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<br />e <br /> <br />M I NUT E S <br /> <br />Eugene City Council <br />Souza Room, Community Conference Center <br /> <br />April 9, 1990 <br />5:30 p.m. <br /> <br />COUNCILORS PRESENT: <br /> <br />Mayor Jeff Miller, Emily Schue, Rob Bennett, Shawn <br />Boles, Freeman Holmer, Roger Rutan. <br /> <br />COUNCILORS ABSENT: <br /> <br />Ruth Bascom, Debra Ehrman, Bobby Green. <br /> <br />The regular meeting of April 9, 1990, of the Eugene City Council was called <br />to order by His Honor Mayor Jeff Miller. <br /> <br />I. RIVER ROAD SEWER PROJECT <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Terry Smith, Public Works Department, provided the council with an update on <br />the status of the River Road sewer project. Because this is expected to be a <br />highly controversial issue, staff recommends that the Hearings Official <br />process be skipped and that the contract come directly before the council at <br />a May 29 public hearing. Contract bids are expected to be opened the first <br />of May and following this process would allow contractors an additional 7-10 <br />days to prepare bids which would likely be reflected in bid estimates. The <br />contract should be signed by the City Manager by June 15; construction should <br />begin in late June. <br /> <br />Mr. Smith advised the council that staff is aware of some actions within the <br />community to stop this project. It is possible for citizens to submit a <br />Remonstrance Petition to the council at its public hearing stating that 50 <br />percent of the property owners in this area object to this project. This <br />petition could be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the council. Another <br />legal challenge which is being investigated involves concerns of <br />constitutional equal protection. <br /> <br />Mr. Smith reviewed the method being used by the City to assess sewer costs in <br />this area. The City plans to assess sewer costs proportional to the area of <br />the lot. This calculation method is used most commonly for sewer assessment <br />in Oregon and is the best reflection of the benefit provided to a property by <br />a sewer improvement. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Mr. Smith indicated that concerns surrounding the groundwater problem in <br />River Road has been a source of tension within our community. Since 1971, <br />numerous tests of groundwater conditions have been conducted and have proven <br />conclusively that River Road septic tanks have contributed to a significant <br />bacterial contamination problem. <br /> <br />Mr. Smith said that sewer affordability has been one heavily debated issue <br />against this project; the City has conducted an affordability analysis of <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council <br />Dinner/Work Session <br /> <br />April 9, 1990 <br /> <br />Page 1 <br />