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Approved Minutes - 1999-07-07 MINUTES OLD RIVER ROAD AD-HOC TASK FORCE July 7, 1999 -- 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Lake Oswego Human Resources Conference Room These minutes are from the last meeting of the full Task Force and were not reviewed or approved by the full group. Members Present: Sister Eileen Brown, Judy Dauble, David Dodds (for Duane Funk), Kelly Atwood, Jamie Ellgen, Marsha Robertson, Michael Lammers Members Excused: Mike Anderson, Stan Aschenbrenner, Gordon Howard, Staff Present: Ron Bunch, Long Range Planning Manager; David Aushserman, Fregonese Calthorpe & Associates; Others Present: Dick Porn, Priscilla and John Panichello, David Bartz, CC Dawell. Melanie Sauvain, Jordan and Lisa Jones, David Poulson, Jerry Lublink, Bob and Kris Howell, Tom Chow, George Diamond, Jim Gaube The minutes of June 2, 1999 were reviewed and approved. Sister Eileen Brown opened the meeting by saying that the Task Force members has an opportunity to present their views again on the preliminary proposal that the Task Force had come to agree on at the last meeting. She said that after this meeting a report would be prepared to the City Council for its July 27, 1999 meeting. David Ausherman presented the proposal again to the group present. He stated that he had made changes asked for at the last meeting and asked if there were any question. The Howell's expressed concern that moving the road and constructing a pathway would remove the trees in front of their property. David said that the pinch points allowed enough flexibility to save the significant vegetation in the subject area and to avoid topographic constraints. Staff stated that the proposed plan should not be viewed as a "final" engineered proposal. The final engineering version of a plan approved by the City Council is necessary before any improvements are constructed. It was stated that testing of the proposed traffic management devices is necessary before any improvements are installed. Also, the neighbors in the area would be involved in any further plans to implement a project. Kelly Atwood stated that he had met with his neighborhood again and the group is opposed to the "obstacle course"posed by the pinch-points especially. He said that slowing traffic is important but that the pinch-points represent a danger. Speed bumps are O.K., but not the pinch-points. He said that if safety is a concern,then pathway improvements are needed. Staff explained that the pinch-point concept had been part of the discussions throughout the process and had been preliminarily approved at the last meeting and that this meeting was to confirm what had been discussed. There are members in this meeting that were not present at the last one. It certainly was appropriate to have those members not present at the last meeting to raise these issues as this time. It was necessary to present the full range of preferences to the City Council. However,the term of the Committee was coming to an end and a report had to be delivered to the City Council in July. David Dodds stated that he was not in favor of the pinch points. A series of speed bumps to keep cars at 25 M.P.H. was all that was necessary. He had objections to the pathway. Speed bumps should sufficiently slow cars. Pedestrians would have to want to commit suicide if cars were slowed adequately. With speed bumps it would be a virtual impossibility to hit pedestrians. He said that sidewalks were prelude to rezoning -- higher residential densities (densification). He doubted that with the topographic constraints a pathway could be built. Staff indicated that was why the pinch-points were necessary in key places in order to narrow the road so room for a pathway could be provided. Staff also said that pinch points were necessary on the north portion of the project(Sisters of the Holy Names and Marlyhurst properties)because the road itself was so narrow, the need to preserve significant vegetation, and the proximity of the slope. However, it was possible to install the pathway. Marsha Robertson said she like the proposal. It was creative and provided safety and comfort to the hundreds of people a week who walk the road. She said that some provision was needed for walkers to get off the road and it was absolutely necessary to get those walkers off the road who needed to. There may be people who want to walk or run on the road but there are others who need the sense of safety and security provided by a pathway and at least the proposed three foot"step-off' along the residential portion of the project. She said that the group had worked very hard to come up with a compromise and she liked it. Judy Dauble said that she too liked the proposal. The group had worked hard at this and it is a good plan. Each group involved had given something up. It is sensitive to a lot of concerns. She supported it. She stressed that the plan does not have to be done all at once. Portions of it, like the traffic management devices should be tested and if they work, installed. A careful and long-term evaluation and implementation process should be used. Michael Lammers said that he really didn't care about the pinch-points in so much as they are necessary to construct the project. The objective of slower speeds might be addressed with fewer pinch-points and more speed bumps. As a biker he wished to stress that provisions to bet bikes throughout the pinch-points, like cutouts would be a good idea. A park-like setting is one of the areas best attributes. Michael wished to go on record that Marylhurst cannot be held financially accountable for construction of any portion of the pathway or other improvements because the 2 university does not and will not impact the road. There is no "nexus" between the current planned improvements on Marlyhurst University's property and needed pathway or automobile improvements on Old River Road. Kelly Atwood reiterated his neighborhood's opposition to the pinch-points. He said that in many areas the road is too narrow already and dangerous for pedestrians. Cars often have to cross the centerline. This means breaking the law. Pinch-points are an invitation to a head-on collision or a roll over into the river. There are some people in the area that will use them to play chicken. Why not expand the road to the west in a few places as proposed and weave (bulge)the pathway out on the road if necessary. Mark the abutting pedestrian pathway with paint. Where there is room then it can depart from the road as shown. In these few places the pedestrian and the car can share the same pavement as they do now for the entire length of the road. With speed bumps, the cars will be slowed anyway. Kelly said that if safety is the issue then get the walkers off the road. Jamie Ellgen said that it appeared that there was lack of consensus on the pinch point issue. However there was a lot of agreement on all the other issues. It is important to stress the points of agreement. It appears that speed bumps would address a legitimate need and are reasonable. She reminded the group that the pathway was in the Transportation System Plan and the Council may be determined to construct a pathway. Sister Eileen said she supported pedestrian safety, especially to accommodate the hundreds of new users that would be living at Mary's Woods in the future. She supports the concept of pinch-points. A few,perhaps three on the north end of the subject area would be appropriate. Especially important would be one where the pathway from Mary's Woods enters Old River Road. A pinch-point in this area with a raised pedestrian table to get walkers from the east side of the road to the west side. Dave was asked about the accident history of pinch points. He said that his research focused on their use in Denmark and studies indicated that, where applied, there were no accidents for the duration of the evaluation period. He stressed that they are being proposed as much to respond to the environment as well -- to avoid steep slopes and protect natural resources and avoid more engineered solutions such as retaining walls. Kelly asked again about the fire department's concerns. Staff relayed that the fire department had concerns about timely response -- such as if the road got plugged at a pinch point. There were also concerns with wild fire or natural disaster response. However, the fire department said that they would live with them as they have to with speed bumps. David Ausherman said that it is proposed that the pinch-point be designed so they can be dismantled or knocked over quickly. Sister Eileen said that it looks like almost all the principles that the group has identified is agreed upon and pinch points is not completely agreed upon. However, what is agreed upon is that speed needs to be managed downward and pinch points and speed bumps are tools to accomplish this objective. She said her preference is not to give this problem 3 back to the Council. She stated that the report to go to Council must emphasize that the Task Force's recommendation is a broad outline -- a big first step in a work that must be considered in progress, that must be phased and judicious. Kelly Atwood pointed out that the pinch points would cause all cars northbound to yield. This is not fair to Old River Woods and West Linn residents that use the road to get to Lake Oswego. However,the catch-22 is that alternating the yield responsibility would create confusion. Jamie Ellgen said that what has been agreed to thus far is a win-win for everyone. She pointed out the five-part implementation process identified in the June 2, 199 minutes proposes an evaluation period. (It is included for reference as follows) I. Summer, 1999: Traffic Management Testing II. Fall, 1999: Installation of Tested and Workable Traffic Management Devices in the Areas Outside of the Pavement Management Project Boundaries Including Glenmorrie Drive. III. Summer,2000: Pavement Management Project on South Portion of the Project Area (Sisters of the Holy Names and Marlyhurst University) IV. Summer,2000: Installation of Tested and Workable Traffic Management Devices Within the Southern Portion of the Project. V. Summer,2001: Construction of Pathway on the Southern Portion of the Project of the Project. This would coincide with the appropriate Development Phase of Mary's Woods. She said the implementation process provides for testing. Why not test a few pinch points just to show they work. Further discussion stressed that the group agreed on 36 out of 37 recommended findings, design and management measures. David Dodds again stated his opposition to any pedestrian improvements. He said that he supported the need to provide for pedestrian safety. The difficulty is excess speed. He said that there is not a uniformity of opinion and he proposed to vote on each element in the proposal. He said that Lake Oswego's TSP did not represent the views of the people and should be changed regarding a pathway. Staff said that they were confused about representation from West Linn. Duane Funk, the appointed representative from West Linn supported the proposal at the last meeting, and David, the alternate did not at this meeting. Further, except for pinch points Old River Roads agreed in concept to the proposal. There needs to be a uniformity of opinion and consensus in this regard. Furthermore the charge statement, gave the chair the option to call for a vote. Ron stated that David's views would be presented as was all others in the minutes. Further he stressed the importance of Jamie's comments that testing, testing, testing was needed within the context of a phased process. 4 Judy Dauble said that she wished that the final report emphasize the fact that the Willamette River and its west bank is in the Willamette River Greenway and must be protected. Further the findings must say that any improvements must be sensitive to the needs of the residents and property owners along Old River Road and must protect the livability of the neighborhood. These statements can be brought out of the April 21,1999 technical document and emphasized. Judy emphasized that she did not want to go to Council with a proposal to segment parts of the task-forte's recommendation. The pinch- points should be tested as should the speed bumps. It is important for the Task Force to present a cohesive recommendation. Safety and speed control is essential to maintaining the quality of life along the road. Sister Eileen said the next task is to formulate a formal report to the City Council and she asked Kelly Atwood and Judy Dauble to meet again next week to discuss the report. The meeting was opened to public comment. It was stated that if safety was an issue, then a pathway needs to be constructed all the way along the road. Even with the three foot"step-off' most people will walk on the asphalt. Something more substantial is needed. Also, drivers feel frustrated that pedestrians walk three or four abreast and block the whole road. Someone is going to get hurt. There has been a lot of talk about drivers but it needs to emphasized that pedestrians also have etiquette responsibilities. The road is in bad repair and the shoulders are not maintained. There is no where for pedestrians to go except on the road. A pathway is needed all the way down the road from West Linn to George Rogers Park. Removing the path from George Rogers Park with the road is especially needed at the point it intersects. Safety education is needed for everyone. Phasing the improvements based on testing is necessary. The property owners need to be protected. The City and County need to get together and decide who has responsibility for all the road. There appears to be a small part in the County that gets zero maintenance. Disappoint was expressed that the Task Force could not agree on a pathway all the way along the road. Pedestrians and vehicles conflict and will do so more in the future with the Mary's Woods project. A pathway is essential. Another party stated that a pathway will not take walkers and joggers off the street. Walkers and joggers will continue to use the road. A pathway is not necessary. It was stated that the pinch-points were a good idea. The 1913 survey that the City used to make its determination of the right-of-way is flawed and could be contested. There are some problems with the City's contention it "owns" the right-of-way. Property owners have underlying fee title. The Willamette Greenway includes the road and the low water 5 line of the Willamette River. In 1964 floodwater was over the road in some places. The discussion thus far has emphasized protection of the flora, but animals need protection from speeding cars. Speed management measures would accomplish this. A big problem is dogs, especially from a sanitation standpoint. One can't also confine dogs and their people to a narrow pathway. They will walk on the road. There was comment that the disable should be accommodated, especially in view of the ADA requirements. This should be reviewed with the City Attorney. Those who wish to owned the road or claim the right-of-way should also be prepared to claim the liability of doing so. An inadequate pathway (three feet step-off) could also pose some liability problems. With the right-of-way identified by the City there seems enough room for a pathway. Appreciation was expressed for the work of the Task Force. Compromise was worked out on all sides. It is important not to stall out now. It is important for children to be able to walk safely in their neighborhood --to enjoy the benefits we had as children even to do something as simple as to get the mail. This requires compromise of personal interests. Opinions should not be solidified now, but the Task Force's recommendation to test is essential to find out what works. In the end, the safety of children is paramount. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Ron Bunch Long Range Planning Manager file: orrmin72.doc 6