06/11/1984 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

e e -- Mr. Gleason pointed out that having a large population outside the city boun- daries is a cost to the City. The proposal is in everyone's best interest. Ms. Mulder asked for an explanation of an "augmented volunteer Fire Department," what would happen to the fire districts and will they maintain the volunteer fire districts, hence have differential tax rates within Santa Clara. Mr. Farah said "augmented" means what the Fire Chief feels is required for staffing along with the volunteer fire department, which would act as a second-call part of the department. Mr. Carlson said that, under State statute, there is automatic withdrawal from fire districts upon annexation. Because there is a 10-percent segment outside the proposed annexation in Santa Clara, the Santa Clara Fire Department is researching possibilities of a merger of that 10 percent with another fire district. The two water districts would be dissolved also. Mr. Carl son sai d "augmented" al so meant the Fi re Department woul d add staff to the aerial apparatus that will be put in at Goodpasture Island that would serve the River Road area, as well as put a rapid attack vehicle in the Santa Clara area to add to the vol unteer effort. Mr. Carlson, in answer to Ms. Smith, said there is a larger increase in taxes in Santa Clara even though the Santa Clara tax rate is lower than River Road. Mr. Hansen wanted to know the benefits for the City of the annexation. Mr. Farah cited the cost to the City of having unincorporated areas outside the city, the city's need to grow (Metropolitan Area General Plan) with 29 percent of Eugene's developable residential land in the proposed area, and the effi- ciency of services. Ms. Wooten asked if a feasibility study was being done for incorporation of the area. Mr. Farah said there was. It will be occurring simultaneously with the annexation proposal. The proposal will go before the Boundary Commission in the fall. Mr. Sercombe added that the annexation proposal could be voted on next March (1985). Mr. Carlson said the population in 1980 was 10,000 in River Road and 13,600 in Santa Clara. Mr. Farah explained why the members of the petition drive were asking the Eugene City Council to say that it is a reasonable proposal from the City's point of view. He said the petitioners are not required to take this step. Mr. Obie said if the annexation were successful, it would mean a city of 127,000 population. What would that do to the ranking of the City? Would new dollars come to the City that are not coming now. Staff said taxes on liquor, cigarettes, and gas would come in. There would be added dollars coming into the community. On the Federal level, the City would be competing for grants with larger cities. Mr. Carlson said that the figures are calculated in the revenue estimates. Mr. Gleason cited congressional delegations, effects on the State legislature, and said it was hard to calculate the benefits of a larger city. Ms. Wooten said she could acknowledge the figure/numbers. What happens to the people of River Road and Santa Clara in terms of their annexation she could not determine nor could she determine what the citizens of Eugene wished to do in this case. She called for a public hearing on the issue. MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 11, 1984 Page 2