02/15/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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there was a demonstrated need and the City should be able to come up with the money by exploring every possibility. Mayor Keller said he felt the Council had gone on record as being in ~ favor of the improvement project, but the financing vehicle had been eliminated. He said there is very little State money allocated to Eugene. He recognized citizens of the City lived there and felt Council and the City should be talking to the Department of Trans- portation to take care of this State. problem. He felt there would be very little support in the community to spend $1.7 million for a small portion of the highway. Mr. Allen said the total figure to be paid by the City would be $1.8 million with that figure increasing weekly due to inflation costs. He also said Federal funding had been sought and that was not available. Mr. Bradley again said he felt the City had an obligation to the citi- zens who lived there and should pursue the project. He noted at the public hearing, the ABC were in support of the project. The only adverse comments heard were from property owners because of assess- ments that would accrue to them. Mr. Delay said in going back to the root of the problem, it was a shock to find that the State1s six-year plan had dropped the Highway 99 pro- ject. He noted the City pays taxes and there seemed to be some problem of the State facing up to its responsibilities. He felt it necessary that Council and community keep continued pressure on the State to face up to its responsibilities, as the City simply cannot pay for those kinds of projects. He did not support the idea of local funds being used, but did support the idea that pressure be mounted at the State level, noting that there are real hazards and a need for improvement in that area. Ms. Smith supported Mr. Delay.s remarks. Mr. Allen said he wanted to make a correction for Council in that the money that was allocated was a local determination left up to the community through L-COG in a process of pub1ic hearing. The bond issue funds were allocated from the state, and the City received only $290,000 for this project. He said there are other sources of State funding and the staff is making demands on the State for funding of this project. However, the State could not be blamed for the little amount of money allocated for this project, as it was a local determination. e Mr. Williams noted there was an opinion with the Highway Division that Eugene had said it did not want any roads because of the Freeway Amendment. He said one of the costs of that attitude is that the kind of problem facing the Council today. City Manager noted staff and Mayor were making some inroads to the Department of Transportation in that respect. The six-year plan is in the process of revision with additional funding hopefully coming to Eugene. Mayor Keller said he recognized the initial six-year plan had ignored the demands of the City, and letters had been written and discussions held with State officials, indicating Eugene feels it should have some priority. He said that process would continue. 2/15(78--10 e III