CC Minutes - 08/14/06 Work Session

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C. WORK SESSION: Region 2050 City Manager Taylor introduced Principal Planner Kurt Yeiter to present an overview of Region 2050. He noted that Mr. Kelly was the council’s representative on the Region 2050 Policy Board and had participated extensively in the regional planning process. Mr. Yeiter stated that the Region 2050 effort was a collaborative regional planning process that began in 1999. He said the process was originally within the Regional Problem Solving (RPS) framework but the withdrawal of Springfield and Cottage Grove necessitated retooling the process to conform to existing statutes. He said the question before the council was whether to endorse the Region 2050 Strategy when endorsing meant the City agreed to use the goals and objectives and regional growth concept, including the coordinated population allocations, as a tool to guide growth and development. He said endorsement also implied the City would implement those actions that the City Council determined to be appropriate to the needs and desires of the community. Mr. Yeiter noted that endorsing the strategy did not automatically initiate Metro Plan amendments or changes in the code; however, if the strategy was endorsed, amendments would be contemplated as an addition to the planning work program. He said an immediate effect of endorsement was the implication that the City would accept population forecasts that were quite different from historic trends and the State’s forecast. He said Eugene’s population in 2050 was forecast to be about 50,000 fewer people than was projected by the State, and the strategy spread those people to the smaller communities and rural areas. He saw the Region 2050 Strategy as a beginning to be fleshed out over time. He said staff recommended endorsing the strategy, although the council also had the option of endorsing the strategy with changes or conditions or declining to endorse the strategy. Mr. Kelly strongly encouraged the council’s endorsement of the strategy, which was a great example of regional cooperation and recognition that what one community does affected other communities throughout the region. He said the strategy provided high level direction; it was not a land use action. He said the strategy represented more than six years of staff and elected official collaboration and detailed examination of data. He felt it could give a level of clarity to governments, the public, property owners and service providers such as utility companies and school districts. Mr. Kelly emphasized that endorsement was an agreement by the City to use the goals and objectives and Regional Growth Concept, including coordinated population allocations, as a tool to guide growth and development and nothing was binding until it became a Metro Plan amendment or similar action. He also stressed that the City had discretion to implement those actions deemed appropriate to the community. He said that although Springfield and Cottage Grove withdrew in early 2006, they participated throughout the process and their input was strongly represented in the final document, with their population allocations being based on historic trends. Ms. Taylor asked what the City would be prevented from doing if the strategy was not endorsed. Mr. Kelly said that if constituent jurisdictions did not endorse the strategy it would not be endorsed by the Policy Board and would become a research artifact; no action would be taken to move the City toward its goals and objectives. Mr. Yeiter added that the biggest risk if Eugene did not endorse the strategy was to the other communities. He said several of the small communities were relying on the Region 2050 process to give them their first comprehensive plans. He said many of those communities were hoping for higher growth, in part to secure funding for sewer treatment plants and other facilities. He said if all jurisdictions did not MINUTES—Eugene City Council August 14, 2006 Page 5 Work Session