CC Minutes - 04/11/05 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Theresa Slocum, 621 River Avenue, owned three lots that bordered River Avenue. She reported that ODOT had already contacted the property owners in the 1990s to tell them that the entrance to Beltline Road from River Avenue did not meet safety regulations and that it was slated to be closed. She observed that the planned improvements were based on a classification of major collector, but ODOT was drawing up a plan to make it a dead end. In looking at the businesses on the east end of the avenue, she underscored that they were not the sorts of businesses that people walked to. She maintained that there was no bus service on River Avenue because there was no need. She cited as most important to her that the government agencies work together. She asked that the City not engage in a project that ODOT might later come in and undo. Lloyd Henson, 2420 Wilbur Avenue, indicated that he owned property at 795 River Avenue. He opined it was an expensive project with unnecessary bicycle paths. He pointed out that there was already a bicycle path on the south side of the wastewater management plant. He questioned the wisdom of eliminating on- street parking for vehicles while creating bicycle parking. He noted that the post office and other businesses sometimes had parking overflow onto the street. He did not think wide sidewalks were necessary. He agreed that River Avenue needed work, but disagreed with the scope of the project as proposed. Yuri Samer, 1790 Brewer Avenue, related that he commuted by bicycle to the Yujin Gakuen Japanese Immersion/Corridor School every Monday. He attested to the need for road improvements as there were potholes in the pavement and motorized vehicles in close proximity due to the lack of a shoulder. He knew from work on committees in the City that there were plans to continue River Avenue and improvements in the future on the hook that went under Beltline Road. He thought that would allow pedestrians and bicyclists to come off the bike path and avoid all of the traffic on River Road and Beltline Road, while providing an intersection of the north-south bicycle route. He added that he had witnessed senior citizens and children walking by the side of River Avenue. Mr. Samer sympathized with people who were "clobbered" with the cost of improvements. He recommended finding a different funding resource. Lewis Rucker, 87448 Territorial Road, Veneta, said he owned two parcels on River Avenue. He also agreed that River Avenue needed work. However, he averred the scope of the project was overbuilt. He thought spending $2.3 million on eight-tenths of a mile was too much. He was puzzled why the increase in gasoline taxes would not help to pay for the improvements. He stated that the man who owned low-income apartments on River Avenue had indicated that residents would pay the cost of the assessments through increased rent. Mr. Rucker asked that the project be undertaken at night in order not to hinder the businesses in the area. Mike Lawrence, 2953 Dry Creek Road, spoke on behalf of the North Eugene Faith Center, Four Square Church, located at 151 River Avenue. He explained that he had been pastor at the church for one month. He said the church was a small congregation that had owned its property for 22 years. He stated that its outreach and ministry was to some of the less economically advantaged communities on River Road and River Avenue, particularly the low-income apartments across the road from the church. He indicated that the assessments to the church could potentially cost at least two jobs. He reiterated that while the road needed improvements, it did not need improvements on the magnitude the City had proposed. He noted that he traveled the east end of the avenue several times a day and had yet to see a pedestrian beyond the post office. He registered the church's opposition to the proposed LID as currently planned. MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 11, 2005 Page 13 Regular Session