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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/20/1987 Meeting e e e M I NUT E S Eugene City Council Willamette Science and Technology Center May 20, 1987 11 : 30 a. m . COUNCILORS PRESENT: Debra Ehrman, Freeman Holmer, Emily Schue, Cynthia Wooten, Ruth Bascom, Jeff Miller, Rob Bennett. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Roger Rutan. Mayor Brian B. Obie opened the lunch session. A 1 ice Carnes, Di rector of the Wi 11 amette Sci ence and Technology Center (WISTEC), discussed the center. She reviewed its history, its organization, its relationship to the City, and several specific displays. Answering questions, Ms. Carnes said at least one-third of WISTEC visitors are from outside Lane County. She said WISTEC has a permanent staff of five people. It must grow, but the Board of Directors is trying to plan responsibly for growth. She said-250 to 300 children attend youth programs in the summer. Ms. Bascom said Ms. Carnes does a magnificent job at WISTEC. Ms. Bascom discussed the plans for the museum complex on Centennial Boulevard. The Lane Education Service District Planetarium is next to WISTEC. She said a new building for the University of Oregon Museum of Natural History is being constructed on the campus. The councilors discussed museums in other cities and future plans for Eugene museums. Mr. Gleason discussed a future pedestrian/bikeway from the downtown to WISTEC. Later in-3the meeting, Tom Hoyt, President of the Oregon Museum Park Commission, welcomed the councilors to the Oregon Museum Park. At noon, the adjourned meeting of May 13, 1987, of the City Council of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Brian B. Obie. I. ITEMS FROM THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, AND CITY MANAGER A. Dedication of Petersen Park Barn Community Center Mr. Mil 1 er invited other council ors to a ceremony on May 30, 1987, to celebrate the completion of the construction of Petersen Park. MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 20, 1987 Page 1 e B. Location of Council Meetings Ms. Wooten said she enjoys council meetings outside of City Hall and suggested they be held in alternate locations once a month or so. C. Recruitment of Industries Mayor Obie said B.F. Goodrich Company officials decided to locate their new plant in Pueblo, Colorado, instead of Eugene. He said Springfield officials cooperated with Eugene officials in discussions with Goodrich officials. Later in the meeting, he emphasized the excellent support Governor Goldschmidt gave Eugene. Mayor Obie said Mr. Gleason did a fine job representing the City in negotiations with Goodrich representatives in Los Angeles. Mr. Gleason discussed the negotiations and the inducement given by Pueblo. He said Eugene made a good proposal. Later, Mr. Gleason said Goodrich representatives liked a site in Willow Creek but they said they would not consider it unless the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) served it. Mayor Obie said representatives of Delgrossi Food Inc. applied to the Oregon Economic Development Commission for permission to sell industrial development bonds for a cheese plant in Eugene. He said he wi 11 testify before the Economic Development Commission in favor of the application. He said the representatives indicated that Italian investors will also build a pasta plant in Eugene. e Answering questions, Dave Reinhard of the Public Works Department said the plants probably will be built near Bertelson and Beltline roads in west Eugene. Mayor Obi e sa i d the Lane County Board of Commi s s i oners approved the application to the Economic Development Commission. He said the commissioners indicated that the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Partnership industrial recruitment efforts are valuable. Mayor Obie said the City would not have been considered by B.F. Goodrich representatives if the Partnership staff had not worked hard. He said the Partnership's efforts are not visible to some people. Mr. Bennett said some people do not value the Metropolitan Partnership. He emphasized the importance of the City being accountable for the financial support it gives the Partnership. He said the City should have criteria to judge the Partnership's recruitment efforts. He said an objective analysis is needed of other areas with which this community must compete in recruiting industries, of the tools this community has for recruiting, and of the community.s record compared to other communities. He said the analysis should be publicized. He stressed that he thinks the Partnership is very important. Ms. Ehrman agreed with Mr. Bennett. Mayor Obie suggested the Development Department staff address Mr. Bennett's concerns. Mayor Obie said perhaps a review committee appointed by the five partners in the Partnership could provide an analysis. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 20, 1987 Page 2 Ms. Wooten said a Budget Subcommittee was told a performance audit of the Partnership would cost about $30,000. e Responding to a comment from Mr. Holmer, Ms. Ehrman said she and Mayor Obie represent the City on the Board of Directors of the Partnership and Mayor Obie is on the Executive Board of the Partnership. Mr. Holmer said Ms. Ehrman and Mayor Obie should know the quality of work done by the Partnership. Ms. Bascom said one of her concerns is that criticism of the Partnership and the Visitors and Convention Bureau was received by the Budget Committee but, because Mayor Obi e is not on the Budget Committee, he was not there to respond. Mr. Bennett said many people expected successful industrial recruitment very quickly. Now, many people realize the effort must be a long, concerted one. He said there should be a way to judge the effort and an internal review will not be sufficient. e D. Metropolitan Policy Committee/Urban Transition Mr. -Gleason said the Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC) approved interim agreements between Lane County and the Ci ty for the transfer of urban services. The agreements will allow the City to maintain the western part of Alton Baker Park and administer planning and building regulations in the area between the Eugene city limits and the urban growth boundary. He said final urban transition agreements will be considered by the council in about 60 days. He said Lane County will pay for half of the City's expenses in the interim period if the final agreements are not approved. Mr. Gleason said the final agreements will transfer the title to the western part of Alton Baker Park to the City. The County will retain the title to the part of the park designated for a golf course for 18 months. If the golf course is not developed within 18 months, the title to that part of the park will be transferred to the City. Mr. Gleason said the City will receive about $1 million this year and about $1 million next year from Lane County if the final urban transition agreements are signed. He said the $1 million received this year will be used for capital improvements and to repair damage to the park. Ms. Schue said the interim agreements will allow Lane County to process them with its unions. She said the $1 million the City will receive this year from Lane County will provide improvements to the Cuthbert Amphitheatre. E. Construction of Jail Facilities Mr. Gleason said a tentative agreement has been reached with the Lane County Sheriff that indicates Lane County will operate the jail and the City will pay only for municipal prisoners. Mr. Gleason said the City's cost in the future will be about one-third of its previous cost. He discussed the need to have a jail to house prisoners the City police arrest this summer. He said the tentative agreement indicates the City will pay for the construction and - MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 20, 1987 Page 3 e staffing of one temporary facility and that 20 beds in the temporary facility will be pledged to Municipal Court. He said the construction and staffing cost will be about equal to the amount the City has been paying for jail service. Ms. Ehrman said Lane County apparently will use two-thirds of the spaces in the temporary facilities but the City will pay to construct them. Mr. Gleason responded that 80 percent of the jail prisoners are arrested by City police but only about 12 percent face municipal charges. He discussed the difficulty of classifying prisoners and decisions of the Oregon Attorney General that do not require Lane County officials to house Municipal Court prisoners. Answering a question from Ms. Bascom, Mr. Gleason said he hopes to negotiate a flat fee for a specific number of IImunicipalll beds. Mayor Obie said Mr. Gleason is doing a good job in negotiating with County officials. II. ORDINANCE CONCERNING MEMBERSHIP ON CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the item. He said the changes in the proposed ordi nance were approved on February 23, 1987, when the council considered the Citizen Involvement Program. e CB 2970-- An ordinance concerning the Citizen Involvement Committee; amending Section 2.013 of the Eugene Code, 1971; and declaring an emergency. Ms. Ehrman moved, seconded by Mr. Holmer, that the bill be read the second time by council bill number only, with unanimous consent of the council, and that enactment be considered at this time. The motion carried unanimously. Council Bill 2970 was read the second time by council bill number only. Ms. Ehrman moved, seconded by Mr. Holmer, that the bill be .3 approved and given final passage. All councilors present voting aye, the bill was declared passed (and became Ordinance No. 19476). III. APPOINTMENTS: MAYOR'S NOMINATION TO THE CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE Ms. Ehrman moved, seconded by Mr. Holmer, to appoint Ken Tollenaar to the Citizen Involvement Committee for a term ending December 31, 1989. The motion carried unanimously. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 20, 1987 Page 4 IV. APPOINTMENTS: COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE NOMINATIONS TO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS e Ms. Ehrman moved, seconded by Mr. Holmer, to approve the following recommendations of the Council Subcommittee for the Human Rights Commissions: Commission on the Rights of Women Demi Rewick, 1313 East 28th Avenue.........term ending: 12/31/87 Commission on the Rights of Minorities Susana Aguilar-Rice, 344 Ventura...........term ending: 12/31/89 Kristine Chappell, 576 Fenster............ .term ending: 12/31/89 Randal S. MacDonald, 2063 West 16th Avenue.term ending: 12/31/89 Alternates: Sandra Roberson, 2938 Bailey Lane.....term ending: 12/31/87 Paul Mickles, P.Ol Box 5348...........term ending: 12/31/87 The motion carried unanimously. V. RESOLUTION FOR "NO THROUGH TRUCKS" ZONE e City Manager Micheal Gleason said the proposed changes were directed by the council on April 27, 1987. Res. No. 4040--A resolution prohibiting through truck travel on 5th Avenue between Blair Boulevard and Almaden Street. Ms. Ehrman moved, seconded by Mr. Holmer, to adopt the resolution. The motion carried unanimously. VI. WORK SESSION: CENTRAL AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY City Mana~er Micheal Gleason introduced the item. Dave Reinhard of the Public Works Department gave the staff report. He said the Central Area Transportation Study (CATS) is a refinement of the TransPlan for the area bounded by the railroad tracks, 18th or 19th Avenues, a little east of Agate Street, and Lincoln Street. CATS was initiated to study the impact of converting Willamette Street to two-way traffic from 13th to 20th avenues, to study several street improvements suggested in refinement plans, to consider other street improvements for the downtown, to consider the supply and demand for parking facilities, and to analyze the impacts of expected growth in traffic and street improvements on the air quality. He said the CATS will be adopted by the council and the Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority (LRAPA) after public hearings and will result in a Parking and Circulation Plan that will facilitate LRAPA's issuance of indirect source permits needed by many developments in the area. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 20, 1987 Page 5 e Answering questions from Mr. Holmer after Mr. Reinhard reviewed the key assumptions in CATS, Mr. Reinhard said the number of jobs in the Metropolitan Plan projections was increased to reflect the development of the Riverfront Research Park but the number of dwelling units was not increased. Ms. Brody added that there probably will not be much additional housing in the Riverfront Research Park and people who work there will live in other parts of the city. ' Mr. Reinhard reviewed the four scenarios in CATS for street changes. Replying to questions from Ms. Ehrman about Scenario F1, Mr. Reinhard said dri vers wi 11 still have to turn east or west from Amazon Parkway at 19th Avenue. He said the addition of a south-bound lane on Amazon Parkway will improve traffic on Pearl Street between 18th and 19th avenues. He emphasized the importance of upgrading the traffic signals at 18th and 19th avenues. Mr. Miller said there is much automobile and bicycle traffic on 13th Avenue between High and Hilyard streets. Mr. Reinhard said he will study the area. He said the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) indicates that 13th Avenue will be reconstructed from Charnel ton to Kincaid. Perhaps a bicycle lane could be added. Because of time constraints, Mr. Reinhard omitted a detailed description of Scenario F2. Discussing Scenario F3, Mr. Reinhard said the analysis in CATS does not indicate that two-way traffic on Willamette Street between 13th and 20th avenues is advisable from a traffic engineering standpoint. However, there are other reasons for making the traffic two-way. e Answering questions from Ms. Ehrman, Mr. Reinhard said most of the traffic on Willamette Street between 11th and 13th is south-bound even though two-way traffic is permitted. Reviewing a survey of the two-block area, Mr. McKinley said business owners did not indicate that business has increased. They did state they have no problems with the two-way traffic. Discussing Scenario F4, Mr. Reinhard reviewed traffic direction changes to Oak, Pearl, and High streets. Mr. McKinley added that analyses indicate that the changes would cause problems for fire equipment when it leaves City Hall. Answering3 questions from Ms. Ehrman, Mr. McKinley said people in the West University neighborhood proposed the street direction changes so that High Street would buffer the neighborhood. Mr. Reinhard reviewed the parking recommendations in CATS and Mr. McKinley reviewed the land use changes in the South Willamette area recommended in CATS and requested by property owners. Answering questions from Mr. Holmer, Mr. Reinhard said the analysis of parking needs was correlated with projected employment in zones. Ms. Ehrman wondered about air quality if a traffic signal is added at Hilyard Street and 12th Avenue as recommended in CATS. Responding, Mr. Reinhard di scussed the contra-flow 1 ane on Patterson Street and other recommended e MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 20, 1987 Page 6 '! e e e changes in the area. He said there will eventually be three skybridges across Hi lyard Street. Answering a question from Ms. Wooten, Mr. McKinley said the fee for a privately initiated Metro Plan amendment is $600. Ms. Brody said a change in the Metro Plan designation from Residential to General Office for the 23rd and 24th avenues area on South Willamette would directly benefit the property owners; consequentlY"the fee would be appropriate. Referring to Scenario Fl, Ms. Bascom said CATS indicates that the conversion of Lincoln and Willamette streets to two-way traffic is not wise from a cost, operational, or safety standpoint and that the conversion of Willamette Street from 13th to 20th avenues is not related to the opening of Willamette Street to automobile traffic between 8th and 10th avenues. She said a gentle design for Willamette Street between 8th and 10th avenues would not be easy to accomplish if traffic is increased on Willamette Street from 13th to 20th avenues. Mr. Holmer said he does not favor commercial zoning along Willamette Street around 23rd and 24th avenues because it might result in strip commercial development. Mayor Obie said there are parking problems at the University of Oregon, Sacred Heart Hospital, and in the downtown but there are 10,000 rarely-used parking spaces at Autzen Stadium. He suggested that the cost of a mass transit system from the stadi um to those areas be compared to the cost of a parki n9 structure. Mr. McKinley responded that most of the University faculty, staff, and students live south of the Willamette River and they would have to go out of their way to park at Autzen Stadium. Mr. Reinhard said the Eugene/Springfield metropolitan area does not seem to be large enough to make such mass transit programs effective. He said the comparatively low price of parking spaces makes programs like the "Park and Ridell program unsuccessful. Mr. Gleason added that the downtown free parking program is an impediment to downtown development. Mr. Holmer said the City can address only part of the parking problem. He said the private sector should take responsibility for addressing much of the problem. Mr. Bennett said development of private facilities for parking precludes the opportunfty to share spaces and maximize facilities. He said downtown employers accept responsibility for creating parking when they pay the Downtown Development District Tax for the free parking program. Mr. Holmer wondered if the Downtown Development District Tax pays the cost of providing downtown parking. Ms. Wooten said the City must provide parking facilities until the downtown is revitalized. Several councilors asked for information before the council considers CATS again. Ms. Ehrman said the Downtown Commission and Planning Commission should MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 20, 1987 Page 7 ~IH~'~!'Lr}@qf.:t~-~-"iiii~'-~"""'_~:J''i~~~1:~~~t~':f:~~t,,,,-::-._..~~.~.~ e e e know that "bri ngi n9 more peop 1 e downtownU is not an adequate reason to approve two-way traffic on Willamette Street between 13th and 20th avenues in her opinion. Mr. Miller said he would like statistics about automobile and bicycle traffic on 13th Avenue from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. He would like to know how traffic on 13th Avenue to Kincaid Street will impact the scenarios in CATS. Ms. Ehrman suggested 1 ibrary personnel should be asked to respond to suggestions that parking in front of the library should be eliminated. Ms. Bascom said the University may create a parking facility on the tennis courts near Alder Street and she would like information about the impact of the facility on bike traffic on Alder Street. She said Alder Street is one of the most important bicycle corridors that reduce car parking needs on the campus. Mayor Obie adjourned the meeting at 1:25 p.m. to May 27, 1987. (Recorded by Betty Lou Rarick) mncc0520 ..:; MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 20, 1987 Page 8