CC Minutes - 07/08/02 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ordinance No. 2: An Ordinance Amending the West Eugene Wetlands Plan to Redesignate Property Within the Modified Project Alignment of the West Eugene Parkway from Protect and Restore to Planned Transportation Corridor; Adopting a Severability Clause; and Providing an Effective Date Mayor Torrey noted his ownership of property on West 11th Avenue and said that, in the past, he had been challenged regarding his impartiality to act on the issue of the West Eugene Parkway because of that ownership. The State Ethics Commission determined he did not have a conflict of interest in regard to the issue. He requested legal advice on the issue from City Attorney Lidz. Mr. Lidz confirmed the mayor's lack of a conflict of interest. At the most, Mr. Lidz stated, the mayor would have a potential conflict of interest, and having declared that conflict and its nature, he would be free to participate in the discussion and to vote. City Manager Carlson said that the council would consider Council Bill 4795, an ordinance amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area Transportation Plan (TransPlan) to include the entire West Eugene Parkway within the 20-Year Financially Constrained Roadway Project List and to make related amendments; amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan to adopt exceptions to Statewide Planning Goals 3, 4, 11 and 14; adopting a severability clause; and providing an effective date; with Exhibit A replacement pages 1-4, 6, 7 and 50 and replacement Exhibit C, Findings. Councilor Kelly, seconded by Councilor Pap~, moved that the bill, with the unanimous consent of the council, be read the second time by council bill number only, and that enactment be considered at this time. Mayor Torrey solicited council comments on the motion. Councilor Kelly said the City must act in a manner that was consistent with law. He said that the council had fulfilled the direction of the November 2001 vote. Councilor Kelly said that the advisory bodies and the elected and appointed officials examined the laws to determine if the amendments conformed. He found it telling that of the four advisory bodies, only the Eugene Planning Commission took the time to study the law and subsequently had recommended against the amendments. On the basis of his examination of the record, Councilor Kelly agreed with the commission's conclusion. He believed the parkway survived on momentum rather than merit. He believed there was evidence to reject the amendments. He termed the parkway a "$100 million band-aid" that would provide minimal benefits. It was not the answer to congestion in west Eugene and it had a tremendous cost and no benefits he could perceive. Councilor Kelly said the community should not expect construction to begin soon. He believed that approval of the amendments would result in years of litigation that would dived the community away from constructive work on its transportation needs. Councilor Fart said that on November 6, 2001, the council asked the community if it wished it to pursue the parkway. The answer was yes, and he believed it was the council's job to listen to the people. It was not the council's job to weigh in on the legality of the issues involved. He said the council had an opportunity to restore faith with the voters and move ahead with the parkway. Councilor Fart said he had recently held a community meeting in the Bethel area regarding the parkway, and there was unanimous support for the parkway among those northwest Eugene residents in attendance. The parkway would benefit Bethel residents. He said it would be a shame if the council ignored the will of the voters on the issue. MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 8, 2002 Page 9 Regular Meeting