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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 02/08/99 Mtg MINUTES Eugene City Council Council Chamber--City Hall February 8, 1999 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Scott Meisner, Pat Farr, David Kelly, Bobby Lee, Nancy Nathanson, Gary PapS, Gary Rayor, Betty Taylor. Mayor James Torrey called the February 8, 1999, meeting of the Eugene City Council to order at 7:30 p.m. 1. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Torrey reviewed guidelines for testimony in the Public Forum. David Hinkley, 1308 Jefferson Street, stated that traffic calming had been discussed at recent meetings of the Budget Committee, using the example of the effectiveness of small diverter projects placed in the Westside Neighborhood. He said such diverter projects would only be successful if the nature of the streets on which they were to be used was known. He said the Arterial and Collector Street Plan to be presented to the council was not the result of a logical planning process, but a "snapshot" of how streets were currently used. He suggested that such a classification process would eventually lead to all streets becoming arterials or collectors. He recommended that approval of diverter projects be postponed until a true street plan was prepared. James Silke, 2225 Shields Avenue, stated that he was owner of Silke Communications. He encouraged the council to study what had resulted from creation of the Eugene Telecommunications "sales tax." He said the ordinance had forced one paging business to close and another to move outside the City limits. He said he had been informed that equipment used for customer billing in his business had to be located outside the City to avoid paying the tax. He said the tax could not be passed on to his customers because it would make his rates non- competitive. He suggested that the ordinance was hostile to business. Mayor Torrey stated that it had recently been agreed that councilors would be permitted to make relevant comments following the Public Forum. Ms. Nathanson requested that staff provide information to the council about telecommunication businesses begun and continued to be located in Eugene since creation of the Telecommunications ordinance. She said nothing in the ordinance prohibited passing on of fees to customers and asked that its provisions be clarified for councilors. She also asked for information about other Oregon cities contemplating similar ordinances. Mayor Torrey closed the Public Forum. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 8, 1999 Page 1 7:30 p.m. 2. PUBLIC HEARING: CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM Transportation Engineer Dave Reinhard stated that the council had considered the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) during recent meetings of the Budget Committee. He said it was a planning document which enabled the City to allocate its resources to capital projects which preserve or enhance existing facilities and construct new ones. He said the plan covered a six- year period and was updated every two years. He said that changes could be made to the plan between updates through the annual capital budgeting process, or an amendment to the CIP. Mr. Reinhard reviewed public hearings and work sessions held on the CIP by the Planning Commission and Budget Committee. He noted that replacement pages for the draft CIP had been distributed with the agenda which reflected changes made, as follows: · Allocation of funds authorized by voters for the new Library and parks and open spaces. · Crest Drive area streets deleted from the Unfunded project list until a special transportation study of the area is completed. · Allocation of $120,000 for neighborhood traffic calming projects in 2000. Mr. Reinhard stated that the council was requested to adopt the CIP no later than February 22, 1999. Mr. Reinhard identified written testimony received and distributed to councilors at the beginning of the meeting, as follows: · A letter from Dick and Robyn Ingram received February 8, 1999. · A letter from Thomas R. Dyke, Vice Provost for Research of the University of Oregon dated February 8, 1999. · A letter from Dick Briggs dated February 8, 1999. · A letter from George Towe, Chair of the Crest Drive Citizens Association, received July 20, 1998. Mayor Torrey opened the public hearing and explained guidelines for presenting testimony. Douglas Beauchamp, 44 West Broadway #304, stated that he was Executive Director of the Lane Arts Council. He said Eugene was fortunate to have established a Fund for Art in Public Places because it ensured that art became a permanent part of its civic life. He reviewed how the Eugene Code required that one percent of all funds used for construction, remodeling, or purchasing of public places be placed in the fund. He proposed that the City work with his organization to create a more systematic plan for expanding, preserving, and promoting its art collection. He also suggested that consideration be given to allowing uncommitted resources in the Fund for Art in Public Places to be made available to support the Outside Art project which could no longer receive support from Urban Renewal District resources since they were committed to construction of the new Library. Jennifer Gleason, 1031 West 10th Avenue, requested that a moratorium be placed on appropriating the $800,000 line item in the CIP for the Riverfront Research Park until the City and University of Oregon could develop a plan about how to permanently protect the area north of the railroad tracks. She said such a plan could include "land slots," or other conservation MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 8, 1999 Page 2 7:30 p.m. easements. She encouraged the council to set a date for reconsideration of the Riverfront Urban Renewal District since the University had concluded its review of the park. She requested that the council conduct a public hearing before making any decision about the area. Charles Biggs, 2405 Willakenzie Road, stated that he favored giving priority for funding of projects related to node improvements in the CIP. He said examples of such improvements were lighting, mid-block street crossings, benches, trash receptacles, and police substations. He described a lack of response to previous suggestions he had made for street lighting in the area in which he lived. He said his proposed priority would support the council goal of reducing reliance on the automobile and make additional funds available for subsidized housing. Lora Byxbe, 677 West 23rd Avenue, said Eugene was fortunate to have a beautiful river within its boundary. She stated access to such a river in other cities was blocked by industrial development and that she supported not allowing it to happen in Eugene. She reported that the University of Oregon Student Senate and Faculty Senate had approved resolutions calling for no development in the Riverfront Research Park north of the railroad tracks. She said many residents of the City also supported such a ban. She requested that the $800,000 in the CIP designated for the Riverfront Research Park be deleted. She suggested that the City find a way to own the land in the research park. Jereme Grzybowski, 2766 Alder Street, stated that he was a member of the Associated Students of the University of Oregon Student Senate and served as one of its representatives to the Faculty Senate. He stated that both bodies had adopted resolutions opposing development in the Riverfront Research Park north of the railroad tracks. He said he did not believe the area was appropriate for development expansion. He requested that the $800,000 designated for the project be removed from the CIP. He suggested that the City exchange other available land with the University to permanently preserve the area in question. Hillary Johnson, 1290 East 25th Avenue, asked that the council postpone approving the $800,000 in the ClP designated for Riverfront Park Interior Streets and Paths until what was best for citizens was determined. She said fiscal responsibility, riverfront green space, and Willamette River water quality should be considered. She reminded the council that testimony at a public hearing regarding the future of the Riverfront Urban Renewal District had overwhelmingly supported its termination. She said the University had made no indication that it would follow the recommendations of its faculty and student senates that the river front area in the park not be developed. She asked the council to postpone its action on the funds and study the issue. Doug Quirk, 212 Pearl Street, reminded the council that it had received assurance from the University of Oregon that it would not proceed with development in the Riverfront Research Park north of the railroad tracks while it conducted a full review of the project. He said the council would receive a report of the review at its meeting on February 23, 1999. He urged the council to delete the $800,000 included in the ClP to support the Riverfront Urban Renewal District until a full review of the district was completed which would include a public hearing devoted to development on the riverfront. Karl Sorg, 1150 West 15th Avenue, said that he believed including extension of the Airport parking lot identified in the ClP was a "tribute to... car worship" in Eugene. He recommended that councilors read Asphalt Nation: How the Automobile Took Over America and How We Can Take It back by Jane Holtz Kay and reviewed its contents. He recommended that the council divert funding for the parking project into improvement of public transportation. He said he was MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 8, 1999 Page 3 7:30 p.m. also concerned about the proposal for incorporating a parking garage in the construction of the new Library. Bern Johnson, 1290 East 25th Avenue, said that he favored removing the $800,000 item in the ClP targeted for expenditure on the Riverfront Research Park. He said that public funds should not be used for development in the park. He pointed out that a "road to nowhere" already existed in the park which was an example of poor fiscal management and bad planning. He said the proposed expenditure contradicted Growth Management Policy 17 about protection and enhancement of air and water quality and habitat and Policy 18 about parks and open space. Jori Kline, 693 West 10th Avenue, said that he was a member of Board of Directors of the Eugene Tree Foundation. He said he supported the "mini-park" on Willamette Street between 11th Avenue and 13th Avenue included in the ClP. He explained that the funds involved had been made available by Tree Replacement fees generated from the Broadway Plaza project. He encouraged the council to approve the expenditure Lucas Spiegel, 77 West 24th Place, urged the council to remove the $800,000 in the CIP designated for development of the Riverfront Research Park. He said he believed open spaces needed to be a priority in Eugene. He encouraged councilors to oppose development in the park north of the railroad tracks. Willie Thompson, 800 East 18th Avenue #2, said he also urged the council to remove the $800,000 in the CIP designated for development of the Riverfront Research Park. He said he enjoyed walking by the river and believed it was a fine thing to do and for development to occur in the area would be a shame. David Hinkley, 1308 Jefferson Street, stated that he supported the addition of $40,000 to the CIP designated for traffic calming. He said that each project cost approximately $30,000 and that, at such an allocation rate, current projects under consideration would not be completed for more than one hundred years. He said additional funding was needed and suggested that $300,000 proposed for airport parking lot expansion be reallocated for traffic calming. He said that he also supported street tree projects, adding street lights, and increasing the allocation for sidewalk improvement. Dick Briggs, 80 West 23rd Avenue, stated that he was concerned that storm water system expenditures in the CIP did not provide for purchasing property along the Amazon Natural Resource Corridor. He said that the fee-supported program spent only 18.5 percent of its revenue on capital improvements from 1993 through 1998. He said the Stormwater Plan only provided for overview of expenditures by the Budget Committee and council and that the practice should be changed. Douglas Serrill, 2766 Alder Street, stated that he was concerned about funding in the ClP for roads in the Riverfront Research Park north of the railroad tracks. He asked that the council consider deleting the $800,000 allocation and have additional public hearings on the subject. He said the opinions of University of Oregon students had been marginalized in the process which reviewed the research park. He said he supported maintaining the area in question as open space and for study of biodiversity. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 8, 1999 Page 4 7:30 p.m. Jon Belcher, 1190 West 17th Avenue, stated that he was co-chair of the Neighborhood Leaders Council (NLC). He said the council had adopted a resolution which requested that an allocation be added to the CIP which would allow completion of 25 percent of the traffic calming projects under consideration within five years. He said the $40,000 added would not cover the cost of 25 percent of the projects, but the NLC appreciated the increase and hoped additional fiscal and planning resources would be committed to solving traffic problems. Mayor Torrey determined there were no other persons wishing to testify and closed the public hearing. Mr. Kelly noted that the City Council would hold a work session to receive a report on the University of Oregon's review of the Riverfront Research Park on February 10, 1999, and that a second work session to consider its implications for the City was tentatively scheduled for March 17, 1999. Mr. Kelly asked if approval of certain elements of the CIP could be deferred in the council action scheduled for February 22, 1999. City Manager Jim Johnson said such deferral was possible. Mr. Kelly asked that consideration be given to establishing an agreement to formalize recommendations of the University of Oregon Riverfront Research Park review committee. He asked that information be provided on whether Urban Renewal District capital funds could be used for City staff participation in "planning and other related studies" regarding the research park. Mr. Kelly expressed appreciation for the testimony of the Executive Director of the Lane Arts Council. He asked that staff reactions be provided for his comments regarding use of uncommitted resources in the Fund for Art in Public Places. Mr. Kelly observed that the favored option being considered for construction of parking in connection with the new Library was for a single underground level of 87 spaces. He said such a facility would serve many elderly and disabled persons better than public transit. Mr. Lee asked for information regarding whether there was compliance with Eugene Code requirements for contributions to the Fund for Art in Public Places. Mr. Lee said that he would request a discussion with staff regarding the City's storm water fee issue in relationship to the Amazon Natural Resource Corridor. Mr. Lee asked that information be provided at the March 17, 1999 council work session regarding permitted uses of the ClP allocation for the Riverfront Research Park. Mr. Lee said that he was impressed with the Willamette Street "mini-park" proposal included in the ClP and said that he believed the cost of traffic calming devices should be included in the "neighborhood matching fund program" being created. Ms. Nathanson said she hoped evaluation of the proposal of Mr. Beauchamp regarding use of un-designated funds in the Fund for Art in Public Places would be included in information provided to the council. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 8, 1999 Page 5 7:30 p.m. Ms. Nathanson said that she had requested a work session and information on the Sidewalk Improvement Program which was scheduled for February 17, 1999. She said she appreciated that it would be held before council action on the CIP was scheduled. Ms. Nathanson said she believed installing traffic calming devices needed to be considered more broadly than the cost of a single device in a specific location because of its impacts on the surrounding areas. She said she would be concerned if neighborhoods were required to contribute to the cost of traffic calming devices that only affluent areas would receive the benefit. Mr. Rayor expressed appreciation for the testimony in the public hearing. He said he was concerned that street construction costs for the Riverfront Research Park were included in the CIP. He said he supported the request that the council be provided information regarding how the funds could be spent. Mr. Rayor said that he supported expenditures for traffic calming devices because they were ways to mitigate the effects of population growth. He said he also supported expenditures for street lights because they contributed to safety. Mr. Rayor said he agreed with testimony provided about the need to think about future needs for land to mitigate stormwater issues. Mr. Pap8 asked if the funds included in the CIP for acquisition and restoration of the Eugene Railroad Station were provided by the federal government. Mr. Reinhard replied that $2 million in federal transportation program funds were designated for the project and that AMTRAK would provide $500,000 which could be used for matching funds. He said the project was complicated because the station was in private ownership. Mr. Pap8 asked if there was public benefit to having the City own the train station. Mr. Reinhard replied that public ownership of the station had long been considered to be part of the strategy to ensure that Eugene would be the southern terminus of the northwest high speed rail project. He said the project had been a priority of previous City Councils. In response to additional questions from Mr. PapS, Mayor Torrey explained that the Oregon Board of Higher Education owned the property in the Riverfront Research Park. Mr. Johnson added that the City did not own many parcels of land which could be considered for trade for the property in the park north of the railroad tracks. Mr. Pap8 said his enthusiasm for speed bumps and narrowing of streets as traffic calming devices had been tempered by information provided by the Fire Chief which showed that they tended to reduce the ability of department vehicles to get to emergencies. Ms. Taylor expressed appreciation for the testimony in the public hearing. She said her interest was especially raised by comments about paving--at the Airport and in the Riverfront Research Park. Ms. Taylor said that University of Oregon faculty and students had objected to development along the river for a long time, but that it had always been unsuccessful. She said she believed the least the council could do to prevent destruction of the river front was to stop contributing funds to the Riverfront Research Park. She suggested that recent street vacations could have been considered land swaps with the University for property in the park. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 8, 1999 Page 6 7:30 p.m. Mr. Farr said that he appreciated the new format of allowing councilors to respond to testimony received in a public hearing. Mr. Farr requested that information about a shuttle bus as a substitute for expanding parking at the Airport be provided to councilors. Mr. Farr said that he appreciated that the Fund for Art in Public Places provided a great legacy for the future. He said that he continued to advocate that local artists be given preferential consideration in the selection of such art. Mr. Farr asked for a memorandum about the zoning of property included in the Riverfront Research Park and about what could result if the partnership of the City and University in the park was dissolved. Ms. Nathanson reported that a North Downtown Area Scoping group was about to be formed to discuss issues relating to the Amtrak Station and the soon-to-be-constructed federal courthouse. She encouraged councilors to keep informed of the progress of the discussions. She said previous councils had supported seeking to have the high-speed rail project extend to Eugene. Ms. Nathanson said that investment in the Riverfront Research Park did not have to be an "all or nothing" approach and that it might be appropriate to agree on a scenario which could benefit from contributions from the City. Ms. Nathanson said that she had received information about the CIP process of Springfield, Missouri and would ask staff to distribute copies of elements related to its public information program to councilors and those responsible for neighborhood newsletters. Mr. Meisner said that he would like fiscal information about the Riverfront Research Park. He said he would like to be able to determine if there was any return on the City's investment in the project. Mr. Meisner said that it was true Amtrak funds could be used for the required match in purchasing the railroad station, but that the City would be required to make an investment in inter-city rail service improvements. Mr. Pap8 said he did not want his earlier questions to be interpreted to mean that he did not support high-speed rail service to Eugene. He said he only intended to imply that he would be open to considering re-location of the train station. 3. THE METRO PLAN AND THE SPRINGFIELD SPORTS CENTER Mayor Torrey announced that the council would consider Resolution 4585, a resolution repealing Resolution 4469 that opted to participate in the decision of a proposed amendment to the Metro Plan to expand the Urban Growth Boundary to include the Springfield Sports Center (Assessor's's Map 17-03-14-00, Tax Lot 1000). Mr. Meisner moved, seconded by Ms. Nathanson, that Resolution 4585 be adopted. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 8, 1999 Page 7 7:30 p.m. Planning Director Jan Childs stated that an amendment to be proposed by Mr. Rayor had been discussed with planning staff of the City of Springfield and that it was acceptable to them. Mr. Rayor moved, seconded by Ms. Nathanson, that the motion be amended by adding a Section H to the findings of the City Council in Resolution 4585, as follows: The Eugene City Council determination that the proposed development on the site does not have "regional impact" is based on the description of the Springfield Sports Center proposal presented to the Eugene City Council on January 13, 1999, and affirmed by the Springfield City Council on February 1, 1999, and follow-up of City of Springfield City Council action, as follows: 1. The Metro Plan diagram designation of Parks and Open Space and City of Springfield's Public Land and Open Space zoning district will be applied to the entire property concurrent with the urban growth boundary amendment; 2. Future development of the property will conform with the site plan as presented by the City of Springfield, which shows preservation of approximately 16 acres of woodland at the northern portion of the site as open space, continuation of the existing and proposed soccer fields on the southwestern portion of the site, and development of the new Sports Center facility on the southeastern portion of the site; and 3. The Sports Center facility will be approximately 160,000 square feet in size. Mr. Rayor said that he had presented the motion to amend because he did not believe Resolution 4585 had included an adequate statement of the protection to be given to the woodland area as open space presented to the council by representatives of Springfield. Mr. Pap~ said he was concerned that the amendment might prevent any use of the woodland area that might be determined to be necessary in the future. Ms. Childs replied that Springfield planning staff had reported that the woodland area was already preserved in the existing Conditional Use Permit for the property. Mayor Torrey added that he was certain that the elected leadership of Springfield was committed to preservation of the woodland area. Ms. Taylor asked if the amendment to the resolution would legally prevent Springfield officials from changing their position in the future. Ms. Childs replied that she did not believe it would. Mr. Lee expressed appreciation to Mr. Rayor for his amendment because he believed it clarified the intent of the resolution. He said the resolution would enable the woodland area to be included within the Urban Growth Boundary and given additional protection. The motion to amend was adopted unanimously, 8:0. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 8, 1999 Page 8 7:30 p.m. Mr. Kelly expressed appreciation for the work of staff to follow up on issues raised at the council work session on the Sports Center. Mr. Kelly asked if further review would be required if any of the Sports Center uses were to be proposed for expansion into the protected woodland area. Ms. Childs replied that the Metro Plan amendment which would result from adoption of the resolution would be based on a specific site plan. She also noted that the woodland area had already been inventoried as a natural resource area and that alternative uses of it would require extensive review and approval. She said the final determination of the extent of the natural resource area and its specific protection under the Metro Plan would be finally determined when the Metro Natural Resources Study was completed and adopted by the three jurisdictions involved. Mr. Kelly noted that the level of service computations in the Traffic Impact Analysis used a different algorithm than was used in the computations of the Oregon Department of Transportation. He said the studies had produced dramatically different results. Mr. Kelly noted that Resolution 4585 City Council Finding F twice erroneously referred to January 12, when it should have referred to January 13. Mr. Meisner stated that he would support adoption of the resolution. He said he was uncomfortable with "piecemeal" impact analyses and suggested that it would be more appropriate to address similar development in a more comprehensive manner. Mr. Rayor stated that he would support adoption of the resolution "with angst" because he was concerned about expansion of the urban growth boundary. He said he would support the motion because he wanted to respect Springfield's judgement about preserving a visual northern border on the urban growth boundary. He said he believed the woodland area needed to be permanently preserved. The motion to adopt Resolution 4585 was adopted, 7:1, with Ms. Taylor voting opposed. The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, James R. Johnson City Manager (Recorded by Dan Lindstrom) MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 8, 1999 Page 9 7:30 p.m.