Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Ms. Bettman, seconded by Ms. Ortiz, moved to take from the table the prior resolution. <br /> <br />Responding to a request from Ms. Solomon for an explanation of the resolution, City Manager Dennis <br />Taylor recalled the resolution was to preclude annexation of street right-of-way if it created an island. City <br />Attorney Glenn Klein further recalled that the council directed staff to halt the practice of seeking additional <br />right-of-way if it created an island; he had recommended the council also amend the resolution regarding <br />annexation guidelines so it was consistent with the direction already given to staff. The motion would put <br />the amendment to the resolution consistent with the council’s direction back on the table. <br /> <br />The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy declared the resolution back on the table. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman, seconded by Ms. Ortiz, moved to amend Section 1 of Resolution 4903 by (a) <br />adding the words “revising and” before the words “adding language”; and (b) replacing the <br />word ‘should” with the word “may.” The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. <br /> <br />The main motion passed unanimously, 8:0. <br /> <br />Speaking to the policy issue, Ms. Bettman was not willing to support a policy that allowed the City to <br />pursue island annexations, particularly if they included property that was being involuntarily annexed. With <br />regard to the boundaries, she suggested that another way to create islands was to utilize streets and <br />waterways as boundaries. She agreed with the Metro Plan policy that the City was the logical provider of <br />service and eventually all property inside the UGB would be annexed and served in a cost-effective way. <br />However, she thought that should be a negotiated process, making progress toward that goal. She thought <br />the City had overreached by being so aggressive, alienating the residents in that area. She suggested the <br />City proceed with the tools it had at hand. <br /> <br />Mr. Clark concurred with the remarks of Ms. Bettman, and requested staff comment about the value of the <br />policy to the City. Mr. Yeiter indicated the City had not used island annexations for about 15 years. The <br />last time island annexations were employed was in the Bethel area. He suggested that island annexations <br />had value in that they give the City a tool to force annexation after negotiation had failed. Mr. Clark asked <br />why the City would want to force annexation on an unwilling resident. City Manager Taylor suggested <br />reasons such as rational service provision, emergency response, and tax equity and fairness concerns. He <br />said the State legislation created a context for each governing body to use in its approach to annexation. In <br />other communities where he had worked, such annexations were a normal feature of annexation law, <br />although frequently contested. City Manager Taylor said there were many parcels throughout the city, not <br />just in the River Road/Santa Clara area, that were not annexed but were wholly surrounded by property <br />inside the city limits. Eugene had decided not to force annexation on those properties. In other jurisdictions, <br />residents decided annually whether to annex wholly surrounded islands once yearly as a rational way to <br />provide for tax equity and service provision. He recommended the council preserve the tool as an option. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy said the elimination of the boundary commission would change annexation in the future. She <br />suggested that the City could retain the tool with council oversight. She asked what must be put in place to <br />retain the tool while making it clear that the council was consulted. Mr. Yeiter said no changes would be <br />required as the law left that decision up to the governing body. The council would have to initiate the <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 11, 2007 Page 2 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br />