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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdmin Order 58-21-08 -- Removing Parking from a Portions of 14th AveAdministrative Order -- Page 1 of 2 ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 58-21-08 of the Traffic Engineer of Public Works Maintenance's Traffic Operations Team of the City of Eugene REMOVING ON-STREET PARKING FROM A PORTION OF 14th AVENUE. The Traffic Engineer of Public Works Maintenance's Traffic Operations Team of the City of Eugene finds that: A. Under the provisions of Chapter IV, Section 16 of the Eugene Charter of 2002, the City Manager is designated as the administrative head of the City and is specifically authorized to enforce all ordinances of the City. In addition, EC 5.040 authorizes the City Manager or the Manager’s designee to “establish, maintain, remove, or alter . . . parking areas and time limitations, including the form of permissible parking” and to “impose conditions upon which the streets and other public property may be used for parking.” EC 5.055 sets forth the criteria the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee should consider when taking administrative action authorized by EC 5.040. B. On August 5, 2020, the City Manager issued Administrative Order No. 58-20-17 granting the Executive Director of the Public Works Department the authority to exercise all of the duties and responsibilities specifically defined as those of the City Manager in Sections 5.040, 5.045 and 5.050 of the Eugene Code, 1971. That Order also granted the Executive Director of the Public Works Department the authority to further delegate those duties and responsibilities to such person or persons qualified to perform the delegated duties. C. On August 6, 2020, the Executive Director of the Public Works Department issued Administrative Order No. 58-20-18 granting the City Engineer the authority to perform the duties and responsibilities specifically defined as those of the City Manager in Sections 5.040, 5.045 and 5.050 of the Eugene Code, 1971. That Order also granted the City Engineer the authority to further delegate those duties and responsibilities to such person or persons qualified to perform the delegated duties. D. On August 11, 2020, the City Engineer issued Administrative Order No. 58-20-19 granting the Traffic Engineer of Public Works Maintenance's Traffic Operations Team the authority to perform the duties and responsibilities specifically defined as those of the City Manager in Sections 5.040, 5.045 and 5.050 of the Eugene Code, 1971. E. For the public health, safety, and welfare, it is necessary to remove parking from a portion of the south side of 14th Avenue. F. In making the decision, I have considered all of the applicable criteria set forth in EC 5.055. The following findings support my decision to remove parking: 1) The po1iion of 14 th Avenue between Chambers Street and Taylor Street is classified as a local street with a posted school zone speed limit of 20 mph between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The street segment is approximately 28 feet wide with parking prohibited on the nmih side of the street, allowing approximately 20 feet of roadway for two-way travel. Sidewalks are present on both sides of the street. 2) From 2007 to 2018, there were two crashes on this segment of 14 th Avenue. One crash was prope1iy damage only, one crash included minor injuries, and there were no fatal crashes. 3) On the south side of 14th A venue, there is approximately 1000 feet of parking allowed along the curb between Chambers Street and Taylor Street. 4) Camping on-street in vehicles is creating piles of refuse and human waste, presenting a health hazard. 5) Staff at Cesar E. Chavez Elementaiy School adjacent to 14 th A venue to the south have expressed concern for the health and safety of students traveling through the area to and from school and for afterschool or weekend events and have requested that parking be removed from the street (letter attached as Exhibit A). 6) City staff prefer to establish parking time limits rather than prohibit parking entirely. However, Parking Fund financial instability means that there are limited staff resources available to enforce parking time limits. 7) Prohibiting parking on the south side of the street would be necessary until funding and resources are available at an undetermined time in the future to enforce parking with time limits. 8) Activities needing parking related to the school during the day, after school, and on weekends may use the school parking lot and other nearby locations where the school has private parking agreements. 9) Removal of parking from the public street right-of-way that is the subject of this Order addresses a concern that public parking there will not threaten public health safety, and welfare, and, therefore, is in the best interest of the public. On the basis of these findings, I order that: The on-street parking area shall be removed from the south side of 14 th Avenue from Chambers Street to Taylor Street. Dated and effective this {~ay of March, 2021. Administrative Order --Page 2 of 2 Christopher C. Henry, PE Traffic Engineer of Public Works Maintenance's Traffic Operations Team EXHIBIT A Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School 1510 W 14th Avenue Eugene, OR 97402 Office: 541-790-5300 Attendance: 541-790-5322 City of Eugene, Oregon City Manager's Office 125 East 8th Avenue, 2nd Floor Eugene, OR 97401 October 28, 2020 To Whom It May Concern : I am writing to request a No Parking Zone on 14th Avenue between Chambers Street and Taylor Street. As the principal of Chavez Elementary, I have experienced firsthand the health and safety issues that come with this parking area and its proximity to the Chavez campus. The residents of vehicles parked there, especially those who park overnight, create a safety concern for the Chavez community and our surrounding neighborhood. Even though our students are currently engaged in Distance Learning, I still have dozens of staff reporting to the building daily, and families come to visit the office for school supply and grocery pick-up as well as to complete school paperwork. Once the building re-opens, we will have over four hundred students at school daily, arriving and exiting via bus, car, bike, and foot. The safety of these students and their families is a top priority for me. I have had ongoing concerns with overnight campers on this stretch of 14th Avenue for years. However, the recent pandemic has brought the problem into stark relief. RVs, vans, and campers regularly park and do not leave, attracting other tents and vehicles. These campers attract others. Large trash piles and human waste accumulate quickly. This poses a health hazard. Neighbors have reported that some of these residents cause conflict in our neighborhood. At night, neighbors report frequent yelling, fighting, and violence. The vandalism, theft, and garbage on our school campus is increasing exponentially. The young children in our neighborhood no longer feel comfortable or safe walking down 14th Avenue. This block of 14th Avenue is home to no businesses or housing. Chavez Elementary is the only resident. We have our own parking lot, including an arrangement with the church across the street for overflow parking. We have no need for street parking. Restricting parking on this block would increase the safety of our entire Chavez community. Thank you for your consideration. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Si~erely, .. L/ a A /1 ,dv._,-:¥). 7-~ C-c5e i~r; Pearson, Principal OUR MISSION: To create a diverse student community of academically and socially skilled individuals by encouraging independence, respect and visionary thinking .