09/24/1973 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilman Murray asked the kinds of street improvement which would be necessary if the area is annexed, whether park areas were planned, and whether there would be any e new assessment for fire protection. Planning Director said improvement of major arterials in the area are of interest, residential streets probably would wait until petitioned by property owners except perhaps in those areas where sidewalks are needed to service schools, for public safety, etc. Public Works Director identified the major arterials as Cal Young and Willagillespie Road. He reminded the Council that sewer installation would result in streets' 'being torn up. The City does maintain the streets as near as possible to the condition they were in when annexed until petitioned for improvement. The Council does have the right to order improvement without 50% petition from owners of abutting properties. He referred to the Bethell Danebo and Willakenzie annexations as examples of the City's not immediately blanket- ing an area with street improvement upon annexation. Planning Director said there are locations where neighborhood parks could be used; working in conjunction with the School District would be desirable in that regard. He said the Fire Department now services the area under contractual arrangement. Better service would be anticipated uponconstructidn of additional facility to the north proposed under revenue sharing' funds. In answer to Mr. 'Beal, he s'aid that fire 'insurance premiums would be less for citizens of that cirea if annexed to the City. Councilman McDonald commented on the protests usually registered by newly- annexed citizens and on the cost of annexation of any new area to the City because of sewer construction and street improvement. e Public hearing was opened. Ken TolJ,.enaar, 822 Russet Drive, speaking for the Willagillespie PTA, was neutral on the issue of annexation. However, he called attention to the need'for sidewalks to serve the Willagillespie School and plans developed by Lane County staff whereby the area eventually would be 'served with sidewalks. The policy to be recommended by the County staff would make individual property owners responsible for installing sidewalks. The policy also would set certain priorities along arterials where schools would be served and recommend financing of temporary sidewalks' in thos'e areas by Lane County. The PTA is concerned about annexation because of the about-to-be-proposed policy on sidewalks and requested the Council, if the Willagillespie area is annexed, to request Lane-County Commissioners to "hold harrriless" any area t-lhich may be annexed with regard to possible construction of 'temporary sidewalks; i.e~,' if the policy is adopted and if the area is-annexed that the County give assurance the annexed 'area would be treated on the same basis as areas remaining'in the County. In answer to Mrs. Beal, Mr. Tollenaar said his understanding was that temporary facilities would be financed from the County's general road fund on the basis that eventually perma- nent f~cilities would be installed and that permanent walks would be the financial responsibility of owners of abutting properties. . Speaking in favor of the annexation were Bruce Smith, 1685 Sherwood Place Phil Browning, 820 Willagillespie Road' David Hoffman, 1626 Sherwood Place Jim Ho'sey', 256'0~ Inavale Mark Westling, 764 Russet Drive I ' Bill Irsfeld, 1667 Sherwood Place John Stoner, 1498 Corum Their primary concern was the existing health'hazard evidenced by effluence and waste materials carried in the open ditches draining the area. Mr. Smith felt the health menace from the failing septic tanks should be the primary consideration, overriding the issue of sidewalks and increased taxes argued by those opposing the move. He didn't feel annexation would create a block of "no" votes on City issues. He read a letter from Joe Dose, 1649 Sherwood Place, district manager of Bureau of Land Management, in favor of annexation. Mr. Browning maintained the annexation was a sanitation issue, not a political one. Mr. Hoffman cited the fail- ing sewage disposal' system at the Willagillespie School as a' menace as well as other failing systems. He urged approval of the annexation as the best solution in order to take advantage of existing sewers available to the area. Mr. Hosey referred to recent annexations resulting in encirclement of this area by the City thus enabling annexation when sewers were available. e Mr. Westling said the people petitioning the annexation could have gone to the State Board of Health under the "health hazard" law, but felt that coming to the City for action was more appropriate both in terms of giving the responsibility and opportunity to the Council and to more rapidly accomplish a solution to the problem. He asked the Council to at least consider annexation of the original area petitioned if for any reason it decides against borrowing some of the problems of the entire area. Mr. Irsfeld urged annexation of the total area. He felt annexing only a portion would not solve the drainage problem of the overall area. Mr. Stoner, director of 291 9/24/73 - 3