The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About07/11/1983 Meeting M I NUT E S e City Council Work Session Seeger Room, Hilton Hotel July 11, 1983 5:00 p.m. PRESENT: Gus Keller, Mayor; John Ball, Dick Hansen, Freeman Holmer, Mark Lindberg, Brian Obie,Emily Schue, Betty Smith, Cynthia Wooten, Councilors; Mike Gleason, City Manager; Dave Whitlow, Assistant City Manager; Barbara Bellamy, Public Information Director; Pat Lynch, Council Administrator; Bert Teitzel, City Engineer; Pat Decker, Kirk McKinley, Planning; Brian Shelton, Public Works; Fred Webb, KUGN; Mark Matassa, Eugene Register-Guard. I. STATUS REPORT - MAJOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS Mr. McKinley gave an overview of planning principles and a report on recently completed transportation projects. Transportation planning involved concen- tration of development in certain nodes. design of an efficient arterial system to draw traffic away from neighborhood streets, and provision of alternatives such as carpooling, bicycling, transit and transportation system management type projects, such as the coordinated signal timing project. The first phase of the carpooling program, which focused on development of e community awareness and of a central carpoolers file, has been completed. The second phase, encouraging major employers to establish in-house carpool programs, has resulted in the sign-up of nine major employers. Eighty miles of bikeways have been completed out of 150 targeted. The Lane Transit District recently completed the downtown Tenth Avenue Transfer Center, 20 to 30 "Park-and-Ride" lots, the River Road transit station, and are working with the University on a major facility at 13th and Kincaid. Finally, the cities of Eugene and Springfield and Lane County are working together on a co-ordinated traffic signal system to enhance arterials. In response to Mr. Lindberg's question on "measure of success", Mr. Gleason explained that the "transportation mix" is on target within the realm of the capacity for measuring. Mr. McKinley explained the projects to date in the West Eugene and Bethel area within the urban growth boundary including street improvements and development nodes. Three color codes were used to designate State, Lane County and City projects. Mr. Shelton then took the floor and described the Chambers Connector project, the 6th and 7th Avenue widening, and 6th and 7th extension projects. In addition, he distributed a project timetable describing plans from 1983 through 1985. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Ju ly 11, 1983 Page 1 Using wall maps, he described the Chambers Connector, the North/South improve- ment connecting Chambers at 8th Avenue to Fir Lane in the River Road area e that will bypass a major congestion area in the vicinity of Blair Boulevard and the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks. He stated that this project was in the process of review of the draft Environmental Impact Statement in con- formance to federal regulations. Mr. Shelton, in response to Mr. Hansen's question on residential opposition to tying in the Roosevelt Boulevard area, stated that organizations in the affected areas have voiced neither opposition nor favoritism. However,there have been rumors that the Bethel Triangle Neighborhood is opposed, but there has been no official opposition voiced. He continued that part of the process prior to assembling the EIS draft involved a Citizen Advisory Committee to assist with local concerns and preliminary design and information gathering. The draft EIS analyzes two alternatives--either a "no-build alternative or a "build" alternative. The "build" alternative contains the option to connect Roosevelt Blvd. and three different centerline alignment options. This statement will assist the community in the process of developing preferred alternatives to enable a final Environmental Impact Statement required before construction. A joint public hearing on the project has been scheduled by the Eugene Planning Commission and the Lane County Roads Advisory Committee for August 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber. The City Council will conduct a public hearing on the project on August 17, and will forward a recommendation to the County Commissioners. Mr. Lindberg questioned the assumptions behind the Chambers Connector as a "needed" project. Mr. Shelton stated that it was in response to the T-2000 e evaluation process which identified the need for more efficient linkage between River Road and Eugene and a method to eliminate traffic congestion at the railway tracks. Mr. Gleason added that residents of the South Chambers area would benefit from improved access to the airport and freeways. Ms. Wooten voiced concern on traffic "dumping" onto 8th that would affect the Far West and Westside neighborhoods' residential qualities. Staff res- ponded that construction of the 6th and 7th Avenue widening should attract traffic and therefore lessen neighborhood impact. In addition, it was explained that funnelling of traffic from six lanes to two required the extesion to 8th rather than 7th Avenue. Therefore. the implementation of the 6th and 7th Avenue project in conjunction with the Chambers project becomes more important to preserve the status quo of neighborhood streets. In addition, signalization and intersection design would mitigate some concerns on traffic patterns. In response to Mr. Holmer's question on using Chambers over Blair Boulevard as a funnel for traffic, staff responded that traffic movement along neigh- borhood boundaries was selected over traffic through neighborhoods to preserve cohesiveness. Mr. Shelton agreed that this issue needs to be looked at further in response to concerns voiced in the meeting. Ms. Wooten raised the question of the necessity for a public vote on these improvements to satisfy the charter amendment. Mr. Gleason explained that the e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 11. 1983 Page 2 charter provision requires a public vote on freeways and throughways (con- trolled limited access). Messrs. Gleason and Shelton then explained that e because the Chambers construction did not qualify as a "limited access roadbed" or freeway, no vote would be necessary according to the law. In addition, access will be available in that access rights from abutting properties will not be purchased. Mr. Shelton continued by describing the two alternative routes for the four-lane, two-way, at-grade 6 and 7th extension to the East. The Citizen's Advisory Committee recommended two routes for further analysis . The draft EIS will address these two alternatives by impacts on businesses and residents in the area. After the public meetings, the Planning Commission and Council will have to prepare a ballot measure for March, May, or June. He noted that the construction funding had not been programmed, and therefore obtaining the funding would be a major objective in the City's presentation to the Oregon Transportation Commission. Mr. Shelton then described the 6th and 7th Avenue widening from High to Garfield that would involve a four-lane, one-way street with a corridor of trees. While the ODOT would plant 130 trees in the first phase, some older existing trees will have to be removed in the process. He handed out sketches of the proposed widening illustrating the finished version. Concern was expressed on the removal of existing trees, and members felt that the input and support of affected property owners was important for this phase. Extensive discussion took place on implications of a public vote. There was a suggestion for a new freeway amendment to the charter on the November ballot e to simplify the approval process and enable the City to acquire the State funds. However, several councilors agreed on the necessity to make the existing process work as a step in citizen review. Some councilors stated because the original amendment was outdated and created an encumbrance to improvements vital for economic development, a new amendment should be considered. There was concern on the timing of the amendment change as a public debate could create questions by the citizenry on why this move was being considered at this time with the potential of a "backlash effectll and resultant loss of State funding. Mr. Keller suggested that there be further discussion on this issue in view of the range of opinions before a decision was made on Council action. II. COUNCIL GOAL SESSION Several dates were explored for the goal session to be facilitated by Don Murray. The dates of Friday, October 28, and Saturday, October 29, were selected. The sessions will commence on the afternoon or early evening of October 28 with staff presentations, and continue into Friday evening and through the following day. III. WEDNESDAY MEETING FORMAT Mr. Obie suggested eliminating Wednesday noon meetings when there were too few agenda items to warrant a meeting. It was suggested these be added to the agendas of other Council meetings. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 11, 1983 Page 3 e Mr. Holmer, however, felt there was value in occasional open-ended discussion among councilors. In response, Mr. Lynch .suggested that councilors provide staff with input for council dinner session topics of this nature. Mr. Obie suggested that councilors identify subject areas to include for the goal session also. Th~ meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m. ~~).... SP:b I~ ,,-' e e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 11, 1983 Page 4