Item 5: Ordinance Levying Assessments for West University Alleys

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MEMORANDUM DATE: January 30, 2006 FROM: Mark Schoening, City Engineer TO: Hearings Official SUBJECT: PROPOSED FINAL ASSESSMENT FOR IMPROVEMENTS CONSISTING OF ALLEY PAVING LOCATED IN THE WEST UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD GENERALLY BOUNDED BY WILLAMETTE STREET, 19TH A VENUE, KINCAID STREET, AND FRANKLIN BOULEVARD (CONTRACTS 2005-30, 2005-29, AND 2005-28) (JOB #'S 4172,4310 AND 4309) (SEE ATTACHMENT "A" FOR DESCRIPTIONS OF ALLEYS) 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. 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. The City Council held a work session on June 9, 2003 to review and approve the WUN Task Force Final Report. The City Council directed the City Manager to analyze the recommendations of the Task Force and provide the Council with an implementation plan. One of the high priority long-term recommendations was to improve the alleys in the neighborhood. 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, range of estimated 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. On January 12,2004, City Council adopted a motion directing staff to proceed with design and bidding ofa project to improve the unimproved alleys within the WUN. On March 8, 2004 City Council held a work session on proposed changes to the assessment code pertaining to alleys. On April12, 2004 a public hearing was held before the City Council on proposed changes to the assessment code pertaining to alleys. Various assessment methods were considered using examples which showed the financial impact of each method to properties on the West University Alleys.