Item 3: Coordinate Population Metropolitan Plan Amendment

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Action: An Ordinance Amending Chapter 1, Introduction and Purpose Section of the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan by Adding Separate Population Forecasts for the Cities of Springfield and Eugene for the Period 2010-2030 and Including the Years 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034 and 2035; Adopting a Severability Clause; and Providing an Effective Date (Eugene City File MA 09-6) Meeting Date: October 12, 2009 Agenda Item Number: 3 Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Jason Dedrick www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541/682-5451 ISSUE STATEMENT The City Council is scheduled to take action on a proposal from the City of Springfield to amend the text of the Metro Plan. This amendment would update population forecasts for the 2010-2035, period for the cities of Eugene and Springfield, replacing the existing forecast that extends to the year 2015. BACKGROUND On September 22, 2009, the Eugene and Springfield City Councils and the Lane County Board of Commissioners held a joint public hearing to amend the Metro Plan to update population forecasts for the 2010-2035 period, and replace the current population forecast that extends to 2015. There was no public testimony received at the public hearing. Following closure of the public hearing, the Eugene City Council, the Springfield City Council and the Lane County Board of Commissioners voted to leave the record open until September 30, 2009 in order to receive additional testimony. No testimony was received during this period. State law gives the County (not the cities) the responsibility of determining the population forecast for all of its cities. Once the County has adopted its countywide forecast, the cities must adopt consistent comprehensive plan amendments for land use planning purposes, such as the city’s work under House Bill 3337. Only when a county fails to adopt a countywide forecast can a city adopt its own (safe harbor) forecast. Initially, it appeared that Lane County would not be adopting a countywide forecast within the needed timeframe to be used for the purposes of the Eugene Comprehensive Lands Assessment (ECLA), so the City began the process of adopting a safe harbor forecast. On June 17, 2009, Lane County adopted the countywide coordinated population forecast into its Rural Comprehensive Plan. Now that the County has adopted a countywide forecast, safe harbor is no longer an option, and we are required to proceed with the adoption of the County forecast. Lane County Adoption Process Although state statutes require the cities to hold a public hearing before adopting the population forecast, the most meaningful opportunity for community input was during the earlier County process. The County contracted with Portland State University (PSU) to develop the population forecast. The County’s process included a great deal of public outreach and was not appealed. The City participated in this