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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem A: Workshop - West Eugene Collaborative ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Workshop: West Eugene Collaborative Meeting Date: October 4, 2007 Agenda Item Number: A Department: Public Works Engineering Staff Contact: Mark Schoening www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5243 ISSUE STATEMENT The purpose of this workshop is to provide the City Council with updated information on the West Eugene Collaborative (WEC) and request the council’s support of the collaborative’s efforts and associated ongoing funding needs . BACKGROUND Introduction - In June 2006, the Eugene City Council ended its support of the West Eugene Parkway (WEP) and directed that an effort be made to bring together a collaboration of all the entities involved (both pro and con) with the WEP to seek transportation solutions that would draw broader support. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) made the decision not to support such a collaborative effort and removed the WEP from the list of transportation projects in November 2006. At the same time, City Council committed to continue to address West Eugene traffic and transportation concerns in a manner that would consider land use implications. In October 2006, the council directed th staff to pursue a West 11 Corridor Study as one of several West Eugene transportation planning projects. A volunteer group of community members and other interested parties subsequently formed to determine if common ground and mutually acceptable solutions could be found to address those traffic and transportation issues. They named themselves the West Eugene Collaborative (WEC). The West Eugene Collaborative (WEC) is a group of roughly three dozen civic leaders including government agency representatives, business leaders, environmental leaders and active, at-large community members who have gathered to discuss and envision the future of transportation and land use issues in west Eugene and nearby communities. Attachment A identifies the members of the WEC. The group has developed from a relatively grass roots base and has grown in size and importance over the last year. The formation of this group is unique in that it is not explicitly agency-led or funded (although agencies have contributed in part to funding to-date), and yet there has been a real commitment by the membership to attending the meetings and participating in important conversations about Eugene’s future. This is in contrast to past practices of discussions on these issues within the political realm that have led to divisiveness and disagreement on the direction our community should embrace regarding change in west Eugene and the surrounding area. F:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M071004\S071004A.doc Finally, using its own resources, the group has completed a significant amount of work towards realizing its vision, including development of a broad membership, a purpose statement, and funding for a first phase of facilitated collaborative work. These efforts to-date are described in detail below. In order for this work to be completed by December 2008, however, additional funding of $200,000 must be secured. Purpose - The purpose of the West Eugene Collaborative is to: Develop an integrated land use and transportation solution supported by stakeholders that will facilitate movement of people and commerce from/through/to west Eugene and west of Eugene while enhancing community, business and the environment. Scope - The focus of the West Eugene Collaborative’s effort is transportation problems in west Eugene, specifically in an area that extends roughly from Chambers Street to the east to Green Hill Road to the th west, and from 18 Avenue to the south to Barger Drive to the north. But, as its purpose statement indicates, the West Eugene Collaborative is more broadly concerned with land use and transportation issues, how these affect the community’s quality of life, business and the environment. The effort will also be looking at a larger area of interest that extends roughly from downtown Eugene and Interstate-5 to the east to Veneta to the west, and from the South Hills ridgeline to the south to Clear Lake Road and the Eugene Airport to the north. Facilitation - The Oregon Consensus Program at Portland State University’s Hatfield School of Government is providing neutral facilitation services for the collaborative effort through its subcontractors, Dennis Donald and John Huyler of the Osprey Group, assisted by Scott Bellows of Dispute Resolutions. Elaine Hallmark, Director of the Oregon Consensus Program, provides oversight and consultation on the process. Work Plan - At its meeting in June 2007, the West Eugene Collaborative discussed a work plan aimed at developing recommendations by the end of 2008: 1.Convening (December 2006–March 2007) 2.Adopt Problem Statement and Work Plan (April–June 2007) 3.Gather Background (July–September 2007) 4.Develop Goals, Principles and Evaluation Measures (October–December 2007) 5.Identify Alternatives (January–March 2008) 6.Refine and Evaluate Alternatives (April–September 2008) 7.Publish Recommendations (October–December 2008) Steps 1 and 2 have already been completed. The WEC is focused now on completing steps 3 and 4 by December 2007. Plans for completing steps 5 through 7 still need to be refined. In order to carry out the work plan, the WEC formed four working groups: ? : Land Use and Transportation Technical Team Provide technical information and options regarding the relevant land use and transportation issues. ? : Environment Technical Team Provide technical information and options regarding the relevant environmental issues. F:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M071004\S071004A.doc ? : Resources Task Force Ensure that the West Eugene Collaborative has adequate expertise, funding and other resources to complete its effort successfully. ? : Communication Task Force Ensure that the West Eugene Collaborative effort is coordinated th with related efforts, in particular, the City of Eugene’s West 11 Transportation Corridor Study and Lane Transit District’s West Eugene EmX Extension Project. The WEC’s work plan is intended to proceed in parallel with other planning efforts; in particular, the th City of Eugene’s West 11 Transportation Corridor Study and Lane Transit District’s effort to identify the next segment of their EmX bus rapid transit system. The West Eugene Collaborative is assisting with both of these efforts and this work will inform the broader goals and visions of the West Eugene Collaborative. LTD’s preliminary route identification work must be completed by Fall 2008 in order to match up with the federal funding cycle. The WEC is committed to assisting LTD and the City of Eugene in order to assure that the alignment selected and improvements to safety and mobility on West 11th will serve the needs of transit riders and broader community alike. Funding - In orderto follow through on its stated purpose, the West Eugene Collaborative would benefit from official recognition and support from the City of Eugene. This would facilitate obtaining funding from other entities and better enable the WEC to apply for grants and Oregon Solutions funding. They come to the council for that official recognition and a portion of the financial support. Initial seed money of $20,000 came from the City of Eugene, Lane Transit District, the Eugene business community, and the Eugene environmental community, each contributing $5,000. The Oregon Consensus Program projects that approximately an additional $40,000 will be needed for the effort through December 2007, primarily for facilitation and other support by the Osprey Group. As noted above, the work plan for 2008 still needs to be refined. But based on the experience to-date, facilitation costs will likely run $10,000 per month, for a total of $120,000 for work through 2008. It is estimated that an additional $40,000 will be needed for technical assistance through the same time period. It is important to note that many participants in the West Eugene Collaborative are volunteering their time and expertise to the effort, as they have other “day jobs.” The value of these in-kind contributions cannot be overestimated, as the effort could not succeed without these contributions. Success will be measured, in large part, by the continued participation of a broad spectrum of the community. In summary, in order for the WEC to complete its work by December 2008, additional funding of $200,000 must be secured. RELATED CITY POLICIES TransPlan Goal #1: Integrated Transportation and Land Use System Provide an integrated transportation and land use system that supports choices in modes of travel and development patterns that will reduce reliance on the auto and enhance livability, economic opportunity, and the quality of life. F:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M071004\S071004A.doc COUNCIL OPTIONS 1. Do nothing. 2. Provide dedicated staffing to the West Eugene Collaborative effort but not additional funding. 3. Provide additional funding and dedicated staffing to partially fund the West Eugene Collaborative effort and to be matched by other agencies’ or grant funding. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION None. SUGGESTED MOTION None. ATTACHMENTS A. WEC Membership FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Mark Schoening Telephone: 682-5243 Staff E-Mail: mark.a.schoening@ci.eugene.or.us F:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M071004\S071004A.doc ATTACHMENT A WEST EUGENE COLLABORATIVE MEMBERSHIP Name Organization Category Allcott, John Preferred Futures Environment Ban, Susan social justice Community Crinklaw, Rick Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce Business Duncan, Rick Eugene Planning Commission Business Durkee, Ed accessibility Community Fleenor, Bill Lane County Commission Government Gardner, Lisa Eugene Planning Government Gaydos, Gerry Lane Transit District Board of Directors Government Ingham, Ric City of Veneta Government Johnston, Pat West Eugene Wetlands Partnership Environment Kahle, Don at-large Community Mahaffie, Bill USF Reddaway Business Matthews, Kevin Friends of Eugene Environment Moore, Ed ODOT Government Noble, Deborah at-large Environment O’Brien, Mary at-large Environment Piercy, Kitty Eugene Mayor Government Proudfoot, Emily Eugene Public Works Government Pryor, Chris Eugene City Council Government Reed, Larry transportation planning Business Rexius, Rusty west Eugene business owner Business Roberts, Jack Lane Metro Partnership Business Schoening, Mark Eugene Public Works Government Schwetz, Tom Lane Transit District Government Snowden, Ollie Lane County Public Works Government Snyder, Charles Residents for Responsible Rapid Transit Community Stinchfield, Tom Lane County Public Works Government Thompson, Paul Lane Council of Governments Government Welsh, Jim Eugene Association of Realtors Business Wildish, Gary Chambers Construction Business Wolling, Sue alternative modes of transportation Community Wostmann, Jan Neighborhood Leaders Council Community Zako, Rob 1000 Friends of Oregon Environment F:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M071004\S071004A.doc