CC Minutes - 01/23/06 Work Session

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? A collaborative process with all stakeholders to look seriously at WEP alternatives was suggested by Mayor Piercy ? FHWA agreed to a collaborative process within the timeframe of the ongoing NEPA process after technical work had been completed and before the community forum and record of decision ? Eugene’s MPC representatives voted to support one of the slated 2007 MTIP projects that was time sensitive at the December 2005 MPC meeting and proposed the collaborative process ? Information and materials about the collaborative process were presented at the January 2006 MPC meeting and members were invited to participate in the process and selection of a facilitator ? Eugene’s MPC representatives voted to support six more time sensitive transportation projects into the current MTIP Mayor Piercy said that the Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution agreed to assist with the process because it believed there was a possibility of successfully finding solutions to the long-term community impasse, but was clear that the process proposed by the FHWA was not truly collaborative because of the constraints of staying within the NEPA timeframe and purpose and need. She said the process could only be termed an assessment report and possible series of stakeholder meetings, but the institute still felt it could be helpful and possibly lead to a full collaborative process. She said in addition to the individuals named by Mr. Carlson, representatives from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and Bureau of Land Management would also participate on the facilitator selection panel. She said that once the facilitator completed the assessment report, a decision would be made about whether facilitated stakeholder meetings were appropriate. She thanked federal and regional partners and interested community members for their cooperation and hoped it was the beginning of a sincere effort to find solutions. Mayor Piercy solicited questions and comments from the council. Mr. Kelly commented that not only was there no formal vote at the last MPC meeting but he was not certain that everyone left with the same understanding of what would happen next. He said a majority of MPC members demonstrated a begrudging willingness to listen to the next step. He felt the terms “facilitated discussion” and “collaborative process” should be clarified as only a collaborative process was likely to produce a result on which a majority could agree. He said that a facilitated discussion did not demand the same degree of participation. Mayor Piercy said the institute regarded a collaborative process as one that had no end date specified, participants worked on an issue until some type of agreement was reached, and ideally everyone felt that at least some of their interests had been met. She said that was not the process currently being considered. Mr. Pryor was pleased that seven transportation projects were moved forward. He expressed concern as a Ward 8 representative about the timelines for the new process given that the WEP debate had been going on for 20 years. He asked if there was any estimate for how long the new direction might take as traffic problems in west Eugene continued to increase on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis. He said that whatever happened should happen quickly. Mayor Piercy said that FHWA intended that the process would be completed by December 2006 and would make a record of decision on the environmental impact study (EIS). Mr. Pryor asked what the results of the record of decision might be. Mayor Piercy said the record of decision would conclude with a build or no-build determination on the WEP. She said a no-build determina- tion could precipitate a new discussion. MINUTES—Eugene City Council January 23, 2006 Page 9 Work Session