HomeMy WebLinkAbout170510.WSMINUTES – Eugene City Council May 10, 2017 Page 1
Work Session
M I N U T E S
Eugene City Council Work Session
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
May 10, 2017
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Claire Syrett (via telephone), Betty Taylor, Mike Clark, Chris
Pryor
Councilors Absent: Greg Evans, Alan Zelenka
Mayor Vinis opened the May 10, 2017, Work Session of the Eugene City Council.
A. WORKSESSION: Railroad Quiet Zone and Safety Improvement Project
Eugene City Engineer Mark Schoening offered Council a presentation on the Quiet Zone and
Safety Improvement Project.
Council Discussion
Chief benefit would be experienced by people living close to quieted RR crossings.
Difficult to support a general obligation bond when there are existing resources from which
to draw capital for the project.
Westernmost intersections are under County jurisdiction.
Use of Urban Renewal funds for projects should be contingent on approval by voters.
If Railroad Quiet Zones are added to the Streets Bond, voters will not vote in favor of the bond.
Funding strategies for the west end of town can be determined while work is done on the
east end of town.
A pedestrian safety crossing should be added to the Pearl Street crossing.
Cannot support improving the Riverfront Urban Renewal area only, without a commitment
to improving the entire zone.
The proposed fencing is superfluous.
The Railroad is a private property and is dangerous for pedestrians,; the proposed fencing is
appropriate.
Railroad Quiet Zones would increase neighboring property values.
The community functions better when improvements are made community‐wide.
MOTION and VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to accept the
safety measures for each of the 10 rail crossings from 8th/Hilyard to Van Buren, with the
addition of the Pearl Street pedestrian crossing, as recommended by the Railroad Quiet
Zone Citizen Panel and outlined in the Railroad Quiet Zone and Safety Improvement Project
Report. [Note: if the City Council approves this motion, then the City Manager will schedule
a work session for the Agency Board to review a proposed minor amendment to the
Riverfront Urban Renewal District boundary and approve the process for appointing a
Riverfront Urban Renewal District advisory committee.] PASSED 5:0.
A separate work session will be called to discuss funding.
MINUTES – Eugene City Council May 10, 2017 Page 2
Work Session
B. WORK SESSION: Vision Zero Action Plan
Eugene City Transportation Planning Manager Rob Inerfeld, and City Traffic Engineer Matt
Rodrigues offered Council an update on the Vision Zero Action Plan.
Council discussion:
Advocate for traffic light cameras.
The City does not have the power to reduce speed limits without consent of the State.
The City does have the ability to do a bicycle count as well as an auto count.
Concern expressed that the plan seems to concentrate on automobiles almost exclusively.
Concern expressed about intersections that have blocked or partially blocked views due to
obstructions on the corners.
Enforcement of existing speed limits is needed more than changing the speed limits.
Continuity is essential for all traffic devices, especially pedestrian crosswalks.
Community input is important for localized traffic concerns.
The meeting adjourned at 1:43 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
(Recorded by Rodney Cimburke, LCOG)