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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/04/1991 Meeting e M I NUT E S Eugene City Council Work Session McNutt Room--City Hall November 4, 1991 5:30 p.m. PRESENT: Roger Rutan, Shawn Boles, Ruth Bascom, Bobby Green, Randy MacDonald, Paul Nicholson, Kaye Robinette. ABSENT: Debra Ehrman. The meeting of the Eugene City Council was called to order by His Honor Mayor Jeff Mi 11 er . 1. STATE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM UPDATE A. Status Report on Major State Transportation Projects David Reinhard, City Transportation Engineer, presented a general status e report concerning several projects on the State highway system in Eugene that are in various stages of planning, design, or construction. He said most of the activity was on Eugene's west side. Projects underway include Highway 99 North, the West Eugene Parkway, and Beltline Road. Other Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) projects include the Harlow Road overpass at Inter- state 5, Franklin Boulevard, Ferry Street Bridge, and interstate highways 5 and 105. Mr. Reinhard introduced Les Lyle, City Engineer, to provide detailed informa- tion about the Highway 99 North and West Eugene Parkway projects. Highway 99 North. Mr. Lyle said the improvement on Highway 99 North is pro- ceeding in two phases. Phase 1, from Beltline Road to Barger Avenue, in- volves a pavement overlay and some minor widening. Phase 1 is scheduled for completion in summer 1992. Landscaping will be completed in 1993. Mr. Lyle said that Phase 2 will extend from Barger Avenue to Roosevelt Boule- vard. The final design is now underway and will include curbs and gutters, sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping, improved traffic signals, lighting, and pavement overlay. Construction of this section should be completed in 1993. Mr. Lyle said that no firm concepts for landscaping designs have been devel- oped for the Highway 99 project. He said property owners along the Highway 99 corridor are concerned about how landscaping will be maintained. Mr. Lyle e MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 4, 1991 Page 1 - . ....-- .-- - ------ --- -- e said staff will develop proposals to address this concern. He added that if sidewalks are included, pedestrian use would increase in the area. In response to questions, Mr. Lyle responded that he was not sure if there was enough room to combine a pedestrian walk with a bike lane in this corri- dor; however, there is a planned on-street bicycle lane. Mr. Lyle said that the landscaping strip would be seven feet wide. It is not yet clear who would be responsible for maintaining landscaping if some of it is put on private property. Property owners will be responsible for paying for any curb, gutters, sidewalk, and driveway adjustments required on their property. He said a clear majority of citizens prefer having sidewalks on only one side of the road, but staff preference is for sidewalks on both sides. Mr. Lyle added that bark or gravel would provide low-level mainte- nance compared to grass in the landscaping strips. Mr. Boles asked whether the City should proceed with beautification through landscaping without knowing who will be responsible for the maintenance. Mayor Miller stated that property owners are legally responsible for their property up to the road, except for trees. He added that low-maintenance plantings would be preferable. City Manager Mike Gleason said he supported use of a municipal irrigation system to help maintain plantings as it would be cost effective. Mr. Lyle added that the installation of an irrigation system would be less costly if done during road construction, before the completion of Phase 2. He said that if the irrigation system were public, then the landscaping should be public as well. e Mayor Miller asked where the City of Eugene welcome sign would be located after construction. Mr. Reinhard responded that, due to State requirements, the sign cannot be located on the State highway right-of-way. He said there had been discussion of placing the sign near Airport Road. Mr. Lyle stated that staff has yet to decide about whether to include median islands on the highway and if so whether they should be concrete. He said a review of pedestrian-related accidents in the area as well as business im- pacts will help decide the issue. In response to questions, Mr. Lyle said U-turns could be allowed in the area of the medians. He added that ever- greens along the sides could be used to soften the skyline and hide utility lines. West Eugene Parkway. Mr. Lyle stated that the parkway project is currently in the design process. He said Phase 1 will extend from Highway 99 to Beltline Road. Phase 2 will extend from Beltline Road to Greenhill Road. The project will include enhancing the Bertelsen Slough by adding recreation- al features and water quality features as well as wetlands expansion. In answer to council's questions, Mr. Lyle said that the slough area will be broadened and a view site may be added. He said the changes would only mini- mally impact the waterfowl flyway. He said the western phase will have the most impact on the wetlands and diminish some prairie grasslands. Mr. Lyle added that they are trying to make the parkway design compatible with local e MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 4, 1991 Page 2 e wetlands plans, and that the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will be involved in these plans. The City is using wetlands standards adopted by the State. Mr. Lyle, in responding to questions about bike paths, said that the State's main concern about bike paths is whether they should be on or off the road. He added that if the State does not support incorporating bike paths in Eu- gene area road projects, Public Works will press the matter. Mr. Lyle said the inclusion of bike paths can be paid for out of State and City road funds as long as they are placed inside the road's right-of-way. He said bike paths and/or pedestrian paths will be designed according to their appropri- ateness to each area. He added that Federal highway funds can be used as an alternative to State highway funds in the construction of bike paths. Beltline Highway. Mr. Reinhard said improvements to Beltline are in the plan- ning stages. He said one goal is to improve the section from West 11th Ave- nue to Barger Avenue by replacing all at-grade, signalized intersections with grade-separated interchanges or overpasses. Different alternatives are being considered to improve connections to Beltline Road from arterial streets as well. He added that safety issues are a concern on the portion of Beltline Road between River Road and Delta Highway, and additional lanes may be needed to meet future traffic demand. In response to questions, Mr. Reinhard said that Roosevelt Boulevard can handle more traffic than Royal Avenue. He said there would possibly be room for a frontage road between Royal Avenue and the West Eugene Parkway, but he e did not know where it could tie into the main road. Harlow Overpass Project. Mr. Reinhard said the City is awaiting additional State funding in order to complete this project. Mr. MacDonald applauded the efforts of the Public Works staff in obtaining ODOT funding for local road improvement projects. II. REVIEW OF COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE POLICIES ON TRANSPORTATION Staff provided the council with a brief overview of the events and agenda for the upcoming visit by the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) on November 18 and 19 which will include a tour of the area and dinner with local offi- cials. In response to council questions regarding the status of local road projects for State funding, Mr. Reinhard answered that the pedestrian overpass to the riverfront area from the campus has potential for OOOT funding. He added that staff is also pressing the State to fund an Interstate 5 interchange on Franklin Boulevard. In response to questions concerning whether to push the State to serve all modes of transportation in their funding projects, Mr. Gleason said the coun- cil needs to help OOOT's board and staff to see the importance of all modes e of transportation and make them commit to providing for all modes. MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 4, 1991 Page 3 e Terry Smith, Deputy Director of Public Works, presented a review of council legislative policies on transportation. He said the draft Oregon Transporta- tion Plan Policy Element packet would assist the council in understanding changes at the OTC. Mr. Smith focused on excerpts from the plan in areas where the council had concerns. He added that two areas where the council had questions concerning the policy plan were how to approach transitional funding policy and what defines "alternative transportation." Mr. Smith referred to Policy I-A in the document concerning transportation goals in terms of efficiency, accessibility, etc. He defined modes of trans- portation as autos, bikes, pipelines, pedestrians, airports, intercity bus systems, fixed railways, and ports. In response to council's questions concerning pricing programs, Mr. Smith referred to the Action Policies listed under I-B. Mr. Gleason asked when the policies would have a public hearing. Mr. Smith said a hearing would be held soon. Mr. Smith said that Policy 1-0, Environ- mental Responsibility, has been shortened and wondered if the council may want to propose reinstating the earlier version of this policy. Mr. MacDonald asked the council for consensus on identifying the stricken por- tions and proposing their restoration. Mayor Miller asked about the ration- ale for excluding that portion. Mr. Smith answered that the State believes the idea of environmental responsibility is incorporated throughout the plan. Mr. Nicholson stated concern that the environmental impact statement address- e es an environmental evaluation rather than the costs of subsidizing any envi- ronmental impacts. Mr. Smith answered that the pricing system could be changed so that the single-occupant vehicle pays the full cost. He added that the policy states this can be done, and that the policy does not explic- itly address subsidies. Mr. Smith then referred to Policy l-E, Connectivity Among Places. In re- sponse to questions, Mr. Smith answered that the purpose of his presentation was to provide the council with the general concepts in the Oregon Transpor- tation Plan (OTP) for discussions with the OTC so that the council can state their concerns about the policy before the policy document has its public hearing in the spring. Mayor Miller said councilors should review the packet on their own and prepare comments regarding any policy concerns. Mr. Gleason suggested the council work on developing ties with OTC during upcoming meet- ings so that the council can learn more about the State's plans and also express local needs and concerns. Chris Andersen, Director of Public Works, stated that a goal of the OTC is to direct change. Mr. Boles asked about a process for responding to the document. Mayor Mi 11 er responded that once councilors review it, they should direct concerns to staff and appropriate committees which would then bring it back to the coun- cil with recommendations. In response to council's questions about whether the State can require local and regional land use plans to follow State guidelines, Mr. Smith answered e MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 4, 1991 Page 4 -' ~ ----"""-. - ~- - - e that it would be handled through the Council Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) work concerning the document. Mr. MacDonald said he would like to get some consensus by council members concerning items in the policy document. Mr. Nicholson noted that Policy I-B.2 would require increased bus fares and the impact of that must be considered. Mr. Smith advised the council to be prepared to steer the OTC in a direction that would accomplish community goals through positive collaboration efforts. Mr. Smith then referred to Policies I-G, Safety and IH, Financial Stability, followed by Livability Policies. Policy 2-8 addressed urban accessibility and 2-D addressed facilities for pedestrian and bicyclists. He then briefly described the funding policy section, 4-A-C. Policy 4-A discussed incorpo- rating Federal, State. local and private funding sources, which may include subsidies. Policy 4-B addressed appropriate transportation system improve- ments and Policy 4-C addressed modernizing and extending the user pay con- cept. Mr. Nicholson said policies need to emphasize the external costs of transpor- tation in terms of who should pay. Mr. Gleason said the Federal government is more flexible than the State in denoting a cost to auto users. Mr. Smith asked the council what their priorities were concerning local transportation investment: does the City want to protect its existing in- vestment? Does the City want to add an alternative mode of transportation agenda to the Highway Trust Fund and possibly lose funding for other trans- portation? e Mr. Rutan said that in the past, alternative modes of transportation have been asked to create their own funding. Mayor Miller said there needs to be more transportation money distributed to localities to include funding for alternative transportation and now is the time to ask for it. Mr. MacDonald advised that one or more committees work on determining funding for alterna- tive transportation and present it to the council. Mr. Rutan added that staff was needed to prepare a script to follow for the upcoming meeting with the OTC. Mr. Gleason agreed a script was necessary. He said the script should define the City's position and state ways in which the City and State can work together to meet the local agenda. The meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m. Re?~~ Micheal Gleason City Manager (Recorded by Tracey Ludvik) mncc 110491 e MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 4, 1991 Page 5