Eugene Charter - 2002 update05 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Eugene Charter the city, nor may the city enter into any agreement approving or facilitating the widening of such street, road, freeway, throughway, or thoroughfare if such widening will result in the removal of any historic street tree unless the widening is first approved by a majority of the voting electors of the city in a city election conducted in accordance with law and unless the agreement is entered into within a time specified by the measure approved by the voters. (3) The city may, however, without prior approval, assist in the preparation of preliminary plans and specifications, and statements of impact necessary for obtaining financial assistance for the street, road, freeway, throughway, or thoroughfare widening, all of which shall be available to the public at the city hall prior to the election on the street, road, freeway, throughway, or thoroughfare widening which would result in the removal of historic street trees. (4) Prior to the election, a map and description of the proposed widening and removal of historic street trees shall be published at least once a week for four (4) consecutive weeks, in the newspaper with the largest general circulation published in the city. (5) Street, road, or thoroughfare widening projects confined to intersections only, and intended to improve those intersections shall be exempt from the requirement for approval by the voting electors of the city for the removal of historic street trees. (6) In the event an historic street tree is to be removed in order to widen a street, road, freeway, throughway, or thoroughfare, the city, if it is the governmental unit implementing the project, shall allocate a portion of the project budget to a fund dedicated to helping maintain the city's remaining historic street trees. If a governmental unit other than the city is implementing the widening project, the city may not enter into any agreement approving or facilitating said widening project unless the implementing governmental unit agrees to allocate a portion of the project's budget to a fund dedicated to helping maintain the city's remaining historic street trees. (7) Any officer or employee of the city or of any public utility may act to remove an historic street tree if necessary to remove or alleviate an immediate danger to life or property; to restore utility service; to reopen a public thoroughfare to traffic; or to remove obstructions to the view of vehicular operators at intersections. (8) An emergency is hereby declared to exist and this charter amendment, being enacted by the city in the exercise of its police power for the purpose of meeting such emergency, and for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, shall take effect immediately upon approval by the electors of the city of Eugene and shall supersede any and all actions of the city authorizing, approving, or facilitating the widening of any street, road, freeway, throughway, or thoroughfare which would result in the removal of any historic street tree. Section 54. Amendment IV The City of Eugene Charter is hereby amended as follows: ARTICLE I - FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF LOCAL PROBLEM Section 1 The people of Eugene do hereby find that: A. exposure to toxic chemicals can damage human health and the environment; and -15- 11/28/2005