CC Minutes - 01/21/98 Work Session

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true but the reality was that many residents would have jobs and child care needs that will require some parking, although not as much as outside the core area. Glen Svendsen, Public Works Department, presented background on financial status of the Road Fund. Ms. Elmer stressed the poor condition of the Road Fund and the City's continued disinvestment in its road infrastructure. Ms. Andersen concurred. She said that the longer it took the organization to establish a stable funding system for roads the more costly the problem becomes. Delaying road maintenance dramatically increased its costs. She said that Eugene, like many Oregon communities, had serious maintenance backlogs to address. She suggested that there may be an opportunity through the League of Oregon Cities to address the issue on a more comprehensive, statewide basis. Mr. Svendsen noted that the TransPlan update would include a financial section addressing the issue from a metropolitan approach and suggesting metropolitan wide approaches. Mr. Lee said that the City needed to address the issue as soon as possible. He suggested that the council establish improving the condition of the Road Fund as a short-term goal and consider revenues that might be available to finance road construction and maintenance. Responding to a question from Ms. Swanson Gribskov, Ms. Andersen anticipated that the TransPlan update would be presented to the council within the year; she was unsure about the precise timing of the public review process. Ms. Nathanson said that there was considerable wear and tear on city roads from heavy equipment, and when utilities made road cuts improperly, those cuts contributed to deterioration and shortened the life of the road. She said that it appeared that while the City's financial outlook worsened, the City street systems were under increasing pressure. Ms. Andersen concurred. She said that heavy axle vehicles had the biggest impact on roads. She said that the City was building to respond to growth but the result was that the deficit picture was getting worse. Mr. Tollenaar said it would be helpful to have a list of specific projects that comprise the maintenance backlog. He asked if staff had an estimate of what a local gas tax would realize. Mr. Svendsen estimated such a tax would realize $500,000 annually. He said that it was a cost- effective approach toward funding that would raise issues with ODOT and change the City's position relative to shared projects. Mr. Farr asked if the council could move money from the Parking Fund to the Road fund. Ms. Andersen was unaware of any legal barrier to such a transfer, although she noted that a connection between a revenue source and its intended use was often the key to securing public support for a revenue measure. Mr. Farr pointed out that there was a natural relationship between parking and peoples' use of the roads. Mr. Meisner said that people who drive are the people creating the problem. He said that traditionally, a family had a vehicle, not all family members, and cars were used for important errands but not every errand. He said that more people were driving all the time and in addition were driving big offroad vehicles. He feared that "if we build it they will come," suggesting no matter what the organization built, resurfaced, repaved, or improved, it would not be enough. The meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 21, 1998 Page 8 11:30 a.m.