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54 °F 5 Day Forecast Friday, November 28, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend October 9, 2003 Pete Belcastro, left, the moderator at RVTV broadcast studios, discusses the charter amendment with opponent John Eads, center, and supporter John Pearson on Wednesday night. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Road-law debate hits airwaves By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A proposed law change would give Medford citizens a voice in road planning, but it’s a responsibility some say they wouldn’t relish. Lawsuits, attorney fees and backed-up court schedules were on the minds of some callers participating Wednesday evening in a televised debate over changing Medford’s City Charter. Set for the Nov. 4 ballot, the amendment would put to a vote any changes to road contracts between the city and Oregon Department of Transportation. Broadcast live on Rogue Valley Community Television, an Ashland-based public access network, the debate provided citizens a chance to pose questions to initiative proponent John Pearson and opponent John Eads. Representing a group of citizens — the Eastside Neighborhood Association — Pearson said he believes ODOT is basing construction projects on flawed research while the City Council steamrolls citizens in an attempt to placate the state agency. Advertisement "Instead of hiding behind ODOT, the City Council will have to take responsibility for their handiwork and get the approval of voters," Pearson said. "It’s about our money, our streets and our quality of life." A hearings officer and consultant for local governments, Eads urged voters to defeat the charter amendment — which he said is ambiguous, forcing courts to interpret it and requiring a citizen vote on technicalities. Votes would apply not only to upcoming projects, but also those set in motion since April 12, 2002, he said. "Reading (the amendment), it sounds like we’d constantly be going to court," said one female caller, adding that state courts already are congested. The vast majority of city transportation contracts signed between 2000 and 2002 would not go to a vote under the new law, Pearson responded. Eads countered that Pearson was basing his assessment on his personal interpretation of the charter, not a judge’s. "Dr. Pearson can’t tell you what this agreement means, and nobody else can," Eads said. Another caller wondered who would pay for future lawsuits spawned from the charter amendment. Pearson responded that citizens would petition the state attorney general’s office for a ruling through their local legislator, costing citizens and the city nothing. Eads said that disagreements would certainly be settled in court, requiring legal fees on both sides. Thousands of dollars also would be spent on voting, both men said, although they disagreed on the exact amount. Pearson placed the cost at several thousand while Eads figured between $15,000 and $35,000 would be required for each voting session. Pearson weighed the cost of voting against $15 million the City Council approved for the south interchange project. The configuration of Medford’s Barnett Road and the proposed alternative continued to raise callers’ ire Wednesday. Stating that Barnett was a mess, one man asked Pearson for a solution. Advocating a new interchange at South Stage Road, Pearson proposed more traffic studies but questioned whether such statistics would yield a solution because ODOT’s process is so flawed. Earlier in the show, Pearson had said ODOT’s project studies misrepresented traffic and timelines, but he provided no further explanation. An impassioned eastside resident spoke out against a freeway artery through Highland Drive, asking Eads how he would feel if traffic of that magnitude was directed through his neighborhood. Proclaiming himself an eastside resident for 50 years, now living on Windsor, Eads urged voters to give up their nostalgia. "We’ve got to deal with real and pressing problems." Two more debates of the charter amendment are scheduled this month. The Rogue Valley Country Club will host the first on Oct. 20 at noon. Members of the Medford Rotary Club will hold a second debate at noon on Oct. 28. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] . 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