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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdmin Order 58-25-35 Closure of Greenspace Hilyard St East of 6th AveAdministrative Order -- Page 1 of 4 ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 58-25-35 of the Traffic Engineer of Public Works Maintenance's Traffic Operations Team of the City of Eugene CLOSURE OF GREENSPACE / UNIMPROVED PORTIONS OF HILYARD STREET ON THE NORTH SIDE EAST OF E 6TH 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 close or regulate access to and from any street. 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 purposes of public health, safety, and welfare, it is necessary to close and prohibit public access to a portion of the Hilyard Street right-of-way, specifically the “greenspace” that is adjacent to the functional roadway for Hilyard Street and E 6th Avenue. The closure is needed to protect infrastructure and reduce other impacts and risks from illicit camping including human waste, needles, trash, and cooking and camping fires. F. In making the decision, I have considered all the applicable criteria set forth in EC 5.055. The following findings support my decision to close the greenspace area shown in Exhibit A to the public: Administrative Order -- Page 2 of 4 (a) Traffic engineering principles and traffic investigations. The area to be closed by this Order is the greenspace as shown in Exhibit A. It is classified as right-of-way for Hilyard Street and E 6th Avenue but public access to this area is not needed and is actually counter to traffic engineering principles. (b) Standards, limitations, and rules promulgated by the Oregon Transportation Commission or the Oregon Public Utility Commission or their successors. There are not recognized traffic control standards at this location. (c) Other recognized traffic control standards. Not applicable. (d) The city’s adopted transportation-related plans and policies. The City’s adopted transportation-related plans and policies do not require that this area remain open. (e) Existing state and local laws regulating use of public ways. State and City laws regulating use of public ways do not require that this area remain open to the public. (f) The efficient use of the public way by the public. The indefinite closure of the greenspaces in the right-of-way along Hilyard Street and E 6th Avenue (as shown in Exhibit A) is needed to protect public infrastructure (trees, vegetation, irrigation, stormwater drainage systems, iron and chain link fences). (g) The use of abutting property. The abutting land use is commercial and railroad. No such use requires that this area remain open. (h) The intensity of use of the street by vehicles and pedestrians. In addition to the vehicular use of the portion of the right-of-way to remain open, serving approximately 8,500 vehicles per day, the shared-use path facility on the northern segment of Hilyard Street and transitioning to 8th Avenue will remain open. This order will not impact, and may improve, accessibility of use by vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Administrative Order -- Page 3 of 4 (i) The physical condition and characteristics of the street and abutting property. i. The greenspace located along Hilyard Street and E 6th Avenue is located within City right- of-way. The greenspace within the right-of-way is shown outlined in red on the attached map (Exhibit A). The Site contains various utility infrastructure, is a vegetated area with, landscaping, trees, turf, and stormwater treatment for Hilyard Street and E 6th Avenue. ii. Hilyard Street and E 6th Avenue is designated as an emergency ice or snow removal route. iii. Hilyard Street is a major arterial roadway with an average daily traffic volume of approximately 8,500. On Hilyard Street at E 6th Avenue and Mill Street, 11 traffic crashes have been reported over the past six years. The posted speed limit along this corridor is 25 miles per hour. iv. The abutting properties on the street segments include one- and three-story buildings with asphalt and gravel surface parking lots. (j) Emergencies. Emergency service vehicles are accommodated through one way travel on Hilyard Street and E 6th Avenue. (k) The public health, safety and welfare. Since January 2024 the area subject to this Order has been recorded to have been visited 40 times addressing significant amounts of human waste, needles, excessive trash, cooking and camping fires, and damage to the high-end turf, trees, landscape beds and public utility infrastructure. While the cleanups have reduced the volume of these hazards and the frequency of damage to infrastructure, public use of the area has persisted and the City has needed to perform regular cleanup activities in the area to address concerns about public health, safety and welfare. (l) Special events of community interest including parades and public gatherings. There are no special events of community interest that occur on the portion of the greenspace of Hilyard Street and E 6th Avenue as shown in Exhibit A. (m) Construction within or adjacent to the street. No construction is currently taking place on the portion of the greenspace of Hilyard Street and E 6th Avenue as shown in Exhibit A. (n) There is no designated parking for this area. Dated and effective this- Administrative Order —Page 4 of 4 C h r isto pherX^THeiHy OPJE Traffic Engineer of Public Works Maintenance’s Traffic Operations Team .23^day of October,2025. On the basis of these findings,I order that:The greenspace within the public right-of- way for Hilyard Street and E 6lh Avenue that is shown on Exhibit A to this Order is hereby closed, except to law enforcement or other City authorized personnel. A N N I E M I M S L N E 6TH AVEMILL ST HIL Y A R D S T Hilyard St East of 6th Ave Closure Area 10/21/2025, 8:07:22 AM 0 30 6015 ft 0 9 184.5 m 1:317 Legend The Site EXHIBIT A