if time allowed. Ms. Genasci said that people stated that a critical need for the project existed, but the population figures did not support these statements. She said it is a disgrace for a public hearing to be held on a project that would not be necessary for another 20 to 30 years. Don Genasci, 980 East 19th Avenue, stated that a distinction should be made between the eastern portion of the project presently being considered and the portion west of the Washington Street Bridge. He said the eastern portion of the project is scheduled to have a 30 percent traffic increase as listed in the Environmental Assessment document and the western portion is scheduled to have a 160 percent increase. He said these figures questioned the need for four lanes in the eastern portion. He said that the proposal for three safe lanes would be adequate to handle the projected population as calculated by Portland State University. Jon Silvermoon, 47-1/2 West 25th Avenue, reviewed the Planning Commission recommendations to the City Council. He stated that the project is a land use action and must therefore address LCDC goals. He stated that the Environmental Assessment cites only the environmental design element of the Metropolitan Plan and only select findings within that element; it does not cite other elements or goals within the Environmental Design Element. He said other elements could be selected which oppose the project, citing specific goals in the Environmental MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 23, 1984 Page 12