Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/09/1986 Meeting .---- .-- ~ M I NUT E S COUNCIL MINUTES Eugene City Council Work Session McNutt Room--City Hall I JULY - DECEMBER 1986 July 9, 1986 Noon COUNCILORS PRESENT: Richard Hansen, Emily Schue, Freeman Holmer, Ruth Bascom, Roger Rutan. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Cynthia Wooten, Jeff Miller, Debra Ehrman. The adjourned meeting of June 23, 1986, of the City Council of the City of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by Council President Richard Hansen in the absence of Mayor Brian B. Obie who arrived later. I. ITEMS FROM MAYOR, COUNCIL, AND CITY MANAGER A. Championship Tennis Tournaments Councilor Holmer sa i d the 25th Annual Pacific Western Open Tennis Championships are being held at the Eugene Swim and Tennis Club from July 10 through July 13. The competitors must be long to the U. S. Tennis Association and eighty percent of them are from out of town. He said most of the 250 competitors in a junior tennis tournament held on May 31, 1986, were also from out of town. He said the tennis touraments are excellent examples of destination point activities that are organized with very litt-Ie City support. B. Cycle-Link Councilor Bascom distributed copies of the Summer 1986 issue of Cycle- Link. She said it is a good, new publication in Eugene. C. Bach Festival Councilor Bascom said the Bach Festival has ended for this year. She suggested the Mayor send a letter to the Festival organizers indicating the City's appreciation of the Festival's contribution to the City. D. City Fi nanci ng Councilor Hansen said he will discuss "modern financing that goes around in a circle and somehow gets bigger" with the City Manager next week. He said he would like the council to discuss it soon. E. Maintenance of Alton Baker Park -- MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 9, 1986 Page 1 , 1 .. --- ~ - -"., _~ .....-....:..aa........._ r i I Councilor Hansen said the City has agreed to take over maintenance of Alton Baker Park from Lane County this summer for $14,000. He said the -.. flower beds in the park have not been weeded and the grass is brown. He said people cannot view the park with pride. He said the City should not take over maintenance of the park unless it can make the park attractive. He suggested the council review what can be accomplished with $14,000. Councilor Rutan said the Joint Parks Committee has discussed Alton Baker Park. He said City and Lane County officials agreed on the financial arrangements for maintaining the park only about a week ago. Prior to that, no maintenance was done. He said the Joint Parks Committee was told the City can adequately maintain the Showcase Garden in the park for $14,000. Councilor Schue said she also has been concerned about the park. She said the park will be more attractive if the City maintains it. Councilor Bascom said the George Owens Rose Garden also needs weeding. She said it should be addressed in the budget process next year. Mayor ,Obie arrived at 12:12 p.m. and presided for the rest of the meeting. II. GLENWOOD REFINEMENT PLAN, PHASE I City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the item. Terry Jones of the Planning Department gave the staff report. She sa i d the Gl enwood Juri~dictional Study in 1984 resulted in a decision that Eugene should e provide urban services to Glenwood and that the area should eventually be annexed to Eugene. The Study directed that a refinement plan for the area be deve loped. She said Phase I of the Glenwood Refinement Plan was prepared by a planning team with area resident and business representatives. The Lane County Planning Commission, the Lane County Board of Commissioners, and the Eugene Planning Commission have reviewed the refinement plan. Ms. Jones said the Glenwood Refinement Plan was divided into two phases because the areas are quite different. She said Phase I is only 65 acres and can be served with existing sanitary sewers. She reviewed the property ownership in Phase I and said there are both industrial and residential uses. She said some properties in Phase I are within the City limits and the owners of some other properties would like to annex them so they can be developed industrially. The properties in Phase II cannot be served with existing sewers. Ms. Jones said the Metropolitan Area General Plan designates the Glenwood area for industrial use and the refi nement plan addresses how the transition from the existing industrial/residential mix to industrial uses will be made. She reviewed the format of the refinement plan and said the transportation element is the most controversial element of the plan. She said the only existing access to Glenwood is via Glenwood e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 9, 1986 Page 2 Boulevard and 22nd Street. Provision for a secondary emergency access is an issue. Four possible secondary accesses are discussed in the plan but '. all of them involve negotiations with land owners. Another issue involves the Henderson Avenue crossing of the Southern Pacific railroad tracks. That access was closed in 1980 when Glenwood Boulevard and 22nd Avenue were constructed and the residents were not happy about the closure. Ms. Jones said re-opening Henderson would require approval of the Public Utility Commissioner which the Pl anni ng Team deci dedwould be very difficult to obtain. However, the Planning Team indicated that Henderson might be used for emergency access and pedestrian-bicycle access. She said representatives of Far West Steel may testify against pedestrian- bicycle access because the company owns land on both sides of the railroad crossing and wants to consolidate its operations. Answering questions from Mr. Hansen and Mr. Rutan, Ms. Jones said residents of Glenwood recognize the area will become industrial. Major landowners, such as the owners of Papel Brothers and Far West Steel, generally support the plan. Gary Paper was on the planning team. The owners of Far West Steel do not want pedestri an and bicycle use of Henderson Road. She said the refinement plan indicates that pedestrian and bicycle facilities should be included when 22nd Avenue is improved to City industrial street standards but 22nd Avenue goes to Gl enwood Boulevard which is not a good route. She said people use Henderson now. Pat Decker of the Planning Department added that the railroad crossing is the real problem with pedestrian-bicycle use of Henderson Road. Replying to questions from Ms. Bascom, Ms. Jones said the transition to industrial use may take 10 to 15 years. The City cannot do much to - encourage the acqui sit ion of residential properties by owners of industrial properties. She sa i d the Planning Team discussed a joint venture approach by owners which would allow them to package and market their residential properties, but it would be a complicated process. She suggested Ms. Bascom ask Far West Steel representatives if they would oppose emergency access via Henderson Road across the railroad tracks. She said pedestrian-bicycle transportation will be needed for employees when the area is entirely industrial. Answering questions from Mayor Obie, Ms, Jones said large trucks use 22nd Avenue. Mayor Obie suggested the councilors tour the Glenwood area, and several councilors said they had already done so. Replying to a question from Mr. Rutan, Ms. Jones said the vacation of Henderson Road would have to be approved by the Lane County Board of Commissioners and the Eugene City Council. The owners of Far West Steel have applied to Lane County for a vacation of Henderson north of 22nd Avenue to 19th Avenue which is on both sides of the railroad tracks. She said Lane County will not consider the request until the refinement plan is adopted. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 9, 1986 Page 3 ~ II. WEST EUGENE PARKWAY (6th/7th Extension) SUPPLEMENTAL DEIS (memo, background information distributed) - City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the item. Dave Reinhard of the Public Works Department gave the staff report. He introduced Eb Engelman of the State Highway Division of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Mr. Reinhard said in December 1985 the City Council recommended Alternative 1 as the alignment for the West Eugene Parkway although the councilors were concerned about the impacts of the alignment. Because of the concerns, the Federal Highway Administration and the State Highway Division examined the alignments again and produced a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) which will be the subject of a public hearing on July 15, 1986. Mr. Reinhard reviewed the five alternative alignments in the SDEIS. He said the State staff decided that Alternatives 1 elevated and la elevated and the 5th/7th Couplet would be too costly for the benefits derived. He distributed copies of his July 9, 1986, memo to the Mayor and City Council titled "Comparison of Alternative Routes, West Eugene Parkway.1I He said the State staff forwarded Alternatives 1 and la at-grade for public comment. He said the staff ma il ed information about the SOEIS to interested parties and held a drop-in information session on June 26 at the Western Sizzlin' Restaurant which was attended by about 80 people. Mr. Reinhard reviewed the alignments and their impacts. He said Alternative 1 at-grade would displace 12 business and Alternative la at- e grade would displace 5 businesses. Answering a question from Mr. Rutan, Mr. Reinhard said the alignment of Alternative la at-grade might be moved a little north to lessen the impact on Furrow's warehouse. He said representatives of National Fire Fighter Corporat i on oppose the a 1 i gnment but the property is owned by the Willamette Valley Company. He said Willamette Valley Company officials have not commented on the alignment. The owners of the property where Chuck's GMC is located are concerned about the time it will take for the State to buy the property if the route is approved. However, sometimes right-of-way acquisition can be expedited. Mr. Reinhard said some business people in the area might favor Alternative la elevated but others are pleased with the at-grade alignment. He said Alternative 1a presents some design problems. He suggested that the measure be presented to the voters in such a way that either the elevated or at-grade alignment can be implemented. He said either Alternative 1a elevated or at-grade preserve the industrial area between Conger and McKinley streets and Fifth and Eleventh avenues. Replying to questions from Mr. Holmer, Public Works Director Christine Andersen said the design of the project can mitigate some problems of property owners if the ballot measure is flexible. Elevating the roadway ~- MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 9, 1986 Page 4 is one way of mitigating some problems. She sa i d the voters wi 11 be concerned with the impact of the project and the alignments presented for e public comment show the "worst case scenario.1I Mr. Gleason said the entire project will cost between $20 and $25 million and the difference between the at-grade and elevated sections is $7 million. He said citizens will be voting on a 6th/7th expressway. They will not be voting on the design of the expressway or the cost of it. Answering questions from Mr. Hansen, Mr. Reinhard said the elevated alternative presents superior safety and traffi c flow and could be designed to preserve the existing access system. He said the analyses indicate that the at-grade alignments will handle traffic until 1996. Mr. Engelman said the project should serve the community for about 25 or 30 yea rs. He said Federal regulations require designs to be sufficient for 20 years; however, a grade separation might be required after that. Mr. Gleason said the at-grade alignment will serve at a liD" 1 eve 1 of traffic. The elevated section would serve at a "C+II level. He said the difference in traffic levels probably will be important in 15 or 20 years in the Wi 11 ow Creek area. He said the project probably will not be approved at all if the State staff and the City Council only recommend an elevated alignment, but an elevated section might be considered during the design of the project. He suggested the council recommend Alternative la and strongly urge consideration of the elevated alignment. Answering a question from Mr. Holmer, City Attorney Tim Sercombe said he has not investigated if the City Charter requires a specific alignment when an expressway is presented to the voters. e Discussing the review process, Mr. Reinhard said the time is short if a ballot measure is presented to the voters in November. He said the council will hold a joint public hearing with the State Highway Division on July 15. On that evening or on July 16 the council should recommend an alignment to the State Highway Division which will then present a final alignment to the council on August 11. He emphasized that the council must adopt the final alignment and call for an election on or before August 13 if the measure is to be on the November 4 ballot. IV. COUNTY-WIDE PUBLIC SAFETY REVENUE ISSUE (memo, background information distributed) City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the item. Jim Carlson of the Planning Department gave the staff report. He distributed copies of a July 9, 1986, memo titled "County-Wide Public Safety Revenue Issue" to the Mayor and City Council from Mr. Gleason and copies of a "Timeline for Lane County Law Enforcement Levy." Mr. Carlson said in April the Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) was asked to find a way for all the jurisdictions in Lane County to investigate a new revenue source for public safety. He said the Urban Service Policy . MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 9, 1986 Page 5 I i . Committee (USPC) was asked to undertake the task and two representatives of the small cities in the county were added to the committee. He said the - US PC recognized that Lane County Corrections facilities (jail services) should be the first priority for a new revenue source although processing and enforcement services also need revenues. He sa i d the Lane County Criminal Process Coordinating Counci 1 (CPCC) is working on a recommendation to the Lane County Board of Commissioners about ways of providing jail service. Mr. Carlson said the Lane County Board of Commissioners is considering putting a measure that would provide capital revenue and increase the tax base on the November ballot. The USPC will make a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners and Mr. Rutan and Ms. Schue who are USPC members asked for a counci 1 discussion to be scheduled so they could receive direction. Ms. Schue said a ballot measure to finance jail services is definitely being considered for November. She said jail space is important to the City. She emphasized that the issue is difficult. Mr. Rutan said US PC members do not know any other way to finance jail services. Mr. Holmer asked for additional information about the cost estimate for a 100 bed work camp. He said the City should be able to defend the estimates if they are presented to the voters. Ms. Bascom asked for alternatives to a ballot measure. She said she does not think a ballot measure will pass. e Answering a question from Mr. Hansen, Ms. Schue said the Lane County Board of Commissioners would like the City to support a County ballot measure. She said the jail situation affects the City police department and the USPC is a joint County/City organization. Mr. Gleason said a City staff group is working on a corresponding municipal component of the proposal. If a County measure is put on the November ballot and if it does not pass, a municipal proposal will be presented to the council. He said the court system is necessary for the operation of the police department. He said the Board of Commissioners must make a decision about putting a measure on the November ballot by August 27. He hopes the City component will be ready by that time. Mayor Obie suggested that consideration of a November ballot measure might delay consideration of a valid and workable solution to the jail service problem. He said the councilors must consider whether voters in the county outside the city will vote for the measure. Ms. Schue said there does not seem to be a solution to the jail problem without additional funds and she does not know any other way to obtain as much money as could be obtained if a ballot measure is passed. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 9 I 1986 Page 6 . r . Mr. Rutan said the council has a responsibil ity to present the best solution to the citizens. On the other hand, if the council is convinced e that the community does not want and will not pass a ballot measure, the council should not propose it. Mr. Holmer said he hopes the Lane County Commissioners will recommend whatever solution they agree on and ask for the council.s support. He said the council should be able to support the solution in every respect. He hoped Ms. Schue and Mr. Rutan will tell the council if they are not satisfied with the package the Lane County Commissioners propose. Ms. Schue said she and Mr. Rutan need to know if the council will not support any package recommended by the Lane County Commissioners. Mr. Hansen said the USPC members should find out how many measures the County, Springfield, and Eugene will put on the November ballot and judge whether an increase in the tax base for jail services will pass. Mr. Rutan suggested the staff poll the councilors individually about a ballot measure and let him and Ms. Schue know the opinions. The other councilors agreed with his suggestion. Mayor Obie adjourned the meeting at 1:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, 4' -<=2'/.;A n~ :?!!- ~, #' ~. /Y ~....,. e Mi eal G easo c; y Manager (Recorded by Betty Lou Rarick) MNCC0709 e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 9, 1986 Page 7