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Mayor Torrey opined that unless there was a parkway, West 11th Avenue would eventually fail and would <br />be very expensive to fix. He added that Barger Road, Highway 99, River Road, Delta Highway, and <br />Interstate 5 would also be endangered. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey said that the core reason for the West Eugene Wetlands Plan was to be a model for wetland <br />mitigation banking. He stressed that Eugene was a national model for that. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey noted that ODOT funds would be used to build the parkway. He opined that, if ODOT did <br />not have the funding for the entire parkway, the worst thing that could happen was that the first phase of the <br />project would get constructed. <br /> <br />Regarding the idea that the parkway would lead to urban sprawl, Mayor Torrey opined that it would do the <br />exact opposite. He stressed that the parkway would go into the core of a developed area. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey stressed the need for whatever decision the council made that evening to be defended and <br />promoted. He said that the council should make the vote happen and not make excuses for not allowing it to <br />happen. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson noted that there had been comments that the State money for the parkway could be used for <br />other local projects. She expressed her hope that the council and public was very clear that the money could <br />not just be transferred to other projects. She stressed that there was no identified funding source for <br />planning, acquisition, construction, or ongoing service of alternative projects to address the traffic problems <br />of west Eugene. <br /> <br />Mr. Farr stressed that the transportation plan for west Eugene was based upon the existence of the parkway <br />whether the council liked it or not. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap~ raised concern over Department of Land Conservation and Development comments regarding <br />zoning changes that would have to be made and possible lawsuits that would occur. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly expressed his desire to see some general ballot language for the ballot that the council could <br />approve before the end of the meeting. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey said that the voters pamphlet would provide adequate opportunity for comments for and <br />against the parkway. He commented that there were no easy answers, and urged the council not to take <br />options away from Eugene citizens. <br />Ms. Taylor opined that the council was acting in haste without enough information. She commented that <br />everything that might be done did not need to be put on a ballot. She added that one side of the issue would <br />have all the money and raised concern that the people with money always won elections. She opined that the <br />City could not count on people reading voters pamphlets thoroughly and raised concern over the costs <br />involved in holding a general election. <br /> <br />Mr. Rayor stressed the importance of full disclosure of all information on the issue so that citizens could <br />make truly informed decisions. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />