HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 4687
RESOLUTION NO. 4687
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF EUGENE, LANE
COUNTY, OREGON, CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO
SUBMIT TO THE VOTERS OF THE CITY QUESTIONS OF
THE CITY COUNCIL CONCERNING TRANSPORTATION
ALTERNATIVES FOR WEST EUGENE.
The City Council of the City of Eugene finds as follows:
A. The City has authority under the Eugene Charter of 1976 ("Charter"), the Oregon
Constitution, and the Eugene Code, 1971, to submit measures to the electorate of the City.
B. Section 41 of the Charter requires voter approval of the route of a freeway or
throughway prior to constructing or entering into any agreements approving or facilitating the
construction of a freeway or throughway.
C. In 1986 the State of Oregon committed funds to and proposed to construct the West
Eugene Parkway ("Parkway"). Ordinance No. 19396 was thereafter adopted by the City Council and
approved by the Mayor on August 11, 1986 setting forth the preferred route and authorizing the City
Manager to enter into cooperative agreements with the State of Oregon and others to facilitate the
construction project along that preferred route. The Ordinance provided that it would become
effective upon its approval by the voters of the City.
D. On that same date, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 3995 referring Ordinance
No. 19296 to the electors of the City for their adoption or rejection at the general election held on
Tuesday, November 4, 1986. The Ordinance was approved and adopted by the electors of the City.
E. Subsequent to approval of the Ordinance several environmental assessment studies
have been completed. Based on those studies, recommendations have been made for changes in the
route of the Parkway from that initially proposed and approved.
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F. Also subsequent to that approval, the federal government has indicated that in order
to move forward with any part of the West Eugene Parkway, the entire West Eugene Parkway must
be included in the 20 year construction project list in TransPlan. To add the entire West Eugene
Parkway would necessitate moving other projects totaling approximately $71 million to the unfunded
project list, or finding other federal, state or local revenues to fund those projects.
G. The City Council therefore desires to place two measures before the voters, that ask
whether the City should move forward with the West Eugene Parkway, or with alternative
transportation improvements for west Eugene, or with neither.
NOW, THEREFORE, based upon the above findings,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EUGENE, a
Municipal Corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows:
Section 1. A special election is called for the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters
of the City two questions. The first question shall ask whether the City should take actions to
facilitate construction of the West Eugene Parkway. This measure shall explain that if the measure
passes, (1) the entire WEP must be included in the 20 year construction project list in TransPlan, (2)
adding the entire WEP would necessitate moving other projects totaling approximately $71 million
(in 1995 dollars) to the unfunded project list, or finding other federal, state or local revenues to fund
those projects, (3) the WEP would fill approximately 34 acres of wetlands, which would require
creation or restoration of at least 34 acres of wetlands, (4) some of the wetlands are owned by the
federal government, which would require federal approval, and (5) modeling of the WEP showed
an expected reduction in daily traffic on West 11th from 46,000 vehicles to 38,000 vehicles,
compared with 22,000 vehicles at present. The second question shall ask whether the City should
address transportation problems in west Eugene with proj ects other than the West Eugene Parkway.
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The measure shall explain that if this measure passes, (1) the City would inform the State to cancel
the WEP, (2) the City would work with other local and state governments on short-term and long-
term strategies - as passed by the City Council on August 6, 2001 - to address the transportation
problems in west Eugene, and (3) the costs, environmental consequences and reduction in traffic
congestion resulting from these strategies have yet to be determined. Should both measures pass,
the measure receiving the most number of affirmative votes shall prevail.
Section 2. The City Council orders this special election to be held in the City of Eugene,
Oregon concurrently with the general election on Tuesday, the 6th day of November, 2001, in
accordance with the provisions of Chapter 254 of Oregon Revised Statutes, and the ballots shall be
counted and tabulated and the results certified as provided by law.
Section 3. The City Recorder is directed to give not less than ten (10) days notice of the
special election by publication of one (1) notice thereof in the Register Guard, a newspaper published
in the City and of general circulation therein.
The foregoing Resolution adopted the 12th day of August, 2001.
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City Recorder
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