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Mayor Piercy stated that she and Mr. Papé would be pleased to share additional information about <br />the trip and voiced hope that others (both council members and constituents) would become <br />involved in some manner with Eugene’s sister cities. <br /> <br />Mr. Papé echoed Mayor Piercy’s comments and said the trip was one of the most interesting he <br />had ever experienced due to its non-tourist form in the manner of home stays, visits to schools, <br />and the visit to the Holt Agency. With regard to the Holt Agency, he noted his renewed <br />appreciation of the work of Bertha and Harry Holt, which lives on in that part of the world. <br />Additionally, he spoke of his visit to Hynix and shared that it was looking to expand its plant in <br />Eugene, which would be a welcome economic boost to the community. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy spoke of the “Slow Life Movement” that had been implemented in Kakegawa, a <br />model that she found most impressive. Additionally, she spoke of the “connection” that presents <br />itself with the Sister City Program and noted an example that was currently taking place in Korea <br />in that children with disabilities were being mainstreamed into schools, which changes the <br />services that were provided to them. Agencies were looking to the Pearl Buck Center as a model <br />for such changes. She stressed that these community-to-community connections seem even more <br />important in a world with many troubling issues. In conclusion, Mayor Piercy commented that <br />she was honored to travel to these cities and share her insights with the community. She then <br />displayed the gifts that had been bestowed to the delegation. Mr. Papé thanked the City Council <br />for allowing the funding for the trip. <br /> <br /> <br />C. I-5 FRANKLIN PROPOSED INTERCHANGE PROJECT UPDATE <br /> <br />Senior Transportation Planner Lisa Gardner stated this agenda item would be the council’s third <br />briefing on the I-5 Franklin Interchange Project. She noted that Phase 2, the input process, was <br />nearing completion and that a series of public workshops would be scheduled in early December, <br />with the Eugene workshop to be held on December 8, in the Eugene City Library. Following that <br />process, Ms. Gardner explained, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) would meet <br />with elected officials to ascertain approval of the process to date. <br /> <br />Ms. Gardner proceeded to introduce Tom Boyatt, Senior Planner at ODOT, Sam Suskind of <br />CH2M Hill, and Brian Ray of Kittleson Associates, who she stated would provide a project <br />overview and answer the council’s questions. <br /> <br />Mr. Boyatt reviewed his memorandum of November 7 entitled I-5/Franklin Proposed <br />Interchange Update. He spoke to the interchange concepts, the study purpose, benefits of a new <br />interchange, traffic and circulation benefits, and project issues. Mr. Boyatt opined that no <br />transportation problems presented themselves at this time. <br /> <br />Mr. Boyatt encouraged the council to ponder what priority it deemed prudent to set for this <br />project. He then spoke to policy issues, namely the Major Investments Policy and the Federal <br />Highways Policy on Access to the Interstate System and said these policies do not preclude <br />building an interchange in the area; rather, there was a process that would need to be adhered to -- <br />assuming it was a priority. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy called for council comments and questions. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 14, 2005 Page 4 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br />