TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 41, A

003

Vice-Chair Burley

Calls the meeting to order at 2:02 p.m. Introduces himself.

015

Rep. Beyer

(via-teleconference) Introduces herself.

022

Vice-Chair Burley

Introduces local officials present from the Bend area.

033

Rep. Thatcher

(via-teleconference) Introduces herself.

045

Vice-Chair Burley

Explains the meeting agenda.

060

Rep. Boone

Introduces herself.

063

Sen. Ben Westlund

Senate District 27. Introduces himself.

065

Rep. Hunt

(via-teleconference) Introduces himself.

CENTRAL OREGON AREA COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION (COACT) – INFORMATIONAL MEETING

071

Dennis Luke

Deschutes County Commissioner. Introduces himself.

073

Scott Cooper

Crook County Judge. Introduces COACT members present.

075

Luke

Describes COACT. Submits and summarizes prepared information “COACT Needs List – STATE HIGHWAY OPERATIONS” (EXHIBIT A).

105

Cooper

Further describes the operations of COACT.

120

Sen. Westlund

Commends the work of COACT.

MILLICAN/WEST BUTTE ROAD PROJECT UPDATE – INFORMATIONAL MEETING

140

Cooper

Submits and summarizes prepared testimony explaining the Millican/West Butte Road project (EXHIBIT B).

180

Cooper

Offers a history of transportation issues and Millican/West Butte Road (EXHIBIT B, Pages 1-3).

270

Cooper

Explains the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) requirements for Millican/West Butte Road (EXHIBIT B, Page 4).

340

Cooper

Explains the opening of the road and the completion of the project (EXHIBIT B, Page 5).

386

Sen. Westlund

Commends the work on the Millican/West Butte Road project.

397

Luke

Notes that Oregon’s environmental standards are higher than the federal Department of Transportation standards and wonders if it could be addressed in the legislative interim.

418

Cooper

Stresses that ODOT is working under the mandate it received from the legislature.

430

Vice-Chair Burley

Describes the environmental mitigation of a project near Elgin that added significant cost to the project.

455

Cooper

Explains the work done on the project and the cost saving in constructing tunnels under the road for wildlife.

TAPE 42, A

015

Luke

Comments on the school speed zone issue. Notes that he is a former legislator and that he served on the committee in 1997 that set the language “when children are present.” Notes that children can be around schools during non-school hours. Stresses the importance of the definition of “when children are present.”

026

Vice-Chair Burley

Closes the informational meeting on the Millican/West Butte Road Project Update. Opens a public hearing on HB 2365, HB 2481, HB 2827 and HB 2840.

HB 2365, HB 2481, HB 2827 & HB 2840 – PUBLIC HEARING

030

John Houser

Committee Administrator. Introduces HB 2365, HB 2481, HB 2827 and HB 2840. Explains the HB 2840-1 amendments (EXHIBIT C).

040

Rep. Beyer

Explains the work done by the group work on the school speed zone issue.

084

Sen. Westlund

Asks for a clarification of times being considered for the school speed zone to be in effect.

087

Vice-Chair Burley

Clarifies school zones that are adjacent to schools and may be several blocks long. Notes that the timeframe being considered is 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days unless flashing lights were in effect. Explains that the speed in non-adjacent school zones would be in effect “when children are present” or when lights are flashing.

100

Deborah Hogan

Safe Communities Coordinator, City of Bend. Submits and reads prepared testimony regarding HB 2365, HB 2481, HB 2827 and HB 2840 (EXHIBIT D).

188

Sen. Westlund

Discusses school zones in the Bend area. States support for the timeframe of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

210

Christy Monson

League of Oregon Cities (LOC). States that LOC has participated in the school speed zone work group, but has not formed a position on school speed zones. Highlights three provisions that should be included in potential legislation: 1. Flashing lights would trump all  2. If changing signs is necessary, six months should be allowed to make the changes  3. Funding for sign changes

212

Alan Unger

Mayor, City of Redmond. Argues for state standards with local flexibility. Stresses the need for funding for cities to comply with standards.

268

Andy Jordan

Chief of Police, City of Bend. Testifies in support of HB 2365, HB 2481, HB 2827 and HB 2840. Argues for a statewide standard for school speed zones. Highlights the importance of protecting children. Explains that people believe that the police make the rules and “take the heat” when standards are different.

345

Rep. Beyer

Explains the confusing nature of changing the rules and the intent is for a uniform standard that everyone can live with.

365

Gary Judd

Traffic Engineer, Deschutes County. Submits and summarizes prepared testimony regarding HB 2365, HB 2481, HB 2827 and HB 2840 (EXHIBIT E).

TAPE 41, B

016

Sen. Westlund

Thanks Mr. Judd for his testimony clarifying the issue.

022

Randy Wooley

Traffic Engineer, City of Beaverton. Testifies in support of HB 2365, HB 2481, HB 2827 and HB 2840. Notes that he served on the Oregon Traffic Control Devices Committee and the school speed zone work group. Notes support for HB 2365. Explains that “when children are present” is a good standard if properly defined. Asks for a six-month implementation period.

085

Scott Bricker

Bicycle Transportation Alliance & Willamette Pedestrian Coalition. Submits and summarizes prepared testimony regarding HB 2365, HB 2481, HB 2827 and HB 2840 (EXHIBIT F).

147

Jon Oshel

County Road Program Manager, Association of Oregon Counties (AOC). Testifies that AOC does not take a position on the school speed zone issue, but wants to find a consistent solution. Describes the difficulty in defining “when children are present”. Notes the correction of amendment language. States the importance of uniform statewide standards with local flexibility.

The following material is submitted for the record without public testimony:

Kelly Scannell Brooks

City of Eugene. Submits prepared testimony regarding HB 2365, HB 2481, HB 2827 and HB 2840 (EXHIBIT G).

220

Vice-Chair Burley

Closes the public hearing on HB 2365, HB 2481, HB 2827 and HB 2840. Opens a public hearing on HB 2655.

HB 2655 – PUBLIC HEARING

231

John Houser

Committee Administrator. Introduces HB 2655.

260

Mary Ellen Holly

Keep Oregon Green Association, Inc. Submits and reads prepared testimony in support of HB 2655 (EXHIBIT H).

319

Charlie Stone

Protection Projects Director, Oregon Department of Forestry. Submits and summarizes prepared testimony in support of HB 2655 (EXHIBIT I). Describes the -1 amendments (EXHIBIT J).

419

Bill Greely

Chair, Keep Oregon Green Association, Inc. Testifies in support of HB 2655. Explains the efforts and approaches for informing the public about preventing wildfires. Argues that Smokey Bear license plates are a non-traditional communication tool to help educate the public about wildfire prevention.

TAPE 42, B

008

Rep. Boone

Asks how much the license plates cost.

010

Holly

Explains the costs associated with the license plates and notes that Keep Oregon Green, Inc. would receive approximately $28 per plate.

014

Sen. Westlund

Asks how much it costs to implement the program.

016

Holly

Answers that she has not received a fiscal impact statement. Notes that Keep Oregon Green, Inc. must pay $10,000 initially and sell 1000 plates per year to make the program work.

020

Sen. Westlund

Explains that similar license plate programs cost approximately $80,000 and how the project could be financed.

035

Mike Dykzeul

Director of Forest Protection, Oregon Forest Industries Council. Submits and summarizes prepared testimony in support of HB 2655 (EXHIBIT K).

080

Larry Giustina

Giustina Land & Timber Co. Submits and summarizes prepared testimony in support of HB 2655 (EXHIBIT L).

115

Earl Cordes

Fire Chief, Jefferson County Fire District #1, Madras. Submits and reads prepared testimony in support of HB 2655 (EXHIBIT M).

155

Gary Marshall

Deputy Fire Chief and Fire Marshal, City of Bend. Testifies in support of HB 2655. Explains the devastation resulting from wildfire. Describes the FireFree program.

209

Rep. Boone

Notes that she is a volunteer fire fighter. Reiterates that prevention is the best way to prevent wildfires.

226

George Chesley

Natural resource management professional. Submits and summarizes prepared testimony in support of HB 2655 (EXHIBIT N). Notes the rapid population growth in Bend and how to educate people about the message of fire prevention.

247

Nancy Porter

Natural resource management professional. Explains that fire prevention works and notes that it is the responsibility of various sectors of society to prevent wildfires.

The following material is submitted for the record without public testimony:

Robin Freeman

Oregon Department of Transportation. Submits prepared testimony regarding HB 2655 (EXHIBIT S).

261

Vice-Chair Burley

Closes the public hearing on HB 2655. Opens a public hearing on HB 2742.

HB 2742 – PUBLIC HEARING

275

John Houser

Committee Administrator. Introduces HB 2742.

287

Bill Friedman

Mayor, City of Bend. Highlights his involvement in transportation issues. Testifies in support of HB 2742. Explains that the intersection of roads and school driveways is an important issue in addition to sidewalks. Notes that funding is centrally controlled and suggests that alternatives be examined where funding is done more locally.

380

Scott Bricker

Bicycle Transportation Alliance & Willamette Pedestrian Coalition. Submits and summarizes prepared testimony in support of HB 2742 (EXHIBIT O).

TAPE 43, A

025

Brenda Johnson

Chair, Healthy Active Central Oregon Task Force. Submits and summarizes prepared testimony in support of HB 2742 (EXHIBIT P).

065

Jeff Monson

Executive Director, Commute Options for Central Oregon. Testifies in support of HB 2742. Describes the efforts for promoting modes of transportation such as bicycling, walking and carpooling.

093

Cheryl Howard

Event Coordinator, Central Oregon Safe Kids. Submits and summarizes prepared testimony in support of HB 2742 (EXHIBIT Q).

126

Sen. Westlund

Asks how much was spent by the federal government on the transportation project in Salt Lake City.

131

Bricker

Answers that he does not know. Describes the work done on various transportation projects and states that he will get the project information for the committee.

140

Sen. Westlund

Commends the planning of the Salt Lake City project.

144

Bricker

Responds that the safe routes to schools is a growing need in communities and expresses the hope that funding will go beyond the federal government.

150

Vice-Chair Burley

Suggests expanding language in the bill to include special districts.

158

Bricker

Explains that language in the 2001 proposed legislation includes park districts.

180

Dr. David Coutin

Central Oregon Trustee, Oregon Medical Association. Submits and reads prepared testimony on behalf of Dr. James K. Lace (EXHIBIT R).

222

Deborah Hogan

Safe Communities Coordinator, City of Bend. Explains the commitment of the city of Bend in developing five safe route to schools plans without funding and developing a template for schools that do not have a plan. Emphasizes the safe communities program administered under the Oregon Department of Transportation and explains the funding.

245

Mike Lovely

President, Southwest Bend Neighborhood Association. Testifies in support of HB 2742. Discusses funding for safe routes to schools. Proposes solar powered lights and motion sensor lights for safety.

277

Jim Roderick

Transportation Supervisor, Bend/LaPine School District. Explains the new school routes projects cited by Mr. Lovely. Stresses the importance of improving bus access and fuel efficiency.

308

Alan Unger

Mayor, City of Redmond. Testifies in support of HB 2742. Notes the support of the Central Oregon Cities Organization. Proposes collaboration between various districts and coordination with federal, state and local funding.

The following material is submitted for the record without public testimony:

Troy Costales

Transportation Safety Division Manager, Oregon Department of Transportation. Submits prepared testimony regarding HB 2742 (EXHIBIT T).

330

Vice-Chair Burley

Closes the public hearing on HB 2742. Adjourns the meeting at 4:19 p.m.