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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/24/1984 Meeting M I NUT E S e Eugene City Council City Council Chamber September 24, 1984 7:35 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Brian Obie, John Ball, Richard Hansen, Freeman Holmer, Debra Ehrman, Emily Schue, Ruth Bascom COUNCILOR ABSENT: Cynthia Wooten Adjourned meeting of the City Council of the City of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Gus Keller. I. ITEMS FROM COUNCILOR HANSEN A. Sorrel Way Sidewalks Councilor Hansen, stating that he would be absent from the City Council meeting on September 26, asked that the issue of the construction of sidewalks on Sorrel Way be postponed so that he might participate in the council action. -- B. Ballot Measure 2 Councilor Hansen said he wished to go on record as opposing Ballot Measure 2 since he would be absent on September 26 when the council would take formal action on the issue. C. Historic Street Tree Ballot Measure Councilor Hansen stated for the record that he opposed the Historic Street Tree ballot measure, explaining that the measure would hinder the City in developing long-range transportation plans for the community. C. Laurelwood Golf Course Contest Councilor Hansen reported that he and Mayor Keller had kicked off the "Hole-in- Oneil Contest at the Laurelwood Golf Course that afternoon. He explained that for a $5 entry fee individuals could try to win $100,000 by making a hole-in-one. He added that proceeds from the contest will go to the Parks Department and Laurelwood Golf Course. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 24, 1984 Page 1 II. PUBLIC HEARINGS e A. Recommendations on the Evaluation Report for the T-2000 Plan (memo, background information distributed) City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the agenda item. Kirk McKinley of the Planning Department presented the staff report, stating that staff was request- ing feedback from the City Council on the input to be used in the transporta- tion computer modeling for the T-2000 Plan Update. Based on that feedback and direction, staff will perform the modeling, identify traffic overloads, and develop methods to alleviate those overloads. Mr. McKinley said staff expected the draft Transportation Plan Update to be ready for review in spring 1985. Referring to the L-COG memorandum of September 6, 1984, he said that consensus had been reached on the issues of Land Use, Alternative Modes, and Level of Service by the Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County planning commis- sions and the Lane County Roads Advisory Committee. Addressing the two issues on which consensus was not reached, he then reviewed the recommendations of the four bodies on Transit and Trip Making as reported in the September 19, 1984, Planning and Public Works memorandum to the City Council. He stated that Dave Reinhard (Public Works), John Replinger (L-COG), Roger Rutan (Planning Commission), and Stefano Viggiano (LTD) were present to answer any questions of the council. In response to a question by Councilor Holmer regarding the T-2000 Plan, Mr. McKinley said that staff was attempting to develop a new name for the plan to emphasize that the plan was to serve the metropolitan population rather than a specific year. In response to another question, Mr. McKinley said e that council was free to question any of the five issues addressed in the Evaluation Report. The public hearing was opened. There being no testimony presented, the public hearing was closed. Councilor Obie asked how the City Council recommendations will dovetail with the recommendations of Springfield and Lane County. Mr. Reinhard responded that the council could either modify the recommended figures to reach a consensus with the other elected bodies or staff could use the various recom- mended numerical figures as input for the computer model. In response to a request for clarification on the difference between the household and per capita trip making rates, Mr. McKinley distributed a graph illustrating the two levels. As an example, he said that a household might generate 16 trips per day while an individual would generate only a small portion of that figure, regardless of the household makeup. He said that staff foresaw household size decreasing in the future while the number of households increased. He said that staff believed that the number of trips by a household would be greater than the per capita rate. In response to a question by Councilor Ehrman regarding the three-tiered approach recommended for the Transit issue, Mr. Rutan said he did not person- ally agree with the recommendation of the Eugene Planning Commission but that - MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 24, 1984 Page 2 e the commission had agreed that the LTD goals were too optimistic. He said that computer modelin~ for Eugene and Springfield could occur separately. Referring to Mr. Obie s question regarding the Trip Making issue, he said the commission had chosen the household rate as a compromise between the per capita rate and the rate originally used in the T-2000 Plan and a continuation of present trip making trends which show continued increases in trip making rates. In response to a question by Mr. Obie regarding outlying industrial areas, Mr. Rutan said the commission was not assuming a total build-out of those areas and that the plan was flexible in addressing the build-out as it occurred. Councilor Bascom said she had participated in the development of the T-2000 Plan. She felt that the new plan would not be any more error-free than the original plan. However, she stressed that the original developers of the plan had been correct in assuming that bicycle facilities would be used if built. She suggested that the council adopt the per capita trip making rate and the seven percent goal for the Transit issue. In response to a question by Councilor Schue regarding the Transit goals, Mr. Viggiano said it would be difficult to determine how future factors might affect the LTD recommended goals. He felt that LTD could achieve the eight percent ridership goal if it experienced the same rate of growth through 2000 as experienced during the previous year. Councilor Holmer said it was wise to be conservative in planning pUblic works. Referring to the graph distributed by Mr. McKinley, he asked how staff could e justify the eight percent transit ridership goal in the light of past exper- ience. Mr. Reinhard said that some saturation point must exist. He said staff was unsure how long the increase in the per capita rate would continue. He commented that the Evaluation Report addressed the socia-economic changes which had created the increases in the household rate; however, he felt that any choice would be based on individual philosophy. In response to another question, he said staff was not sure whether a realistic set of assumptions could be developed. In response to a question regarding the review process, Mr. McKinley said staff hoped to review the Metro Plan Land Uses in conjunction with the T-2000 Plan during the next major update. Mr. Hansen said he viewed the Evaluation Report as a document to plan what may happen. He stressed that the City must be realistic in planning what may happen as opposed to what individuals wish to occur. He felt that the City must plan for a more mobile population in the future. He said he viewed the plan optimistically and that the City goals could be developed in another document such as the Community Goals and Policies. Ms. Bascom said she agreed with Mr. Hansen except that she had reached a different conclusion regarding trip making rates. Mr. Replinger explained that the per capita rate was six trips per day, stating that an average household of 2.7 individuals would generate a household rate of 16 trips per day. He said the household size was expected to decrease from 2.7 to 2.3 individuals over the next 20 years. Ms. Bascom said the difference between the two rates was only 15 percent. She felt that reaching for a higher transit level would not be necessary because the plan contained other errors. e She felt that the number of trips would decrease as the average age of the area population increased. She did not feel that the City would underbuild the transportation system by using the per capita rate. MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 24, 1984 Page 3 e In response to a question by Councilor Ehrman regarding the levels developed for walking and bicycling, Mr. McKinley explained that the trip making figure was a number from which the other modes were subtracted. He said the 1978 trip making rate was determined through surveys and national trends. He said the 1980 United States Census data on individual trips to employment was also used in developing the transportation figures. Councilor Ball, referring to a comment by Ms. Bascom, said he understood that the number of trips per individual would increase as those individuals had more time away from employment. Mr. McKinley said he had not read any data to validate that theory. Mr. Ball felt that the household rate and the three- tiered approach would be the most appropriate choices. Mr. Gleason said a tendency existed to describe the assumptions as more accurate than they were intended to be. He said staff would make projections based on assumptions validated by past experience. He cautioned against using the data ,as precise knowledge, stating that judgment by policy makers was still necessary. He said that little empirical observation was necessary to determine that the T-2000 Plan assumptions were overly generous. He said Ms. Bascom was correct in that an impact was made on bicycles within the transportation system. He said it was rational to choose a course, but he stressed that the City must still make a judgment on the meaning of the transit figures. Responding to a question by Councilor Schue on the time frame of the T-2000 Plan, Mr. McKinley said staff had erred in referencing 2000 in the document. e He said that staff was attempting to develop a transportation system which would serve the projected Metro Plan population of 293,700 residents whenever that level was reached. Councilor Ehrman said that many of the transportation figures were speculative. She said she liked the three-tiered transit approach because it provided flexibility to make adjustments as necessary. Regarding the trip making rate, she said she was unclear how a decrease in the size of households would increase the per capita rate. Mr. McKinley suggested that the number of trips might increase as the number of children in the household decreased, resulting in more leisure time; however, he also said that an increased number of children might necessitate a greater number of trips. Councilor Hansen, stating that the recommendations of the Eugene Planning Commission were similar to the recommendations of Lane County and Springfield regarding Transit and Trip-Making, suggested that it might be appropriate for the City to adopt the recommendations of the other two groups. He felt that it would be easier to study the entire metropolitan area if identical figures were used in the mOdeling. Mr. Obie moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, to adopt the recommenda- tions of the Eugene Planning Commission regarding the T-2000 Plan Evaluation Report. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 24, 1984 Page 4 Councilor Holmer asked if the question could be divided to separately address - the five issues. City Attorney Tim Sercombe said a motion was necessary to divide the question unless the maker of the motion wished to withdraw the motion. Mr. Obie was he was unwilling to withdraw his motion. He said that amendments could be made to reflect any disagreement with the recommendations. Councilor Bascom suggested that the council could amend the motion to approve the Planning Commission recommendations on which consensus had been reached and then develop a separate motion addressing the remaining two issues. Mr. Hansen moved to amend the motion by revising the Transit goal recommendations to model future transit ridership at seven percent, with an intermediate goal of four percent in 1995. The motion died for lack of a second. Councilor Ehrman agreed with the three-tiered approach, but she preferred the per capita trip-making rate because it better reflected the action of the City. She said, however, she would support the recommendations of the Planning Commission. In response to a request for clarification on the motion by Ms. Bascom, Mr. McKinley reviewed the recommendations of the Planning Commis- sion. Councilor Holmer said he favored three of the commission's recommenda- tions but disagreed with the recommendations on Trip Making and Level of Service. Roll call vote on the original motion; the motion carried 5:2; Councilors Obie, Ball, Ehrman, Hansen, and Schue voting aye; and Councilors Bascom and Holmer voting nay. e Councilor Obie said that the City must at some point decide what was sufficient. He said that the difference between Level of Service D and E might not be critical, but that going to a higher level of service would negatively impact the City in its attempts to make any changes. Councilor Schue thanked those individuals involved in developing the Evaluation Report. Councilor Bascom commented that the report was of excellent quality, stating that it had been easy to read and understand. Councilor Hansen temporarily left the meeting at this time. B. Appeal of Sign Code Board of Appeals Decision (904 West 6th Avenue (memo, background information distributed) City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the agenda item. Sign Code Inspector Barbara McDonald stated that Michael O'Connell, the appellant in the case, was unable to attend the hearing because of an emergency situation. City Attorney Tim Sercombe said it would be appropriate to set the item over to a date certain. This would preclude the necessity of renotifying the parties involved. He did not feel it would be procedurally fair to proceed with the appeal in the absence of the appellant. Mr. Obie moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, to set the item over until October 22, 1984. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 24, 1984 Page 5 e Councilor Ball asked if the council would hear, at this time, from the other parties involved in the appeals. Mayor Keller said that the item would be set over until October 22. He added that he had received no requests to testify on the item. In response to a question by Councilor Ehrman, Ms. McDonald stated that Mr. O'Connell had sent a representative to present his request for postponement. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 6:0. Councilor Hansen returned to the meeting at this time. III. ADOPTION OF FINDINGS/LEVY ASSESSMENTS (memo distributed) A. Adoption of Findings (findings distributed) B. Levy Assessments City Manager Michea1 Gleason introduced the agenda item. City Engineer Bert Teitzel presented the staff report. Referring to his memorandum of September 18, 1984, which described the three projects, he reviewed the process which had been followed by staff in developing the proposed projects and assessments. Mr. Teitzel stated that Council Bill 2778 was being modified to eliminate the sidewalk on Clinton Drive because that sidewalk had already been constructed. He said staff was recommending that the City Council adopt the findings and approve the three ordinances. e CB 2776--An ordinance levying assessments for paving and storm sewer in Country Club Road from Club Road to Coburg Road; and in Club Road from Country Club Road 200' south (84-24). CB 2777--An ordinance levying assessments for sanitary sewer in Country Club Road from Sand Avenue to Wi11agi11espie Road (84-25). CB 2778--An ordinance levying assessments for sidewalks at 1494 Goodpasture Island Road; at 3322 Storey Boulevard; and on the north side of Kimberly Drive west of Spring Boulevard Drive (84-26). Mr. Obie moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, to adopt the findings relating to contract numbers 84-24, 84-25, and 84-26; that the bills be read the second time by council bill numbers only, with unanimous consent of the council, and that enactment be consid- ered at this time. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 7:0. Council Bills 2776, 2777, and 2778 were read the second time by council bill numbers only. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 24, 1984 Page 6 Mr. Obie moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, that the bills be e approved and given final passage. Roll call vote; the bills were declared passed (and became Ordinance No. 19280 [CB 2776], Ordinance No. 19281 [CB 2777], and Ordinance No. 19282 [CB 2778). IV. DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT ON 6TH/7TH WIDENING (memo distributed) City Manager Micheal Gleason introduc~d the agenda item. Dave Reinhard of Public Works presented the staff report, stating that the purpose of this agenda item was to report to the council on the status and the major design features of the first phase of the 6th/7th Reconstruction Project. He said that the State Highway Division was completing the final plans and specifica- tions for the project and expected to advertise for bids in October. Based on that date, he believed that a contract would be awarded in late October or early November, with the majority of the construction to be performed in 1985. He explained that State and City staff and the Design Review Committee had been working on major design elements during the past nine months as directed by the City Council. He said the committee had discussed its possible role in future phases of the 6th/7th project at its last meeting. Mr. Reinhard reported that the State Highway Division might be able to begin its design work on the next phase of the 6th/7th Corridor as early as Spring 1985. He said that staff was requesting direction from the City Council on whether the present or a new design review committee should be given the charge of addres- sing that next construction phase. e Brian Bauske, 1012 West 8th Avenue, Chair of the Design Review Committee, explained that the committee had been charged with the design review process by the City Council. He said the committee had addressed the major public concern of minimizing the impact of the project on the existing mature street trees as well as refining other aspects of the proposal. Referring to a series of diagrams illustrating the project area, Mr. Bauske pinpointed the location of those trees to be removed, those to be retained, and the new trees to be planted. He said the committee was able to consider the plantings, lighting fixtures, and signaling in an integrated fashion to minimize clutter. He also identified the areas and type of paving material to be used for the pedestrian crossings. Addressing the problem area at the intersection of 7th Avenue and 1-105, Mr. Bauske said that widening alone would not resolve the problems of congestion and high carbon monoxide levels. He said the committee had forwarded a letter to MAPAC which recommended that the intersection be identified as an area of concern during the T-2000 Plan Update. Mr. Bauske said he was pleased with the work of the committee and the staff involved, stressing that he felt the committee had resolved the main issues of concern. He recommended that the City Council use a similar committee to review the design of the subsequent phases of the widening project. Councilor Hansen commented that the committee had been composed of a diverse group but that the members put forth their best efforts in completing the committee's charge. He thanked Bill Quinn and Jim Gix of the State Highway Division for their efforts and cooperation with City staff. Mr. Hansen e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 24, 1984 Page 7 reported that the State Highway staff wanted the project to be a showcase for 4It Eugene and for the State. Mr. Bauske agreed, stating that the cooperation between the two staffs set the tone for the committee. Responding to a question by Councilor Ehrman regarding the design plans, Mr. Hansen said he and the committee felt that the State had been honest in its efforts and that the City would have the full cooperation of the State in completion of the project as designed. Addressing the issue of the trees, he suggested that some tree-banking be performed for the subsequent phases of the widening project. He suggested that the Parks Department study the possibility of acquiring trees for this purpose. Mayor Keller said the council appreciated the work of the Design Review Committee. He also expressed his appreciation to the State Highway Division staff for their cooperative efforts. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully ~ ~ y (~ . - Micheal D. Gleason Ci ty Manager e (Recorded by Thorn Strunk) MDG:TS:pv/CM8a18 e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 24, 1984 Page 8