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HomeMy WebLinkAbout220420 WSMINUTES Eugene City Council Work Session Eugene, Oregon 97401 April 20, 2022 12:00 p.m. Councilors Present: Claire Syrett, Matt Keating, Jennifer Yeh, Emily Semple, Alan Zelenka, Randy Groves, Mike Clark Councilors Absent: Greg Evans Mayor Vinis opened the April 20, 2022, work session of the Eugene City Council in a hybrid in-person/virtual format. 1. WORK SESSION -Review of 2021 Implementation of Bond Measure to Fix Streets and 2022 Pavement Management Report Principal Civil Engineer Katie Marwitz presented the Review of 2021 Implementation of Bond Measure to Fix Streets and 2022 Pavement Management Report. Council Discussion: • • • Mayor Vinis -thanked staff for their presentation; noted the compelling difference between 2020 and 2021 despite the impact of the pandemic. Councilor Syrett -thanked staff; noted appreciation for voters and Public Works for the attention to this project; said she looks forward to upcoming work sessions to detail upcoming projects related to this. Councilor Groves -expressed appreciation to staff; noted that the City of Eugene has utilized road bonds well and fulfilled intentions, reaffirming public trust in the road bond process; questioned if inflation is playing a role in delaying or completing road projects; stated a concern about the trend line of backlogged projects increasing each year. • Councilor Clark -expressed appreciation to staff, echoed colleagues in appreciation of the work done with this project and presentation; inquired if the Spyglass project has already been started or slated for 2022; inquired if all of the money has been completely allocated for 2022 and if there is a way to stretch funding to improve Gilham Road north of Ayres; noted an ordinance council passed in previously stated a greater amount of funds would be used for unimproved streets that are a the sole or predominant way to access an area of new housing development, and inquired if this is calculated into the future plans for Gilham Road. • Councilor Semple -thanked the staff for the report; noted her appreciation for the increased use of recycled components for road projects; expressed appreciation for the tiered level of prioritization for repair versus replacement as well as the focus on walking and biking methods of transportation; noted that Council will definitely need another bond or some type of funding to continue road maintenance and repairs. • Councilor Zelenka -expressed appreciation to staff; noted the backlog has been reduced drastically from $282 million to $88 million and without a bond renewal the MINUTES -Eugene City Council Work Session April 20, 2022 Page 1 backlog would go back up to $267 million by 2030; recalled the original subcommittee proposed three funding options the road bond, including a user fee, and a garbage can fee of $1 per can per residence to account for the heavy trucks using the roads for garbage removal; asked if the backlog ever goes away with renewal of bonds; stated his belief that in order to have the best system possible, with no backlogged projects, more funding is needed. • Councilor Keating -expressed appreciation to staff; noted his agreement with Councilor Zelenka that additional funding is needed; thanked members of the Citizen Street Repair Review Panel and asked if that panel had honed in on the biggest contributors to street disrepair such as delivery and garbage trucks; inquired if a municipality can add a road usage tax to internet purchases requiring delivery to a residence; asked if the Citizen Street Repair Review Panel has had conversations regarding the greatest contributors to street disrepair; noted that an increased fuel tax would move the City closer to eliminating reconstructs. • Councilor Zelenka -noted that the original committee looked at a garbage can fee because there is a direct correlation between the service and the damage caused by the heavy trucks hauling garbage; stated the garbage fee can be added to existing franchise fees. • Councilor Semple -noted that multiple garbage hauling services provide service in every neighborhood; questioned if the city could be divided into service areas that could be evenly split between companies. • Mayor Vinis -noted that once a road is built it will always require maintenance and upkeep; stated that compact urban development reduces the number of new road miles that require maintenance funding; commended staff for addressing the climate impacts on the road construction, noting the use of recycled and substitute supplies has a reduced impact on the climate; encouraged all to consider their buying habits and purchase locally. 2. WORK SESSION -Electric Micromobility Devices on Shared Use Paths in East Alton Baker Park Transportation Planning Manager Rob Inerfeld and Transportation Options Manager Shane Rhodes presented proposed amendments to the East Alton Baker Park Plan and City Code to allow electric micromobility devices in East Alton Baker Park. Council Discussion: • • • Mayor Vinis -thanked staff; stated her appreciation for the etiquette signs proposed . Councilor Groves -expressed appreciation to staff; acknowledged the City is trying to find additional ways to increase mobility for the public; shared his negative experiences with e-scooters when traveling to other municipalities that have approved their usage; questioned how the City will enforce proper use and etiquette to protect pedestrians; voiced concerns about safe and proper parking and storage of e-scooters; encouraged staff to research other municipalities that have successful, safe usage of e-scooter rental programs to learn best practices. Councilor Yeh-thanked staff; echoed Councilor Groves' opinion to research best practices of other municipalities; said she believes that the plan brought forward by staff is a smart one; noted that this area of the park is currently a road block for those using e-devices to travel throughout the city; stated the plan creates corridors where MINUTES -Eugene City Council Work Session April 20, 2022 Page 2 these micromobility devices are prohibited; said that it is important to remember that safety concerns are not limited to e-devices and that man-powered bikes and scooters can pose similar hazards; expressed appreciation for the outreach plan regarding path etiquette; asked if there is a top speed for devices outside of reduced speed areas; said she believes this is a good plan and that the City should proceed. • Councilor Keating -thanked staff; noted that in 2005 Council prohibited all motorized devices on shared pathways and in 2020 Council directed input from the Whilamut Citizen Planning Committee; shared his concern that the Citizen Planning Committee opinion is not accurately represented in the presented materials; noted that 73 percent of the Citizen Planning Committee voted in opposition to the proposal; noted that Measure 20-21 passed by voters in 1992, the East Alton Baker Park Charter Amendment, stated the plan must preserve existing water courses, bike paths, and running trails; expressed concern over a lack of national safety data surrounding e- scooter injuries; noted significant spikes in accidents and injuries in other municipalities after the launch of shared e-scooter programs; said he believes that current enforcement is lacking; expressed concerns over the enforcement, training and safe use of shared e-devices in East Alton Baker Park; said he is fundamentally opposed to thee-scooter pilot program taking over the Whilamut Natural Area. • Councilor Semple -thanked staff; asked staff to explain the geofencing and how it will prevent devices from going into certain areas; asked if the rules would apply to privately owned e-devices as well as the shared use program; noted that privately owned scooters would not have the built-in protocols for speed and usage area that shared devices would have; asked if current etiquette campaigns have made a notable difference; inquired how rules and penalties would be enforced; admired the etiquette campaign but said she has doubts regarding how effective it would be; noted the Whilamut Natural Area is a place of solitude for many and adding e-scooter usage to the area could create overcrowded paths; is concerned that this green space is being turned into a transit corridor; showed appreciation for the less carbon intensive transportation aspect of the proposal but does not feel it is appropriate for the Whilamut Area; asked how e-scooters will kept out of the river, as has been seen in other cities. • Councilor Syrett -thanked the staff and City Manager; recalled the matter at hand is micromobility device usage in the Whilamut Natural Area; noted the original reasons that motorized devices were banned were noise and safety; noted that e-mobility devices do not make much noise which can also be a problem; noted that standard, man-powered bikes can also go very quickly and cause safety concerns; noted that all path users need to be aware of one another to avoid conflict and safety issues; said she is inclined to support the staff proposal with compelling reasons to allow e-devices on specific paths within East Alton Baker Park; noted the proposed plan opens an alternate transit path between Eugene and Springfield. • Councilor Zelenka -thanked the staff; noted that the paths in the proposal are some of the few non-roadway pathways between Eugene and Springfield and e-device riders are already using them; said he likes the etiquette campaign and believes it should be citywide and have signage posted in prohibited areas as well; noted that the paths in question are not narrow and can accommodate shared usage; stated that the CAP 2.0 ordinance states that the City should increase e-mobility for commuting and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; said he will support option Bin the proposed plan. MINUTES -Eugene City Council Work Session April 20, 2022 Page 3 • Mayor Vinis -added her support for the previous comments stating the paths are paved roadways, not bare paths; noted the proposed plan aligns closely with the climate action plan to help people use an alternate method of transportation; noted the proposed plan is a good starting point taking into consideration challenges that other cities have encountered. • Councilor Groves -asked staff if there will be signage to clearly show where motorized devices will be prohibited. • Councilor Keating -recognized the CAP 2.0 goals and stated they are not enshrined in the Lane County Charter; inquired if Council can legally supersede the county's charter to allow the e-devices in East Alton Baker Park; said he will second the motion made as part of the role of Council Vice President but he will not support it. • Councilor Zelenka -clarified that the authority over the plan and the ability to approve and amend it rests with the City Council not with the Citizen Planning Committee or other planning groups. MOTION: Councilor Syrett, seconded by Councilor Keating, move to direct the City Manager to bring back for Council consideration an ordinance amending the East Alton Baker Park Plan and city code to allow electric micromobility devices on select shared use paths within the park as indicated in Attachment A. Council Discussion: • Councilor Semple -asked to clarify that this is a trial program and can be stopped if it is not successful; said she will vote in favor despite arguments against it previously; acknowledged that this vote is to only to have staff bring ordinance language regarding the proposal to Council, not to approve the proposed amendment to allow shared usage. VOTE: PASSED 6:1, Councilor Keating opposed. Mayor Vinis adjourned the meeting at 1:37 p.m. Brooke Freed Deputy City Recorder (Recorded by Sara McKinney) Webcast of meeting available here. MINUTES -Eugene City Council Work Session April 20, 2022 Page 4