Item 5: Ordinance Levying Assessments for West University Alleys

Home Browse Search

EXHIBIT B FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS SUBJECT: PROPOSED FINAL ASSESSMENT FOR IMPROVEMENTS CONSISTING OF ALLEY PAVING LOCATED IN THE WEST UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD GENERALLY BOUNDED BY WILLAMETTE STREET, 19TH AVENUE, KINCAID STREET, AND FRANKLIN BOULEVARD (CONTRACT 2005-30, 2005-29, AND 2005-28) (JOB #4172, 4310 AND 4309) BACKGROUND The West University Neighborhood area, generally bounded by Willamette Street, 19th Avenue, Kincaid Street, and Franklin Boulevard, is adjacent to downtown and is the City's most densely populated neighborhood. The alleys of the West University Area are an important element in the character of the area. Some businesses in effect front on the alleys, and numerous residences of both single and multi-family character use the alleys as the primary means of access. Due to an increase in criminal activity and nuisance behaviors in the last few years, the riot of 2002, and concerns about the decline in appearance of the area, former Eugene Mayor Jim Torrey and University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer formed the West University Neighborhood (WUN) Task Force to develop immediate and long-term solutions to the safety and livability issues facing the area. The task force was comprised of neighborhood stakeholders, such as residents, local business owners, and non-profit organizations. Representatives from the Eugene City Council, Planning Commission, Police Commission, and the Associated Students of the University of Oregon were also included, as was staff from the City and University. The meetings were open to the public and run in an informal manner to invite broad participation by other interested members of the public. One outcome of the West University Neighborhood Task Force was an evaluation of needed improvements to reverse negative trends in the area. The Task Force identified the unimproved or deteriorated condition of some of the area's alleys as a part of the problem. One of the high priority recommendations of the Task Force Report was improvements to those alleys in the neighborhood that were deteriorated below standards. The Eugene City Council received the Task Force Report and held several work sessions on the recommendations. One of the outcomes was a series of actions regarding alley improvements. The City Council held a work session on November 24, 2003 to review a report from the City Engineer covering feasibility and estimated cost to improve the unimproved alleys, funding sources, possible assessments, assessment code issues, design standards, timing and a proposed implementation plan. City Council directed staff to proceed with the implementation plan to improve the unimproved alleys, and to pursue other potential additional funding sources to replace Community Development Block Grant monies for the non-assessable costs,of improvements. LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ASSESSMENTS FOR ALLEY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WEST UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD Page 1