HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-1103 Study Session PACKET
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
Wednesday, November 3, 1999 at 12:00 p.m.
Council Chambers
1. Discussion of the Proposed Central Ashland Bikepath and Greenway
extensions.
2. Discussion of the Local Improvement District (LID) proposals and
progress for FY00.
Council Communication
Public Works Department
Bikepath and Greenway Extensions
November 3, 1999
n _ Study Session
Submitted by: Paula Bm,, I'
Approved by: Mike Freem
Title:
Discussion of the Proposed Central Ashland Bikepath and Greenway Extensions.
Synopsis:
The FY00 budget and CIP program includes $125,000 for the extension of the Central Ashland
Bikepath. These funds have been set aside primarily for easement acquisition from private
property owners and the railroad.
Recommendation:
This item is for Council discussion. No specific action is required at this time.
Background Information:
The Transportation System Plan, completed in April 1998, identified gaps in the City's bike path
system. The City was in the process of completing negotiations with the Oregon Department of
Transportation (ODOT) to construct the Central Ashland Bikepath (from 8' Street to Tolman
Creek Road). In additional to the City's bike path, Jackson County was putting finishing touches
on their design of the Greenway connection to the City's Dog Park down by the wastewater
treatment plant. Today, both bikeway sections are complete and are heavily used. The attached
map shows those completed sections and likely connections to them.
Central Ashland Bikepath - Council directed staff to proceed with discussions with the railroad
and property owners for the extension of the Central Ashland Bikepath to the north and south
City limits. Staff is in the process of identifying necessary property acquisition and property
owners. Extension of the Central Ashland Bikepath from 8' Street behind the Railroad Park to
6d' Street is in progress with the Parks Department. There are further possibilities of extending
that section to Oak Street as the railroad property is developed. Beyond that portion to Oak
Street heading to the north, the likely path is along Hersey Street, which has bike lanes, to
perhaps Laurel Street, and pick up the railroad tracks.
To the south, the Central Ashland Bikepath will follow the railroad tracks from the existing
terminus at Takilma Way to Crowson Road. There has been discussion with LTM and Croman
Corporation for easement acquisition as part of an ODOT Immediate Opportunity Fund project
that was recently submitted for the realigrunent of Mistletoe Road.
FIUSERTAULMCOUNCIUCC Bikepath.doc
Jackson County Bear Creek Greenway Extension - The proposed Greenway connection from the
existing terminus at the Dog Park will most likely take shape along Nevada, and then follow
Bear Creek to the south. Very little work has been completed on this. Staff will coordinate with
Jackson County for necessary easements and timing on the extension. Currently Jackson County
is focusing on the extension from Phoenix to Medford.
Next Steps and Timing - Central Ashland Bikepath
FY00 - Now through the end of the year:
I Discuss and select proposed routes
2 Identify easement acquisition needs and property owners
3 Initiate easement acquisition with selected propoerty owners (including railroad)
4 Continue discussions with LTM and Croman Corp and solidify easements
5 Identify ODOT Enhancement Fund grant capabilities (not expected to be good
until FY02)
6 Write appropriate grants
7 Continue to work with Planning Department for the railroad area developments
FYOI
1 Continue with easement acquisition - identify any gaps or problem areas
2 Resolve easement gaps and problems areas
3 Write appropriate grants
4 Begin preliminary design
5 Identify funding gaps
FY02
1 Complete final design of the Central Ashland Bikeway extension to north and
south
2 Secure Funding
FY03 - beyond
1 Construction - may be in phases
F:\USER\PAULA\COUNCIL\CC Bikepath.doc
a
UO
d
Q ~ ' a
_o
Council Communication
Public Works Department
LID Progress
November 3, 1999
Study Session
Submitted by: Paula Brown
Approved by: Mike Freeman
Title:
Discussion of the Local Improvement District (LID) proposals and progress for FY00.
Synopsis:
This information was introduced at the last Council meeting with the Capital Improvements
Program. As this program can fluctuate with specific requests for LID formation and
improvements, it was determined that a specific look at the progress and process being used for
LID formation be open for Council discussion.
Recommendation:
This is for discussion only and requires no direct Council action at this time.
Background Information:
During the last budget cycle, Council authorized up to $300,000 per year for LID projects. It
was assumed that the City's financing would be approximately 40% of these costs. At the time
the CIP program was developed, staff recommended the following projects:
1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-04*
Walnut Street (paving) $214,000 $214,000
Palmer Road / Penny Drive 92,000
Liberty Street $65;000 68,000
Central Avenue 58,000 5$000
Plaza Avenue 9900 $99,000
Misc. Projects (including: Larkin, 69,080 69,000
Ohio, Peachey, Sunrise...) $70,000 70,000
Waterline Road 204,000 204,000
Scenic Drive 111,200 V i i,200
Nutley Street 46,000 46,000
Strawberry Lane 412,000 412,000
Alnut Street 93,600 9600
Current CIP totals $306,000 $294,000 $274,000 $662,800
Proposed Changes $289,600 $523,200 $ 99,000 $625,000
The lined through portion shows the current CIP with proposed changes in bold. • 2 years
FAUSERPAULAWOUNCIUCC LID Progress.doc
Staff remains flexible with requests to form LIDS. Several LIDS have been initiated and others
are being discussed.
Walnut Street (paving) - To date there has been no activity on this project. As there has been
desire for several others, and because of the overall funding limitations, staff expects this to slip
one or two years in the CIP program. If this is a priority of the Council's, staff can revise the
order.
Central Avenue - As you are aware, we have the Central Avenue LID formed and is currently
under design. This project should be completed in the spring of 2000. This is a year earlier than
shown in the CIP.
Palmer Road / Penny Drive - The Penny / Palmer LID will be before Council on December 7'
for a public hearing and formation. Staff has met with the neighbors and all are in favor of the
street paving and associated drainage improvements, but are questioning the need for sidewalks.
,This project should be constructed in the spring of 2000.
Liberty Street - To date there has been limited activity on this project. It is expected this will be
a part of the Waterline Road project as that area develops.
Plaza Avenue - Staff has met with the neighbors at a few of the resident's requests. There is
only about half of the neighborhood in favor of the project. At this time, staff is willing to
postpone this project pending possible development on Strawberry Lane (see blow) and attempt
this project again in two to three years.
Waterline Road - There was considerable discussion on this development a year ago, but it has
not been as active recently. Council's direction was to form the LID but "...no final assessments
will be made on benefited properties for the Waterline Road improvements until a city-approved
building permit or final approval on an application creating one or more new lots is in effect for
Tax Lot 300, 39 I E 16 AC, also known as the Alston property." Street improvements will also
not likely began until required through planning action for approved building permit or lot
creation requiring the street.
Strawberry Lane Scenic Drive Nutley Street, Alnut Street - The development on Strawberry
Lane is moving along rather quickly. Due to drainage and access improvements, it is likely that
all of the road improvements will be completed in a linked series. This is a very large and likely
complicated project. As of yet, the complete funding package is not complete, and it is likely
that funding is not in place for the City's portion. Because of the size and funding requirements,
staff had initially recommended that these projects be placed in the FY03 and 04 budget years.
However, the development is moving faster, and there is a desire on the developer's part to move
this along more quickly.
If it is Council's desire to move the Strawberry Lane package of projects forward for funding in
FY00-01, then staff would slide Walnut Street, Liberty Street, Waterline Road and the projects
on the "miscellaneous" LID project list to the FY03 and 04 budget years. Any other direction is
requested.
F:\USER\PAULA\COUNCIL\CC LID Progmss.doc
L
F T°
, • tip. I II 1
tJ~p y,'~1•e
r Z sit I ° x IH,•Ai a~
xr x t rt~ t+'iYiG „i
~ ; i r ~ r.Y~ rl
a r t~ t~r 3 c t,5 e R
Ydrr 't~ 7ny r~F,ti `4
3 tr atk r"~a:~N srYf+ir ~~7~ :3e.'i~~y ~
i 'S XL m
ell ~%Z
r .w r.., 1.
A_ •s
r., , r 4 .Z 1 t
Y
M
~ I
Izl i r4 ~jc°`~_ III ~ • ~ _~,~y • ~ 1 ,a -
4 -
f. W
Al
J 'a♦♦ T, I~
t
o-
s
4 rr
1. •a~ ate. d
J Ykb
Ir' F 1
y ~f r
✓N 4 `
.g
~t
` rS~ R Ch Q2.''~v Ev +tJb tpga s
r
E15j
} 4r `4 k '~tt RrK r x! r tx~
rt ~bt youtgv de ' x ~e C 1~> f
n 'kr ~ ~ rt ~ r.~', a. I ~ 'y} r~i' r i+tR~ ,agkq J y~,n~x k •
;rr rel~geS,NIS1tA%I~~ R rt 4erR Sv~~ ~5C i',Q T F1C 2~CBC c1 f}rL'ar ` €
t"~y xS''3 r i i'
~yk+,r0vy "6 y`s «x< xi3sdlgr~t'Int4A51l1aTL°II~VCL °117, ) + a YxtY'~' xir'.
6s r a a c.4 '3n t§ L 4 i tca m y. > a f § Y'.rc .2 a r. rA"k"`'Yrwsu' .}S°r 7
it} i i d7}'
Ie .ar s 'F~k t x e, se .
f r, fa S 4a r 43r t. `R
hth.t eb1g bo s • This Sum es, mo ed h1 '"~orhp 1 brth~vest f~%~pa `
k, w xs~ C♦ ~ e xc i s,~ 4rs ir. a+5t wy. vx >L~tta`'+4~&~ x4 N~~ x$'
K a {r Gain'ry ut r S°Ystems,mto; f ei4' x tc~lyue dse3t sHi [SOFs~5i '
r`f M I~ ~v y : ` i 1. _r r1kf Y• '6~. n V~ 4 rA YFA L~.
x n w f~l ~s ~ F ti Y5 n hs k r 4
~Nlaitreet"hem et` Ti'§ ori~wa aid t; tbti~t t'x y:
. n
rrk4Y + p+ ~P.. ~ a'~i ~ ,qt's ,~t _
'.r. -ci } «<i k .,c OCT 151„A~ ~U INESS'rECHNOL GY ~S '
ecommerce
J A STREET S
`A search for tenants to takeover Project A Inc.'s well-wired former
offices turned Jim Teece Into an Inadvertent high-tech empire-builder.
- Next. time you're looking to.. When Jim Teece and his wife, Dena Matthews, established the
escape the throngs of well software solutions company in 1990, Teece says their plan
was to stay small: 'I could write software, she could be
dressed tourists strolling Ashland's downtown streets, try
taking a walk a few blocks east., The business mind.' Project A's burgeoning success
You're heading for the railroad district - still quaint, (~r soon forced them to rethink the pion. As the comps-
ny grew and expanded into new quarters - always
. still artistic, still quintessentially Ashland. r ,
But here on A'Street, the hum of creativity - not E c ' on A Street - Teece would try to fill his vacated lease
to mention capitalism - transcends the town's bar- it with someone that could use the wiring infrastructure
ders. The buzz that emanates from A Street reaches he had laid at great expense. Often that meant a soft-
ware-related business.
across America. from the deep pockets of
New York Investors to cyberspace best- That happened three times. Soon
seller lists to the hot-hot-hot headquarters •`I see brilliant people A Street had acquired a technology
of California dot-com cowboys. cachet and began to take on,a synergy
It's Southern Oregon's .own narrow little moving here to the Rogue of Its own.
technology corridor, concentrated Into five "It's great to be around a number of
or six blocks along the outskirts of town. Talley for the purpose of different technology people every day, to
Across from the Grange Co-op, you'll actually be able to walk across the stree
find on impressive complex housing lifestyle and using the and see them," says Charlie Lonusse,
nationally prominent Project A Inc., with founder of Web-ring developer Storseed
games maker Anlevo nearby. Audacious Internet as their gateway to 'You walk down, get a cup of coffee a
Internet start-up Starseed is just walking there are your buds talking about thei
distance from the Ashland Yoga Center projects.'
the rest of the world and
and across the street from the old railroad f "It's a very relaxed and aesTheti
depot housing software developer Triad place," says Rich Berman, vice presiden
Healthcare Systems. A couple one- and to their income." of business affairs at Triad. "At the sam
two-person shops dot the street, time, some serlously good technology I
What Is it about A Street that puts It on JIM T EECE, PROJECT A INC. being created here."
y deck To h
the A list for software companies? It start- Teece even added a part
ed with the benevolent sponsorship of Project A. which started building for Friday night "decompression" barbecues. 'When w
colonlzing A Street with technology companles after its first do It, we make sure we a-moll the rest of the people. They brin
expansion. a lot of color and excltement to It, too.'
ecommerce
ut ronrse, is history. all time. Tlilobytc's hcadgnarters
ing life a plan' to gill hniur. lhcv ire 'I'hc rest.
III di o, it in Ashland. Mrdthrtl and starsced, :a Web-ring technology moved to Mcdli,rd before the couhpa-
plaies in bet sveen. I'nivider, 1,(.( 1111c a t lassie dot-cone ny folded earlier this year.
Ou:dits -of-lih• issues are plot ill,, to success story when it sv:rs a(cluncd laic jito Ice cc of Project A Inc. drew up
I,,. the hi„ draw: small to,tns, big out- last year by Intl tile[ giant Geo-Citics, a wish list when he started scounog
doors, moderate weather. And tl,e which was promptly scarfed up by evc'u Oregon loeuunu fix his Arizona soft-
Rognc Valley has other :uscts - techui- bigger Internet give Yahoo! ware company in I993. ]'lie town
cal training progruns at Rogue Cnni- It was a huge deal for Srarsecd, needed to have a university, souhe kind
nnanity College and Southern Oregon which split 82 million cash and about of culna re, au'por[ access, Shipping
Unitersin•, an international airport that 7511,111111 shares ofstock, worth as much capabilities. Oh, and it hiew pub. Ash-
. Ilvc direct flights per day to Cali- :as $G(1 million at one point, among its land fit the bill.
toruia cities and easy access to the 311 shareholders. Lanusse, who could "What's in,por[ant about these eom-
Interstate 5 corridor. have moved anywhere with his share parties is that they are the right scale
And if that's not enough, there's this: of the proceeds, resigned from the for us," says City Administrator Mike
Businesses located in the Rogue Valley company but chose to stay in Ashland Freeman. "They are high-tech, smaller
call now choose from an impressive and launch another start-up. and non-polluting businesses - exact-
n,enu of blazing-fast connections that It was an affirmation of sorts to other ly the kind of business we're trying to
outstrip the bandwidth capabilities software companies. "Starseed's success see settle here."
offered by most larger metropolitan cen- is certainly motivational to all of us," Teece, today one of the most active
tars. It makes for a nearly supporters of the high-tech
i
irresistible package. Just industry u, the Rogue Valley,
"The city is small and how it's laid out is very Sees the area's bandwidth
ask S[arseed foundeP '
Charley Lanusse, author choices as critical to the
of Oregon's biggest Inter- industry's continued growth.
conducive to working late hours and being very
"1 see brilliant people
net success story. '
moving here to the Rogue '
Lanusse moved to r
close to home. l ve walked home so many Valley for the purpose of
Ashland from Mississippi
in 1994 after launching lifestyle and using the Inter-
times its unbelievable-you tell people in the net as their gateway to the
a nationwide search for
what be calls the right rest of the world and to
geographic ingredient Bay Area that, and they cant imagine it, their income,' he says.
that would really make it "They either work remotely
start-up fly. CHARLEY LANUSSE, STARSEED or they communicate with
When he started look- clients remotely.
"1 see more and more tech-
ing, though, Oregon was
nor even on the list. "1 went all over," says Rich Berman of software develop- Locally oriented people from the Bay
Lan USSe remembers. "Boston. Texas. er Triad Healthcare Systems. "It rein- Area or the Seattle area choosing the
Virginia rolled the red carpet out ti,r us" forces our belief that a good technology Rogue Valley as a lifestyle change, and
Exhausted from the search, Lanusse company doesn't have to be in a major still maintaining their partnership there"
accepted an offer from it co-worker to metropolitan area to be successful" Making that decision a little easier is
visit in Ashland. That was all it took. "I Triad, which creates and implements the cornucopia of choices on the
fell in love with the city," Lanussc says. managed care information Systems, is bandwidth menu, from the innovative
"1 found that everything that we needed venture-backed by It group in Alabama and seriously fast Ashland FiberNet-
to run it technology start-up vv'as here It that has financed several medical tech- work to competitive cable-based access
was the right type of environment to nology startups. Only one of is clients to wireless to phone-based connec-
promotc a really effective work group. is in Oregon. [ions over digital subscriber lines.
•'l he city is small and hors it's laid The Rogue Valley has its share of Bandwidth refers to the capability of
out is Eery conducive to working late notable national software names. a network to carry dart, usually
hours :old being very close to home. Graeme Devine, co-founder of gaunt, expressed in bits per second (Bps), or
I've w.dked home So many times it's ni:iker Trilobyte, remembers rolling ni the case of big bandwidth, millions
unbc_licvahle - you tell people in the into lac ksonvillc to the spc rtaculat of hits per second (Mops). For exauh-
Bay Arca that. and they can't imagine it. sight of Chrisnuas celebration lights. ple. it standard 56K modem moves data
I'hat allowed us to work longer The conhp:uly was established there at a nhaxinnun speed of 56,111111 I3ps.
hours .and harder hours and have less shortly atterwards, and went ou to Ashland's network can move data at
sUrss, bemuse you don't have to deal na.ike ..7th Guest.' one of the hest- 100 million lips.
with the ticeh+ays and the pollution.- .riling CD-ROM computer gaines of Bandwidth opens up rich possibilities
,are 15 . 1'hov: nH r.GnN UUSiru tiffs II iIN,gtits 37
ecommerce
fbr busiursscs, incluJing electronic it, svcbsite,smucthing it, Internet service svuc[ure. We have so Imamy choices hx
comnnerce And work-front-Bloc provider couldn't support. bandwidth [hilt lark conlnlonitic,a just
applications. F:dcon Northwest hcc:nne Tecce eueourage, adeconnnuting, a don't have and that's a very lark.
one of the first businesses to till ioto practice made more efficient by the strength fix us:'
Ashland's fiber-optic ring, with a 100 work-at-home options available to his Still, for companies like Falcon
Mbps Ethernet connection. I,hat's seri- Project A employees. "With the band- Northwest that choose the Rogue Val-
ous bandwidth. width choice. we have in this urea, Icy, it's the heauty, not [he bandwidth,
'.It's :rwesonlr;' says Reeves reverent- my employees can live ill Medford that is the deciding factor: the intangi-
ly. "We are wholeheartedly impressed, and do real work Rom home, as if bles, not the infrastructure.
and it's nice to see the city really cons- they were sitting in my office in Ash- "We moved to Ashland for the
mitting to the Interne[" land;" he says. weather and for the good employee
The high-speed connection will enable "The Rogue Valley is unique in the availability,- says Reeves. "The fiber is
Falcon to offer electronic commerce on sense that we have grown our infra- gravy.-
inn f
t 14.1
f.. ~ lOi u'i I 1 w IN
'1 11 1
t III
f~~ , 1 ` mill r
p t I
1 t p
\ ~i ~ p ~LOGL OA'
i C
,I
- •OIM OF
PESENQ
CABLE TELEVISIO , un01u 1
c~ • • a a• • c • o•
INTERNET
- . - • 11'1 0 . • • • . • o • • o - - • •
- • o • a • • - c• a• • • - - - • • • • • 111
i _
♦ I 1 /
49, A Co-sponsored Event by
THENATURAL Rogue Institute for Ecology and Economy
FRAMEWORK • ' Foundation for Global Community
SUSTAINABILITY Dovetail Coalition
Thanks to Southern Oregon University
SATUkDAY, NOVEMBEK 13, 1.999, 9:00 AM ' School 4Science and the Science Senninar Series
An intensive half-day workshop
focusing on the fundamentals
,,we have the capacity and ability to
create a remarkably different economy, _ Non-Profit Org. - i
one that can restore ecosystems and - ' U. S. Postage
protect the environment while bringing - - PAID
forth innovation, prosperity, meaningful - - Ashland, OR - TH ~ N ATURA STEP -
work, and true securiry. The restorative : - Permit No. 84 . LLL `
. " economy unites ecology and commerce, -
into one sustainable
and distribution that mimics s and d enhances - ~ -
-
at A FRAMEWORK FOR
natural processes." - -
-Paul Hawkers, SUSTAINABILITY
co-founder ofSmi[h'&Hawken,
author of The F_coloeY of Commerce
i I SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13,199.9
SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
h ASHLAND, OREGON
9:00 AM 1:00, PM
1 The Natural Step is an innovative approach
t -Working To Build an Ecologically and for motivating .private and governmental ' RIDAYS 34 P.M. ' Economically Sustainable Society"
- - - organizations to become leaders
i SCIENCE ROOM Presented by
Duke Castle, Oregon Natural Step in the nely era of sustainable practices:"
Ores to Students" Ttj Public Friday November 12 - 3.4:00 P.M.
' - . - -GOVERNOR JOHN KITZHARER .
Prierad on 1001% _ rrryrlyd papa 10% port-mrvumrr wa4r. - - - . _ -