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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/24/1986 Meeting e e e e e M I NUT E S Eugene City Council Work Session Eugene Community Conference Center--Wilder I Room February 24, 1986 5:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Richard Hansen, Debra Ehrman, Emily Schue, Cynthia Wooten, Freeman Holmer, Jeff Miller, Roger Rutan COUNCILORS ABSENT: Ruth Bascom Mayor Brian B. Obie called the meeting to order. I. 6TH/7TH EXTENSION UPDATE City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the discussion of the 6th/7th Exten- sion. Dave Reinhard of the Public Works Department gave the staff report. He distributed a one-page memo dated February 24, 1986, which is a Status Report and Proposed Schedule for the 6th/7th Extension. He said the memo will be sent to all interested parties. Mr. Reinhard said an election on the 6th/7th Extension was originally planned for March, but it was agreed in January that a November election would be more appropriate. He said the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) staff has reviewed the public testimony received at the December public hearing on the draft of the Environmental Impact Statement for the project. He said the analyses of alternatives for the Seneca to Garfield area are being refined and a supplemental report will be issued. Another public hearing will be held after the supplemental report is issued. He reviewed the proposed schedule. Mr. Reinhard said the State and City staffs believe Alternative lA is feasible although it has some drawbacks. He said the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) will hold a meeting on February 26 to consider the alternative routes. The (CAC) members were appointed by ODOT. Answering questions from Ms. Ehrman, Mr. Reinhard said the council agreed by consensus on an elevated section at the east end of the project. Alternative lA which was called the 5th Avenue Alternative seemed to have many problems when the councilors considered it, and it did not seem the problems could be solved before a March election. However, he said that alternative is being reconsidered because the election has been put off to November and because of the testimony to which ODOT must respond. He said an elevated Alternative 1, an elevated Alternative lA, and both of those alternatives at-grade seem MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 24, 1986 Page 1 e e e e e feasible, but the elevated section will cost about $9 million and there would be higher right-of-way costs. Alternative 1A will not disrupt as many busi- nesses as Alternative 1. Mr. Hansen said the only choices the councilors seemed to have in December were approving an alternative or delaying the project six years. Mr. Reinhard responded that analyses of all the reasonable alternatives will be included in the next report and testimony will be received on all the alternatives at the next hearing. He noted that the ODOT staff prepares the report. Mr. Rutan said he thought the councilors should have decided which alterna- tives were analyzed in the draft Environmental Impact Statement because the council reflects the community; however, it seemed the alternatives were dic- tated by the CAC. He would like the council to comment on the recommendations of the CAC. Mr. Gleason responded that the CAC is an advisory group to ODOT. Public Works Director Chris Andersen suggested the council hold a work session with the CAC. Mr. Rutan hoped the council will be able to comment to ODOT on all the reasonable options. He said the councilors would like to have as much flexibility as is reasonable when making a decision about the alternatives. Ms. Wooten agreed with Mr. Rutan. She would like to consider the recommenda- tions of the CAC and then, if the council does not agree with the recommenda- tions, hold a work session with the CAC. Summarizing, Mr. Reinhard said the council wants to review the alternatives before ODOT analyzes them for the supplemental report, the council would like to review the CAC recommendations, and the council will work with the CAC if there are disagreements. Responding to a question from Mr. Hansen, Mr. Reinhard said there are cost benefits to Alternative lA, but the staff may not recommend any specific alternative before the next public hearing. Mayor Obie discussed the relationship of the 6th/7th Extension project to the ODOT Six-Year Plan. Replying to a question, Ms. Andersen said the City staff recommends a vote on the project be held after the Environmental Impact State- ment is approved and before additional designs are completed. Mr. Reinhard said a vote cannot be held until a route is approved. Answering a question from Mr. Hansen, Mr. Reinhard said a vote could be held in September. Mr. Miller said times have changed and perhaps the citizens would like to repeal the charter amendment which requires a vote on limited access highways. He said votes on highway projects are expensive and one vote could eliminate them. Mayor Obie said Mr. Miller's suggestion merits consideration. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 24, 1986 Page 2 e e e e e Several councilors commented on the suggestion. Mr. Holmer and Mr. Rutan said they would be willing to consider repealing the charter amendment. Ms. Wooten said such a vote on the charter amendment would be very divisive. She sup- ports approval of the 6th/7th Extension and said a community consensus on the route should be reached before the vote. She said it would be a big mistake to try to change the charter amendment at this time. Ms. Schue said approval of the 6th/7th Extension is important. She said the charter amendment is a separate issue and a vote on it could have an effect on the 6th/7th Extension. She said the 6th/7th Extension might never be approved if a repeal of the charter amendment is considered first. Mr. Hansen suggested a vote be held on the charter amendment during the primaries in May. He did not think there would be a carry-over to a vote on the 6th/7th Extension in November. Mayor Obie said he has been told there will be problems with the community's projects in the ODOT Six-Year Plan until the charter amendment is repealed. Ms. Ehrman responded that such a policy is not fair. Ms. Wooten said ODOT should not hold projects hostage because of a charter amendment the citizens approved. Mayor Obie suggested the council consider a process to consider the repeal of the charter amendment which would include publicizing the consideration and a public hearing before a decision is made. Mr. Hansen said there is enough support on the council to consider the matter. Mr. Hansen moved, and Mr. Miller seconded, to direct the City Manager to prepare an outline of a process which could be used to consider the repeal of the charter amendment which mandates a vote on limited access highways. Ms. Wooten said she would vote against the motion. She said accomplishing the council's goal of approving the 6th/7th Extension will be difficult if it is mixed with the charter amendment. She did not think a vote on the charter amendment will help the City's relationship with ODOT. Ms. Schue agreed with Ms. Wooten. Ms. Schue said a vote on the amendment is not necessary because the 6th/7th Extension is the only limited-access highway the City wants. Ms. Ehrman said the vote on the 6th/7th Widening indicated the public wants to be involved in street projects. Mr. Gleason asked if the 6th/7th Extension is the only project in the ODOT Six-Year Plan, the T-2000 Plan, or the City's Capital Improvement Plan that will require a vote. Mr. Reinhard responded that plans have not yet been made for improvements to the Ferry Street Bridge or an additional bridge to Good- pasture Island, so it is not yet known whether those two projects would require a vote. The motion carried 4:3 with Mr. Hansen, Mr. Holmer, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Rutan voting for it and Ms. Schue, Ms. Wooten, and Ms. Ehrman voting against it. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 24, 1986 Page 3 e e e e e II. ODOT SIX-YEAR PROGRAM STRATEGY Ms. Andersen distributed a packet of background material dated February 24, 1986, on the United Front Strategy for the ODOT Six-Year Highway Improvement Program. She reviewed the material. She said the continuation of a positive relationship with the ODOT staff is an important objective. She also reviewed the proposed presentation at the ODOT hearing on March 4, 1986, and said it is very important to emphasize the united front of Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County. Mr. Holmer pointed out a Budget Committee meeting is scheduled for March 4. Assistant City Manager Dave Whitlow said the Budget Committee meeting can be changed. later in the meeting an informal vote was taken. Ms. Wooten, Mr. Hansen, and Ms. Ehrman favored retaining the Budget Committee meeting on March 4 and Mr. Holmer and Ms. Schue favored a postponement. Mr. Rutan and Mr. Miller did not vote. Referring to a list of Contacts distributed to the councilors, Ms. Andersen said Larry Campbell has indicated he would like to have councilors contact him about the projects on the Six-Year Plan. She said background material will be sent to him. Mr. Rutan said he contacted Mr. Campbell who said he would like to hear from other councilors. Mr. Miller suggested all the councilors sign a letter to Mr. Campbell. Responding to a comment from Mr. Hansen, Ms. Andersen said the Public Works Department has encouraged people to write the chair of the State Transporta- tion Commission and to send copies to other commissioners. She said organiza- tions such as the Metropolitan Partnership and the Association of General Contracts have been asked to have members personally contact Transportation Commissioners. She said she has talked with Mr. Guistina and Mr. Sweet. Mr. Hansen said the Transportation Commissioners should be told what the City wants. He will contact Mr. Naito. He suggested other councilors talk with other commissioners. He said a staff member should be present during the discussions. Mayor Obie said the councilors were assigned people to contact at a previous meeting. Mr. Holmer is to contact Mr. Yturri, Mr. Hansen will talk to Mr. Naito, and he and Mr. Rutan will talk to Mr. Giustina. Several people commented on what should be discussed with the Transportation Commissioners. Ms. Andersen said the increased cooperation the City has received from ODOT in the last few years should be emphasized. Mr. Hansen said the Transportation Commissioners and the ODOT staff should be told the community is not pleased with the funds that have been alloted to it in the next few years. He said the importance of the community's projects should be emphasized. He said the Transportation Commissioners should be presented with changes Eugeneans would like to see in the Six-Year Plan. Ms. Schue said the Transportation Commissioners should be told the community is pleased with the MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 24, 1986 Page 4 . e e e e widening of 6th and 7th Avenues. Ms. Andersen said that the importance of funding for the second and third phases of the 6th/7th Widening should be emphasi zed. Answering Questions, Mr. Reinhard said the first phase of the 6th/7th widening will be completed in April. Ms. Andersen said she will call each of the councilors who indicated they will talk with the Transportation Commissioners. Mayor Obie recessed the work session at 6:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~~. Micheal Gleason Ci ty Manager (Recorded by Betty lou Rarick) BLR:ch/1990C MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 24, 1986 Page 5