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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels September 7, 2004 Nevada plan up for discussion By Steve Zimmerman Ashland Daily Tidings A public hearing on the Nevada Street Calming Project is likely to be anything but calm tonight during the Ashland City Council meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at the Ashland Civic Center. The Nevada Street Calming Project LID (Local Improvement District) has been in the works for nearly two years, since former city planner Mark Knox and his wife, Nora, brought the issue before the city. Traffic on Nevada Street has been a concern for residents both on the street and those living on the side streets for some time. The original plan to slow traffic called for bumpouts and speed humps to slow traffic. But residents in the surrounding areas off Nevada Street quickly mobilized in opposition to that plan, leading to the establishment of a Nevada Street traffic committee in December. After many meetings and much arguing among neighbors, a tentative plan was finally accepted and is now ready to come before the city council for a public hearing. But new allegations of conflicts of interest charges threaten to throw a wrench in the process. Conflict of interest alleged Conflict of interest charges made by Nevada Street residents are flying involving Public Works Director Paula Brown and Billings Ranch developer Mike Peru. Neighborhood resident and traffic calming opponent Art Bullock has circulated a letter about the dealings between Brown and Peru. The letter, in addition to information from city council candidate Russ Silbiger, allege that Brown has accepted a "gift" from Peru in the form of a fence and a retaining wall paid for by Peru. It is also alleges that Brown had the sidewalk on the side of her home at 800 Cambridge St. (a side street off Nevada) redrawn to move it into the street without public review or drawings. Oregon Statute ORS 244 120 (1) states that, "when met with an actual or potential conflict of interest, a public official shall notify in writing the person who appointed the public official to office of the nature of the conflict, and request that the appointing authority dispose of the matter giving rise to the conflict." Silbiger says including herself in the decision as to who would be involved in the LID is a conflict of interest. He noted she also had a sidewalk put in the Nevada Street stub, thus enhancing her property. Silberger believes the fence built by Peru is clearly a gift. Oregon Statute 244.040 (5) states, "no person shall offer during any calendar year any gifts with an aggregate value in excess of $100 to any public official ... if the person has legislative or administrative interest in a governmental agency ... over which the official exercises any authority." City Administrator Gino Grimaldi said the issue was fully investigated by City Attorney Mike Franell and there is no conflict. "As part of the formation of the subdivision, the planning department required that improvements be made to Nevada Street at the entrance," he said. "Paula happens to own property there and there has been construction of sidewalks and the street was extended. Our review showed that would have occurred regardless of who owned the property." An older fence there was replaced in the improvements, along with a fence at the home across the street, also owned by a city employee. As for the concern over Brown being a part of the LID and being involved in the assessments, Franell ruled there is a conflict of interest. But, Grimaldi noted, Brown handled the situation properly by making him aware of the conflict and also by delegating the setting of the assessment to Jim Olson. Tension over the issue also caused another former city staffer to remove himself, at least somewhat, from the proceedings. Knox, who recently resigned as a city planner to accept a new position with an Ashland architectural firm, sent a letter to the city saying he was not going to attend the public hearing tonight stating, "I feel like my involvement with the neighborhood LID process has created more problems than successes." He said he supports the current proposal but with many reservations. Plan for change There will be crosswalks at nearly every intersection along Nevada Street. Jim Olson, city traffic engineer, said the crosswalks will be noted by their texture as they will be embedded instead of the raised speed humps originally planned. "What you will see on Nevada is exactly what you see on Helman," Brown said at the final meeting of the residents. "You have the white stripe, the embedded concrete 2-by-2 panels and then another white stripe. We will have crosswalk signs also. The rumble strips are there to alert a driver that you are coming into a congested neighborhood." Bumpouts will also be placed along the street. Olson said these are more of a pedestrian safety measure than a traffic measure. He noted that allowing pedestrians to be slightly up and out over the street will allow them to see oncoming traffic without having to step into the street. Surprisingly difficult Nora Knox, Mark's wife, said she never thought the process would take nearly two years. "I think the people who live on Nevada Street had a different set of interests in comparison to those who do not live on Nevada Street," she said after a recent meeting. "That is why we have had this difficulty." Many of those not living directly on Nevada Street opposed any changes in the traffic flow on the street. They also opposed using bumpouts and the use of speed humps. And now those opponents are seizing on new issues that have arisen in their attempt to halt the traffic calming. One of the reasons for wanting the traffic calming is the Billings Ranch subdivision being constructed at the end of Nevada Street. Residents are concerned about the increase in traffic once the subdivision is completed. Voting on the LID Another area of contention is who will be included in the LID. Knox wants only those who live on Nevada Street proper to be included in the LID. Residents on the surrounding side streets want to be included. Then there is the question of Billings Ranch and its voting power. Peru has 69 of 125 votes in the LID decision. Those votes are for the unsold lots in the Billings Ranch subdivision. All current Nevada Street residents count for only 53 votes. The LID boundary drawn by Public Works gives no voting power to those on the side streets. Peru originally signed an agreement that said he would not oppose the rights of residents to object to the LID or seek a postponement. But new city attorney Mike Franell has interpreted the city ordinance to say that Peru now has the right to cast all of his votes (remonstrate) against an objection or postponement despite the agreement he signed. Peru's signed contract (Feb. 6), on file with the city and witnessed by notary public James H. Olson, on March 18, states , "(I) agree to participate in the LID for future sidewalk and traffic calming improvements on Nevada St.; and agree not to remonstrate to the formation of such local improvement district and agree to pay such designated improvement costs." The meeting of the city council begins at 7 p.m. It will also be televised on Cable Channel 9 in Ashland. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams