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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/20/1988 Meeting e M I NUT E S \ Eugene City Council McNutt Room/City Hall_ July 20, 1988 11:30 a.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Freeman Holmer, Ruth Bascom, Debra Ehrman, Emily Schue, Robert Bennett, Jeff Miller. ABSENT: Mayor Brian Obie, Cynthia Wooten, Roger Rutan. I. ITEMS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR, AND CITY MANAGER A. Olive Plaza Ms. Ehrman said there is a recurring problem with loud music at J. Coles Brew Pub. She asked if there is a way the council can convene representatives from the parties involved to resolve the situation. B. Disruption on 10th Avenue e Ms. Ehrman said people causing problems at the corner of 10th Avenue land Willamette Street now appear to have moved to the corner of 10th Avenue and Olive Street. Some of the people causing problems are apparently gang mem- bers and have recently accosted customers in the area. She suggested the Public Safety Department should consider focused patrols or some other action to address the problem. Mr. Holmer said staff will review and report back on both items. C. Track Capital Status Mr. Miller said the council should work aggressively to retain Eugenels reputation as a track capital as it reviews its financial strategy. He said the council should not let Indianapolis, Indiana, steal the title away. He suggested the council give serious consideration to enhancing Eugene as an amateur sports center by putting together a hall of fame. D. Youth Recreational Survey Ms. Schue said she was approached last week about council funding for a youth recreational survey. She observed there are several other activities going on in this area including the Governor's Children's Agenda, which is due for release in the next few weeks. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 20, 1988 Page 1 e E. Frisbee Golf Ms. Schue said the Joint Parks Committee met this morning to formally an- nounce the opening of a frisbee golf course at Westmoreland Park. F. Meeting Change Ms. Bascom asked staff to look into how many councilors are available for the meeting scheduled August 11, 1988. G. Concerts in the Park Ms. Ehrman reminded councilors that the Concerts in the Park series is start- ing again. . She said the series provide a good opportunity for the community to listen to free music outside. H. Meeting Cancellation Mr. Holmer announced the City Council meeting scheduled for July 25, 1988, has been cancelled. ; II. WORK SESSION: URBAN FORESTRY REPORT Ms. Bascom said it has been four years since the council granted approval to e form a Tree and Beautification Commission. She introduced the members of the community and staff who have worked on the commission to produce the Urban Forestry Report: Mary Bentsen, Dennis Leuck, Penny Wardel, Ron Schmaedick, citizen members; Jeff Hale, Louis Kroech, Doug Post, and Johnny Medlin, City staff. Ms. Bascom said thanks should also be extended to Robin Morgan who was the primary author of the Urban Forestry Report. Ms. Bascom distributed a Tree Intelligence Quotient test to highlight some of the facts around City trees. Mr. Leuck pointed out that people often choose to alter a tree that might not necessarily be their tree to alter. He said the public and the City need to be reminded that trees remain part of a community long after those who plant- ed them are gone. Mr. Schmaedick urged the council to consider a self-sus- taining training program whereby people could become certified at pruning and trimming trees. Ms. Bentsen called the councills attention to a brochure aimed at educating people about what the City1s tree resources are. She said the commission will be offering guided walking tours during the Eugene Celebration to show the variety of trees in the area. Mr. Holmer asked if the tree program takes precedence over solar access pri vil eges. He also asked what the council should do with the report. Ms. Bascom said the report should be considered a resource document. She said e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 20, 1988 Page 2 e the commission is not seeking any policy implementation. Mr. Post said the report is intended as an educational document that should be circulated .internally within the City. ~ .. - ~ -~ . ,. III. WORK SESSION: FERRY STREET BRIDGE STUDY Dave Reinhard, Transportation Engineer, presented the staff report. He reminded the council that last year the City successfully obtained Federal money to fund 80 percent of the Ferry Street Bridge Study. Conditions for the funding require the City to match the Federal money with 20 percent of the total cost of the study. Mr. Reinhard said the purpose of the project is preliminary planning and engineering' studies to analyze alternatives and develop a draft environmental impact statement (EIS). He said the study is projected to take 18 to 24 months. Once the draft EIS is completed, public hearings will be held and a "preferred alternative" will be developed. Once that is completed, Mr. Reinhard said detailed engineering plans will be developed also using the original Federal and City funds. Anything beyond this point will depend upon obtaining actual construction dollars. ; Mr. Reinhard outlined the geographic scope of the project. He said the term "Ferry Street Bridgel/ encompasses the entire corridor from East Broadway to the intersection of Oakway and Coburg Road. He said the planning study will e also review a broader area that stretches from the Washington/Jefferson Street Bridge to Interstate 5. The purpose of this is to analyze traffic and other land-use impacts. Mr. Reinhard noted the City is legally required to review alternative cross- ings of the Willamette River to the east of the existing bridge. This could either be a major rehabilitation or a supplemental crossing. He said he is aware this raises a sensitive issue. However, he said the Transportation Division will be working with the Citizen Involvement Committee and the Planning Department to insure that the public is involved. Mr. Reinhard said he has sent out a Request for Proposals (RFP) to consulting firms, and that a multi-disciplinary consultant team will be hired to perform the majority of the work. He said there will also be heavy involvement from staff as well other agencies such as EWES and the University of Oregon. Ms. Bascom said she is startled to hear that other locations for the bridge have to be examined, especially in light of the effort that went into acquir- ing the land for Alton Baker Park. Mr. Reinhard said the City is required to review all available alternatives. He said that does not mean those alterna- tives will be carried through the entire process. Chris Andersen, director of Public Works, said the main criteria will be what impacts the proposed improvements have on the existing bridge as opposed to another location for a river crossing. At this point, she said no other e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 20, 1988 Page 3 --- e logical location has been found. Mr. Reinhard said starting from the premise that no other locations will be considered creates problems later on in the process. In response to a question from Ms. Schue, Mr. Reinhard said there will most likely be six to eight lanes of traffic on the improved bridge. He said this will also require a review of the existing railroad overpass. Mr. Reinhard also outlined a proposal to build an additional bridge that would link west Eugene to the Valley River area. He said traffic studies have indicated that a "back door" is needed as an alternate to people travel- ing over the bridge at Washington and Jefferson streets or the Ferry Street Bridge. Mr. Reinhard said staff feels a study similar to the Ferry Street Bridge should be undertaken to explore the possibility of a Valley River bridge. One of the reasons staff supports a study is the need to acquire right-of-way in the area while there is still some vacant land. Mr. Miller asked if there is alternate funding for a Valley River bridge study. Mr. Reinhard responded that staff has not explored that option yet, although he said gasoline tax revenue is one option. Because the City is bisected by a river, Ms. Andersen said changes made to each river crossing impact other crossings. She said staff is recommending that the Valley River bridge be studied at this time before opportunities to e construct a bridge become more limited as the area is developed. I In response to a question from Mr. Holmer, Ms. Andersen said the Ferry Street Bridge EIS would not include the Valley River bridge area. She said staff is now developing a funding proposal for the Valley River bridge for considera- tion during the September-December Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) process. She said staff would not initiate a study until the project has been adopted in the CIP. Ms. Bascom asked how the Chambers connector will tie in with the Valley River bridge. Ms. Andersen said staff envisions a river crossing that would not conflict with the Chambers connector. She estimated the demand for a cross- ing in the area will become apparent after the Chambers connector is opened next winter. The meeting was adjourned at 12:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~" ~ . ~~." M;cheal Gleason City Manager (Recorded by Todd Nissen) e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 20, 1988 Page 4