Item C: Review of Implementation of Street Bond Measure

Home Browse Search

Resolution. The City Manager will provide the street repair review panel's report to the council and make the report publicly available. (Resolution 4953, Section I) On April 14, 2010, the City Council held a work session to receive the first annual report from the Street Repair Review Panel (SRRP) and the independent accountant's report. On January 19, 2011, the City Council received the year -two report from the SRRP regarding the implementation of the 2008 bond measure to fix streets. On May 11, 2011, and October 26, 2011, the City Council approved 22 additional streets to be repaired with the projected remaining bond funds, bringing the total streets to be repaired to 54 streets. On February 29, 2012, the City Council received the year -three report from the Citizen Street Repair Review Panel. Street Repair Review Panel In October 2009, a citizen group was formed to evaluate the City's use of the first year of bond proceeds and report whether the bond funds were used in compliance with the council resolution. The 12 community members serving on the 2012 Street Repair Review Panel (SRRP) were: John Barofsky, Howard Bonnett, Janet Calvert, Mel Damewood, Paul Holbo, Steve Lee, Dave Perez, 011ie Snowden, Clayton Walker, Victoria Whitman, Gary Wildish and Sue Wolling. During the past year, the 12- member panel met three times over a three -month period in preparation of the report, which included a physical inspection of the projects completed in 2012. On January 9, 2013, the Street Repair Review Panel unanimously approved its fourth annual report (Attachment A), which included the following conclusion: Based on this limited review and all materials presented to us, we unanimously conclude that the bond proceeds were used for the authorized purposes and in compliance with the limitations and restrictions outlined in Council Resolution 4953. (SRRP 2012 Report, Page 1). The report from the SRRP highlighted the City of Eugene's effort to continually strive to improve the quality, lessen the environmental footprint, and increase the cost efficiency of its projects. Bond projects use warm mix asphalt pavement, reclaimed asphalt materials and in -place recycling to realize environmental, economic, social, and health benefits to the community. The positive economic impacts include the funding of more than 76 full -time equivalent jobs during the period of construction. The 2012 SRRP report recognized the successful renewal of the street bond measure at the polls. On Nov. 6, 2012, Eugene voters resoundingly approved a new, $43 million bond measure to fix streets and fund bicycle and pedestrian projects. Looking to the future, expectations are that construction costs will return to pre- recession levels, which will reduce the likelihood that the City will see much difference between programmed and actual costs for the final year of the bond measure and into the future. The SRRP recognizes that while street bonds provide a partial funding stopgap, they cannot be relied upon as the primary means of funding Eugene's ongoing street repair needs in the future. Additional ways to fund street repair should be reviewed. A web site tracking the bond measure implementation has been established at www.eugene- or.govtgobonds The panel's 2012 report has been placed on the internet, and links to the online S:ACMO \2013 Council Agendas \Ml30220 \Sl3O220C.doc