05/09/1984 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e In response to a question, Mr. McCoy stated that the DTC would be making its presentations to a wide range of neighborhood, arts, and ~ business groups. Councilor Smith requested that the council be provided with summaries of the public hearings for review. In response to a question on the neighborhood groups requesting the DTC presentation, Mr. McCoy stated that the DTC will be addressing the Neighborhood Leaders and those neighborhood groups bordering the downtown. He added that the DTC was willing to address any group request- ing the presentation. B. Renewal Plan Amendment (Wi11amette and 10th/11th Avenues) Mr. McCoy said the DTC wanted to begin its Renewal Plan Amendment process immediately following the forwarding of the draft Downtown Plan to the Planning Commission in order to provide ample opportunity for public comment on the plan. He said the opening of Willamette Street at 10th and 11th avenues was a major project and required public input. He stated that the council and the Planning Commission will begin work on the plan in September, with construction to begin in November. Mr. McCoy felt that this construction schedule would be inappropriate due to the nearness of the Christmas season. Referring to the May 4, 1984, memorandum, he stated that he supported the EDD staff recommenda- tion that construction be postponed until March 1985. In response to a question, he said the construction period would be approximately four months. Mr. Filer entered the meeting at this time. Councilor Hansen expressed concern with having the mall area torn up with construction during the summer; he stressed that construction should be completed by May 1985. Councilor Wooten said the City Council was the Eugene Renewal Agency and therefore could possibly shorten the time frame for the amendment process. Ms. Stewart agreed that the time frame for the design review could be compressed, but she added that it was still necessary for the Planning Commission to review the plan. Ms. Wooten suggested that some of the public hearings could be held jointly with the Planning Commission. Councilor Obie agreed with Ms. Wooten's comments, stressing the importance of the input of the DTC. He suggested that construction could begin in January or February 1985. City Manager Michea1 Gleason stated that preliminary construction could begin in January or February 1985 but added it was unrealistic to assume that construction could be completed in less than four months. He explained that the purchase and delivery of the mastheads for lighting and signalization would take approximately nine to eleven months and could be done only after the intersection was designed. While he agreed with the need to push ahead with the date, he did not believe that the street could be opened prior to Christmas 1984 or before March 1985. In response to a question on temporary signalization, Mr. Gleason said the key factor was the relationship of the Lane Transit District buses and their ingress/access in the design. He stressed that the signaling must be totally reliable to avoid any accident or tort risk. He added that mastheads would still be necessary for signalization. City Attorney Tim Sercombe said the design and the installation of the lighting and signalization must conform with State statutes. Mr. Gleason said that the City's only protection against tort liability was that the lighting and signalization meet State and Federal standards. In response to a question, MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 9, 1984 Page 7