CC Minutes - 07/28/08 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Piercy noted her ex parte contact that occurred at the Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on July 10, 2008, during which a presentation on the bridge project was made by staff of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). She summarized what was presented by ODOT and said that citizens were given an opportunity to view the broadcast. Councilor Zelenka, who was also at the MPC meeting, declared the same ex parte contact. Mayor Piercy determined there was no one present who wished to rebut the information provided by ODOT. Councilor Bettman averred that while technically the council was being asked to approve fill inside the greenway, it was also being asked to approve the project as described in terms of scope, cost, and capacity. While she acknowledged there were no local funds involved, the council was “enabling” the State and federal government in constructing a bridge she maintained was larger and more expensive than would be needed for many years and which might never be used to full capacity because that capacity was predicated on widening I-5, which might not occur given the expense and lack of funding sources. The funding for the bridge, while not local, was still taxpayer money, and would be tied up in a bridge and not available for other projects on the State or federal system. She objected to that as being inefficient and wasteful given the needs that existed. For that reason, she would oppose the motion. Councilor Bettman recalled that Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken had indicated at the MPC meeting that he had an ex parte contact with Representative Peter DeFazio about the potential of adding ramps serving Franklin Boulevard to the bridge. The staff notes indicated that ramps could be accommodated, and she asked if there had been public discussion about that. Heather O’Donnell, associate planner, said that because staff hadn’t actually reviewed a design, she had been unable to respond to the question about ramps at the Joint Elected Officials meeting because there was nothing in the record in that regard. The applicant indicated they were only adjusting the existing ramps to make sure the new alignment would work. She indicated there was a comment in the applicant’s materials in the packet, which stated that it will be able to accommodate future ramps but that there’s no further information about that. Councilor Bettman said that the addition of ramps represented a “huge change” in the scope of the project. She asked if the council was “de facto” approving that by its approval of the motion. She questioned whether such ramps would require additional piers and river crossings. Councilor Bettman maintained that the issue of such ramps was “put to bed” during her first United Front trip, and expressed surprise that Mayor Leiken had been having high level discussions about it when the community did not know about it and such ramps would change the assumptions related to the bridge project. Ms. O’Donnell said that ODOT stated in its materials that the revision of the alignment of the ramps to meet the new bridges would not prohibit additional ramps that would be part of a different, future project. Councilor Bettman asked if that would cost additional money beyond that proposed. Councilor Bettman asked for a legal opinion as to whether council approval of the amendment conveyed any approval related to future ramps. City Attorney Jerome said no. She said the council was not being asked to approve any particular design through its approval of the Goal 15 exception. Councilor Bettman asked who approved the design. City Attorney Jerome did not know, noting that discussion of the bridge design was next on the agenda. Councilor Bettman asked if the council could condition its decision on future council approval of the proposed design to ensure they were not approving ramps, and that decision would have to be brought back to council. City Attorney Jerome did not think so. She believed this was the council’s sole decision point. MINUTES—Eugene City Council July 28, 2008 Page 10 Meeting