CC Minutes - 05/27/03 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES Eugene City Council McNutt Room-City Hall May 27, 2003 5:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Gary PapS, Nancy Nathanson, Scott Meisner, David Kelly, Betty Taylor, Bonny Bettman, Jennifer Solomon, George Poling. As Mayor James D. Torrey had not arrived, Council President Gary Pap8 called the meeting to order. A. ITEMS FROM MAYOR, COUNCIL, AND CITY MANAGER Mr. Poling had no items. Mr. Kelly referred City Manager Dennis Taylor to an e-mail he sent to the council and staff on May 23 regarding the temporary Interstate 5 bridge replacement over the Willamette River and asked that the information requested be available prior to the joint elected officials meeting. City Manager Taylor indicated that the requested information would be sent out well in advance of the meeting. Ms. Solomon reminded the council of the "We Are Bethel Celebration," which would occur on May 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Petersen Barn. There would be many family-oriented activities scheduled throughout the day. She encouraged councilors to attend the event. Ms. Nathanson said she had sent an e-mail to the council about an opportunity to move some above-ground utilities underground. The opportunity had arisen in conjunction with the first phase of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project on Franklin Boulevard. She noted that the City and the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) had an agreement calling for utilities to be undergrounded when possible for aesthetic and safety reasons. She noted that the corridor in question was part of the recent Downtown Visioning process, and the two-block area involved included the edge of the Riverfront Renewal District and was adjacent to the site of the new federal courthouse. Ms. Nathanson, seconded by Ms. Solomon, moved to request that the City Manager bring back a proposal to the council for participating in a project to underground the utilities for the section where utilities were being impacted by the BRT project, and describe how Riverfront Renewal District and any other potential funding sources would be used for Eugene's share of the cost, to be shared also with the Lane Transit District (LTD) and EWEB. Ms. Bettman thought the idea in the motion laudable but suggested that the topic should be the subject of a work session. She questioned the use of urban renewal dollars given that a public MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 27, 2003 Page 1 Work Session