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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/24/1998 Work Session . MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1998 The Springfield City Council met in Work Session in Springfield City Hall, Jesse Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, at 6:05 p.m. with Mayor Morrisette presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Mayor Morrisette and Councilors Ballew, Beyer, Dahlquist, Leiken, Maine and Shaver. Also present were Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Attorney Tim Harold, Administrative Aide Shari Higgins, Public Works Director Dan Brown, Senior Management Analyst Len Goodwin, City Engineer Al Peroutka, Traffic Engineer Brian Barnett, Management Analyst Eileen Stein, Transportation Planning Engineer Masood Mirza and members of staff. Also present was Mike White, General Manager of TCI Cable and Oliver Snowden, Lane County Public Works Engineer. 1. Merger of TCI into AT&T. Senior Management Analyst Len Goodwin presented the staff report. He said under the existing franchise between TCI of Oregon and the City of Springfield, consent of the city is required for any transfer of the control of the franchise. The franchise provides that the city may request -the Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC) to inquire into the qualifications of the proposed controlling party prior to the city's decision on whether or not to consent. . Mr. Goodwin said TCI of Oregon had given the city notice of a proposed change in the control which would result from the merger between TCI, the local franchisee's parent, and AT&T. The franchise provides that unless the city consents to such a transfer in control, the franchise is subject to cancellation. In addition, Mr. Goodwin said the franchise provides that unless the city requests an inquiry into the qualifications of the proposed controlling party of the Franchisee within 30 days receipt of notice ofa proposed change, the city will be deemed to have consented. He said there are a number of questions and issues that may require additional information before the council could determine whether it wishes to consent to the transfer. The city could receive answers via an inquiry conducted by MPC or through assurances from TCI and AT&T. Mr. Goodwin recapped the three areas where issues may occur or it might be appropriate to review the qualification of AT&T as a prospective controlling party of TCI of Oregon. They are: 1 ) AT&T is a known quantity in respect to telecommunications, but they appear to have no significant experience in managing or operating public cable tele~sion systems; 2) the disclosure documents furnished in connection with the proposed merger indicate that TCI would be entering into arrangements with Falcon Cable designed to regularize the two company's customer bases by transferring some existing TCI customers to Falcon; and 3) TCI of Oregon has announced a major upgrade in the Springfield/Eugene system. Some elements of that upgrade are already becoming available, with the balance being available over the next two years. It is unclear at this time whether or not the transfer of control would have an affect on those upgrades. . Springfield City Council Work Session - 9/28/98 Page 2 . Council discussed the process that MPC would use to complete a review of the merger. It was explained that Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) staff would lead the efforts, with some possible assistance from the staff of the three jurisdictions affected. Mr. Goodwin said staff does not know the exact cost for conducting the review at this time, but that LCOG staffhas estimated $1,000. Mr. Goodwin said the Lane County Board of Commissioners approved an order requesting an inquiry at their meeting on September 21 and understood the Eugene City Council would consider the matter on September 28. Councilor Maine asked if this inquiry would expand into the more general review of the franchise that had been suggested some time ago. Mr. Goodwin replied there would not be any authority to inquire beyond the question of the qualifications of AT&T as a controlling party. Councilor Shaver responded that city representatives to MPC would make sure that does not occur . IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR SHAVER, WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR MAINE, TO AUTHORIZE MPC TO REVIEW THE EXISTING TCI FRANCHISE AND AT&T MERGER AND TO VERIFY THAT THEIR ACQUISITION WILL NOT AFFECT THE LOCAL FRANCHISE. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. 2. Jasper Road Extension - Recommended Design Concept. . Management Analyst Eileen Stein said council was asked to review the recommended design concept for the Jasper Road Extension Project, with the purpose of establishing the city's position on the project. She discussed the public review process the project had undergone up to this point. The City Council's comments from November 1997 were presented to the Road Advisory Committee (RAe) at their April 29, 1998 public hearing on the Jasper Road project. The RAC met again in May to review public testimony, at which the RAC approved a revision to the project schedule, delaying construction until 2000. OnAugust 26, 1998 the RAC met and reviewed the project which had been modified based on comments from neighborhood meetings. The RAC voted to forward to the Lane County Board of Commissioners the recommended design concept included in the Agenda Item Summary (Attachment B). Traffic Engineer Brian Barnett reported on the features of the project. . Jasper Road Extension Design Concept Features: * Continues from Main Street to Jasper Road * Four lanes, urban standard, to new S. 57th intersection * Two lanes, rural standard, from S. 57th to Mt. Vernon, with separated bike/ped path * Two lanes, rural standard, from Mt. Vernon to Jasper Road * Daisy intersection remains open * Signal at S. 57th intersection * Mt. Vernon and Daisy intersections sleeved for future signal * Design speed 45 mph in north and 55 mph in south * Realigned, at grade intersection with Jasper Road * Realigned driveway entrance into Emerald Isle Mobile Home Park .. . . . Springfield City Council Work Session - 9/28/98 Page 3 Mr.Barnett also discussed features that were not included in the project at this time. Jasper Road Extension Design Concept Features, Not Included: * Soundwalls * Grade separated intersection at Jasper Road * Four lanes from S. 57th to Jasper Road * Bike/ped facilities south of Mt. Vernon Councilor-Elect Simmons asked questions about the addition of soundwalls and council discussed the guidelines per the Oregon Department of Transportation noise study. Councilor Shaver asked staff about berms, which are one technique of sound mitigation. Brian said berms use larger amounts of space and could be placed in some areas, but not others, due to space limitations. There was a lengthy discussion regarding the use of soundwalls and what types of materials and locations there would be a possible use for in the future. Councilor Shaver spoke about the road extension project phased in the State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP). Mr. Barnett said the sound mitigation became part of Phase II. He then discussed the recommended bike/ped path for a typical section of Jasper Road, on the four., lane urban roadway, Main Street to 57th Street. Councilor Shaver asked if full curbs would be placed on both sides. Mr. BarnetLreplied yes, stating the outside lane is wider but no pullouts have been included in the design at this point. He said this feature could be added in detailed design. Mr. Stein said any changes in the design concept the council suggested would be a change to what the Stakeholders Committee recommended to the RAC. Council discussed staff's suggestion that council consider aligning the road contour with the land. Mr. Barnett discussed the advantages of this suggestion. Community member and State Representative Lee Beyer was present and said the contouring makes sense for the project, as long as the road meets the state standards for future highway use. Mr. Beyer said property owners are realizing the development potential of their land and would be willing to consider donations of extra right-of-way. There was a discussion of the right-of-way along Jasper Road, who owns it and what partnerships have occurred. Mr. Barnett said the implications of specific alignment proposals have not yet been discussed with property owners. Councilor Maine said an overriding objective ofthe road project was to have a throughway to Jasper Road. She spoke in favor of the road being constructed as a city street with urban standards, but that seemed to be contrary to council's desire to have it become a future highway. She reminded council that they diverted funding from the 42nd Street project to complete the Jasper Road Extension, and has always felt this should be considered a highway. Ms. Stein eXplained the departure in staff's suggestion has come from a TGM grant to implement the nodal development concept in this area, as is proposed in the TransPlan Update. Springfield City Council Work Session - 9/28/98 Page 4 . Councilor Beyer said the area being discussed for most of the project is located in the county. Lane County staff member Ollie Snowden said there are ways to ratchet speed down as development occurred in the future. Councilor Beyer said she was not willing to change her point of view and did not prefer to alter the alignment that was previously accepted by the Springfield City Council. Councilor Shaver said he favored the Stakeholders original approach to the design. He raised the issue of bike paths being located on-street, which was favored by the RAC, versus the off- street preference ofthe Stakeholders. Mr. Snowden said the placement of bike paths might be an item still open for discussion. Councilor Shaver said he favored off-street bike/ped's with lower speeds that would be safe, yet efficient. Mayor Morrisette stated he preferred a pedestrian friendly street for the next 20 years and felt a speed limit of 45 mph was adequate. Ms. Stein brought the council to consensus for the off-street bike/ped path. Mr. Beyer agreed, but said there would be a need to plan for the elderly and youth of the area. She asked council to either recommended or reject the design concept and findings of the RAC and direct staff to prepare the city' s response for the Lane County Board of Commissioners'. Councilor-Elect Simmons said the original design concept was to expedite traffic. He favored the original intent of a straighter line without contour and a higher velocity, but did show his concern over the intersection area. . By council consensus, there was consent not to accept the proposal with the curves and any design speeds lower than 45 mph. Council stated their preference to build the road at the original design speed as intended, and to restrict future speeds as necessary through signage. Councilor Shaver asked if the city is designing the railroad crossing portion of the project now, so it fits into the Phase II project design. Mr. Snowden replied yes, the centerline crossing is planned, but the over crossing must occur first. Public Works Director Dan Brown reminded the council of the city's financial contribution to the IRE Project: * Right of way donated * Led request to reprioritize $1.176 in S TIP funding * Consultant assistance to evaluate local street realignment and Daisy St. closure * Programmed $450,000 in drainage improvements for Hwy. 1 26/Main will alleviate need for on-site drainage pond on JRE. * Involvement of staff time in Stakeholders process and discussions with property owners * SDC credits for right-of-way donation south ofMt. Vernon 3. Priorities for the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). . Management Analyst Eileen Stein asked the council to review and comment on the priority projects recommended for inclusion in the State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP). .. . . IF Springfield City Council Work Session - 9/28/98 Page 5 . Ms. Stein said the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is beginning the process of preparing the FY 2000-03 STIP and had requested input from the Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC) on regional transportation system priorities for modernization projects. Springfield's priority projects need to be identified in order for MPC to establish regional priorities. Ms. Stein said on September 10, 1998, MPC was asked to approve an initial list of regional priorities for the FY 2000-03 STIP. MPC members indicated a desire to review and, if necessary, establish new priorities to be included in the initial draft, prior to its release for public review later this year. Ms. Stein said since MPC will meet in October to review each agency's priorities for the STIP, it was recommended Springfield's priorities be identified so that they could be presented to MPC by our representatives. Ms. Stein reviewed the initial list (Attachment A ofthe Agenda Item Summary) and council discussed which were funded versus unfunded and how future projects could be added. Council then focused their attention on Attachment B, titled, Springfield Priorities for the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP). Councilor Shaver suggested items one through three were appropriate for the 2000-03 STIP, but felt item number four, 1-5/Beltline Interchange Reconstruction, should be added as the highest priority. . Traffic Engineer Brian Barnett explained the Transportation Equity Act for the 2151 Century, which currently has two Springfield projects being directly funded through the six-year bill: They are the S. 42nd Street Bicycle Path and the design of the 1-5 Beltline Interchange Reconstruction. Council felt it was important to place the construction costs associated with the 1-5 Beltline project on the priority 2000-03 list as soon as possible. After further discussion, it was agreed to recommend to MPC that the STIP be amended to add this project. Staff explained the STIP is intended to be a funded list only, but council felt it was important to submit the 1-5 Beltline Interchange as a priority to raise the level of awareness in the metropolitan area for this much needed project." There was continued discussion on the importance of the project, including development occurring on the west side ofI-5 in Eugene. Mayor Morrisette and Councilor Shaver announced they would both be absent from the October MPC meeting. Councilor Maine and Councilor Ballew stated they would attend and represent Springfield's interests regarding the STIP. By consensus, council agreed to move priority four to priority one and then renumbering the remaining priority projects accordingly. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8: 15 p.m. Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins B(fi((~ Mayor . ATTEST: <"" ~~