Item 3A: Approval of City Council Minutes

Home Browse Search

Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to extend the meeting by 15 mi- nutes. Roll call vote; the motion passed, 7:1, Councilor Taylor voting in opposition. 4. ACTION: Approval of Minutes, Findings and Recommendations from the Hearings Official and Adoption of Resolution 4970 Forming a Local Improvement District for Paving, Constructing Curbs, Gutters, Sidewalks, Street Lights, Stormwater Drainage, Water Quality Facilities, on Elmira Road from Bertelsen Road to Maple Street and Maple Street from Elmira Road to Roosevelt Boulevard (Job # 4275 Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved to approve the Hearings Official minutes, findings, and recommendations dated April 9, 2009 and to adopt Resolution 4970 forming a Local Improvement District for paving, constructing curbs, gutters, sidewalks, street lights, stormwater drainage, water quality facilities, on Elmira Road from Bertelsen Road to Maple Street and Maple Street from Elmira Road to Roosevelt Boulevard (Job #4275). Mr. Schoening acknowledged that there was strong support for the project, but the issue was really about the cost of the assessments. He noted that when assessments had been discussed at the work session held earlier in the year, assessments for the Elmira Road project were estimated to be $180 per front foot and $200 per front foot for the Crest project. He reported that the bids had come in at 28 percent less and assessments for the Elmira/Maple project had fallen to $125 per front foot. He explained that this meant it would cost $6,250 for a 50-foot frontage and the average cost for a residence was $9,800. He reiterated that the City was paying $2.1 million, two-thirds of the cost, from SDCs. Mr. Schoening shared the councilors concerns that people should not lose a house over the street improve- ments. He stated that the council instituted a low-income assistance program several years earlier which would provide a subsidy that ranged from one-third to five-sixths of the cost for single-family homes that were owner-occupied. He said 34 property owners had qualified for this assistance. He noted that there would be a second opportunity to apply. Mayor Piercy observed that the bids would not likely be lower than they currently were. She asked if the City would consider any other extenuating circumstances aside from income level. Mr. Schoening replied that there was nothing specific in the code, aside from income level. Councilor Ortiz complimented Mr. Schoening and his staff for doing “an amazing job” of working with the community. She also did not want anyone to lose their home. She understood that it could be difficult to keep one’s “head above water.” She said it was time for the projects to move ahead. She wanted to support the motion. She recalled the River Avenue process, in which the River Avenue property owners had protested the planned level of development and had been sent “to the drawing board.” She said they had returned with less of a project, but by the time they had completed the work, the cost had escalated and the project cost more money. She stressed that the street improvements were not going to get cheaper with time. In response to a question from Councilor Ortiz, Mr. Klein stated that because of the charter, it was not possible to change the code retroactively. He said it would be possible to add more money to the City’s share of the road project. He noted that the proposed motion would form the Local Improvement District (LID) and would not impose the assessment. He explained that the assessment ordinance would not likely be adopted before January, 2010, and if the council could come up with more money, it could be applied to the project and reduce the assessments to the residents. MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 13, 2009 Page 17 Regular Meeting