HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem C: West Eugene Transportation Status
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Work Session: West Eugene Transportation Status
Meeting Date: January 23, 2006 Agenda Item Number: C
Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Jim Carlson
www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5524
ISSUE STATEMENT
This work session provides an opportunity for the Mayor and City Council to discuss the current status
of the West Eugene transportation alternatives review.
BACKGROUND
The City Council approved a motion at its October 26, 2005, work session “to direct the city manager to
consult with our intergovernmental partners and community organizations to commence a scoping
process to design and build transportation projects in West Eugene to address congestion, safety, and
operation of all modes of transportation.”
The two Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC) members, Mayor Piercy and Councilor Kelly, along
with the city manager, have been working with the City’s intergovernmental partners to attempt to
identify a process which would allow for this to occur. In meetings with the Federal Highway
Administration and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), an option was proposed to
conduct a review and analysis of alternatives for solving the West Eugene transportation issues within
the current environmental review process. At the January 12, 2006, MPC meeting, agreement was
reached to proceed with a facilitated discussion of alternatives.
The next step in this process is for a collaborative effort to select a facilitator who will conduct an
assessment of the situation. This will involve a representative from each MPC member agency (except
Coburg) selecting a qualified facilitator from a list generated by the U.S. Institute for Environmental
Conflict Resolution. The facilitator will review background materials, assist in the identification of
stakeholders and conduct interviews, and prepare and deliver a brief assessment report.
The final step in the process, assuming the assessment report indicated that there was an opportunity for
having a productive process, would be to facilitate a series of meetings with sponsors, consultants and
stakeholders to look at the issues and alternatives.
It is expected that the facilitator would be selected in the next 30-45 days and that the facilitated
meetings could occur this spring. The agreements and results of this process would be considered as a
part of the West Eugene Parkway environmental review. A public hearing would be held after the
facilitated process is completed.
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RELATED CITY POLICIES
The primary council goal that is addressed is the sustainable development goal. A community that
meets its present environmental, economic, and social needs without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
1. Continue the efforts of the Mayor and Councilor Kelly to work with the City’s MPC partners in
moving this process forward.
2. Provide direction to the MPC representatives to change the direction of the current process.
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends continuing to work with the City’s intergovernmental partners and
community organizations to review alternatives for West Eugene transportation projects.
SUGGESTED MOTION
Move to direct the City Manager and MPC representatives to continue pursuing the review of
alternatives for West Eugene transportation issues.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Jim Carlson
Telephone: 682-5524
Staff E-Mail: james.r.carlson@ci.eugene.or.us
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