02/11/16 - City Council Newsletter (2)

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This will allow time to complete the necessary predevelopment steps to ready the site for development. In addition to the land, the City will offer housing development funds, systems development charge fee waivers, and a 20-year property tax exemption for low-income rental housing. City Council will make the final decision about which developer will be awarded with the site. Construction is expected to begin in three to five years. For more information, please contact Stephanie Jennings at stephanie.a.jennings@ci.eugene.or.us or 541-682-5529. City Expands Over-the-Counter Commercial Express Permit Program In order to help local projects move forward faster and easier, the City’s Building & Permit Services is expanding its Commercial Express Permit Program (CEP), starting this month. The express permit program provides over-the-counter, same-day permitting for certain commercial projects. Using a collaborative review process, customers can bring in a project application, work with plan reviewers at the Permit and Information Center, make any necessary changes to plans in real time to make sure designs fulfill code requirements, and leave with permits the same day. In addition to tenant infill and tenant alterations, infills and alterations up to 10,000 square feet, additions up to 1,000 square feet, and qualifying medical and dental in-fills will now be eligible for express-permitting. Commercial Express Permit plan review is available every Monday and Wednesday, between 9 a.m. and noon, at the Permit and Information Center, 99 West 10 Avenue. For more information on the program and the types of projects that qualify, visit th http://eugene-or.gov/863/Commercial-Express-Permits or call 541-682-5613. Ebuild Featured on “Working City” Metro TV’s Working City program recently began airing a segment on Eugene’s new eBuild program on Comcast Channel 21. The video is also available on the City of Eugene’s YouTube channel. The video highlights the new online building plan review and permitting program that was launched in 2015. Using eBuild, customers can now submit plans electronically 24/7 to be reviewed and approved online for permits. In addition to saving paper, the new online system saves customers’ time and money with fewer trips to the Permit and Information Center, reduced printing costs, and increased efficiency. The use of the online technology aligns with Eugene’s on-going efforts to support local businesses by providing easy, streamlined access to City services. Providing quicker and easier access to building services also promotes the safety, livability, and economic vitality of the community. In January, the eBuild program and the team of City employees who designed, built, and implemented it were recognized by Mayor Kitty Piercy at the annual State of the City Address. For more information on eBuild contact Debbie Wells at debbie.l.wells@ci.eugene.or.us or 541-682-6828. Geology and Mineral Industries Study Will Benefit Eugene and Springfield The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) will begin work on a study of landslide susceptibility and risk analysis for the Eugene/Springfield metro area. Funded with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant dollars, this project will include updating outdated landslide risk maps using Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology - which uses lasers and advanced imaging to dramatically improve the understanding of landslide risk in the area. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017. This project is important because it will allow property owners and City staff to better understand the potential scale and risk of future landslides and will inform a wide variety of planning and hazard mitigation efforts. Eugene staff will work with Springfield, Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) and other local partners to assist DOGAMI with this study. Since 2005, the cities of Eugene and Springfield have maintained a Eugene-Springfield Multi- Jurisdictional Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan that evaluates local risks and prioritizes actions to reduce damage from a host of natural hazards, including landslides. Updating local landslide risk maps is one of the priority actions within the Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan. For more information, please contact Matt McRae, Central Services Department, Emergency Management Program, at 541-682-5649. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 February 11, 2016