AUGUST, 2007 URBAN RENEWAL MEETING MINUTES:
AUGUST 29, 2007
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Chair Woodruff called the
meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. Chair Woodruff and Board
Members Welch, Hanes, Kelly and Campbell answered the roll. Board Member Cutter
was absent. A quorum was present. Also present were ODOT Director Matthew
Garrett, ODOT Region Manager Jeff Scheick, ODOT Cascades West Area Manager
Vivian Payne, ODOT District Manager Robert Doran, and City Planner Larry Lewis.
2. WORKSHOP TOPIC - STATE HIGHWAY ISSUES: Mr. Welch expressed
appreciation for the additional assistance on the Downtown Revitalization
project. Ms. Payne gave a brief overview of the remaining steps of the process,
indicating that the contract had been awarded, and as soon as the contractor
provided insurance certification the preconstruction conference would be
scheduled. It was suggested that informal meetings might help in informing local
merchants and providing an avenue of communication with the contractor, Ms.
Payne noted that this had worked well in the Philomath project. Ms. Woodruff
noted that Ms. Leonard had suggested that ODOT, with the resources available to
them, might be able to better assist small communities in assessing the accuracy
of proposed costs. This may help prevent cost underestimates such as the one
received from PUD, where the actual cost of undergrounding the utility far
exceeded the original figure provided by them. Due to this, the utility will be
relocated, rather than undergrounded. Ms. Payne indicated that the suggestion
could be looked into. Mr. Lewis noted a concern regarding the engineering costs,
Ms. Payne responded that she shared his concern but it boiled down to how to
allocate staff work.
Discussion ensued regarding the relocation of the weigh
station. Mr. Campbell noted that the developer was told he would need to provide
two stations. Mr. Garrett clarified the situation, noting that it had been
suggested that one way of handling the relocation was to install two temporary
stations, one for north-bound and one for south-bound, that would then be
equipped with portable scales. However, that idea had been discarded in favor of
a permanent in-kind location. The motor carrier has several sites identified,
and Mr. Garrett showed a layout of the suggested design. He indicated that ODOT
was ready to proceed, they were just awaiting contact from the developer. Mr.
Lewis indicated that he would convey that information to the developer.
A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the
Norwood/Starr/Highway 101 intersection. The Urban Renewal Agency Board was
unanimous in conveying their concern about this situation, which is located on
ODOT right-of-way. Mr. Garrett stated that it was his understanding that once
the Downtown Revitalization project was completed, this was the next priority
for the City. He suggested that Mr. Lewis and Ms. Leonard draft a letter
outlining the City’s concern. The letter would then be put in a file, and every
two years, when they do the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
they review the archival files for projects to include. It may take multiple
years before funding is found, however, and Mr. Garrett suggested that the City
also keep the situation in mind for a potential mitigation project for a
development.
The next topic of discussion was development along the area
south of the seawall. City Planner Lewis noted that a highway corridor plan should
be developed and then incorporated into the City’s Transportation System Plan.
Mr. Garrett noted that this would assist in ODOT’s review of applications as
well. He also suggested that the City include items such as sidewalks, as if
they are not included, ODOT doesn’t have to require them of the developer. The
ODOT representatives also urged the City to consider implementing transportation
system development charges, as one factor in the STIP review is what funding a
city or developer can contribute to a project.
Mr. Campbell noted that he would like to see the Scenic
Byways designation for Highway 34 expedited. Mr. Garrett noted that ODOT has
already given a letter of support to Philomath, and suggested a letter from the
City would also help in the process. The ODOT representatives indicated that
they were more than willing to help in developing the plans, as this was one of
the more enjoyable projects they got to work on.
The Agency thanked the representatives for taking the time to
sit down and discuss these issues. Mr. Garrett and the other representatives
responded that they were always willing to meet with the City to discuss issues
of mutual concern.
3. ADJOURNMENT: At 2:35 p.m., there being no further business
to come before the Agency, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Reda A. Quinlan, City Clerk
APPROVED by the Waldport Urban Renewal Agency this 13th day
of September, 2007.
SIGNED by the Chair this 13th day of September, 2007.
Susan Woodruff, Chair