Laserfiche WebLink
ORDINANCE NO. 20476 <br />A SPECIAL ORDINANCE GRANTING AN EXEMPTION TO THE APPLICATION <br />OF SECTION 6.200 OF THE EUGENE CODE, 1971. <br />The City Council of the City of Eugene finds as follows: <br />A. Section 5.200 of the Eugene Code, 1971, (EC), proscribes the practice of open <br />burning within the City of Eugene with specified exceptions to this ban. This ordinance is a <br />component of local measures designed to assure compliance with federal ambient air quality <br />standards. <br />B. Maintenance and enhancement of air quality is critical to the health and welfare of <br />metropolitan area residents, the area's ability to attract new businesses, and the avoidance of <br />sanctions for noncompliance. <br />C. The Eugene - Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (the Metro Plan) adopted <br />and acknowledged in 1982, identifies the Vilest Eugene Industrial Area as a major growth area for <br />the City. <br />D. The Vilest Eugene wetlands Plan (the Plan) was adopted by the City Council on May <br />20, 1992, by Ordinance No. 19853 as a refinement to the Metro Plan. The Plan was amended by <br />the City Council by Ordinance Nos. 19867, 20002, 20119, 20128, 20147, 20171, 20200, 20201, <br />20208, and 20259 during the years 1992 to 2002. The Plan sets forth policies for preserving <br />significant wetlands in west Eugene, allowing development of lower quality wetlands, and <br />establishing a system for mitigation of filled wetlands. The Plan also includes goals and policies for <br />protecting and expanding populations and habitats of rare, threatened or endangered plants, <br />including Bradshaw's Iomatium (Lomatium bradshawil ), Willamette Valley daisy (Erigeron <br />decumbens var. decumbens), and white -top aster (aster curlus), and policies for protecting and <br />managing the native Willamette Valley wet prairie plant community. In addition, the Plan contains <br />policies for managing the preserved wetlands in public ownership. <br />E. Experimental burns conducted in 1985, 1987, and 1991 in the Willow Creek natural <br />area within wetland habitat containing the above - mentioned plant species have resulted in. <br />expansion of populations of those plants in the areas burned. Controlled burns in 1995, 1997,1998, <br />1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 on several sites have also <br />been beneficial for managing wetland habitat and maintaining and improvng wet prairie habitat. <br />F. Management of these wetlands and preservation of native plant species and native <br />plant communities requires controlled open burning of vegetation for scientific purposes and to <br />foster growth of wetlands species in the areas noted on the map attached as Exhibit A hereto and <br />incorporated herein by reference. This burning of vegetation in these areas will help restore them to <br />their historical condition and replicate the indigenous environment for the plants. <br />G. Some wetland sites owned by the City, Bureau of Land Management, and The <br />Nature Conservancy that are currently outside of the Eugene City limits and/or the urban growth <br />boundary also need controlled open burning for the purpose of managing wet prairie habitat and <br />Ordinance - Page 1 of 4 <br />