Item 6: Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Grant Application

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Information and Discussion regarding the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board grant application: Staff response to questions from Councilor Bettman Q1. I am wondering how much money was allocated to ridgeline acquisiton in the PROS bond? City staff are acquiring about 200 additional unanticipated acres at Golden Gardens, and this 50% match for land outside the UGB I am wondering the impact on the PROS funds and what portion will be used up for land outside the UGB and how much was delineated as outside the UGB in the measure? A: The 2006 Parks and Open Space Bond Measure (20-110, also attached to the email) includes funding for the purchase of land “for the preservation of natural open spaces near the Ridgeline Trail, Willamette River and Gillespie Butte". The informational tabloid (also attached to the email) that was mailed to all city residents identifies $7,750,000 for the above mentioned purpose. While there is no specific indication in the bond measure for how much of this land is to be acquired inside or outside of the urban growth boundary, most of the Ridgeline Trail and Willamette River corridors lie outside Eugene's UGB. The proposed properties provide a significant step towards realizing the long-term vision of a connected Ridgeline Trail system as set out in the PROS Project and Priority Plan, and the regional open space planning document, Rivers to Ridges. If both Forest Legacy funding and OWEB funding are approved, the City's match would be $1.1 million dollars. If OWEB funding is not approved, the City's match would be $2.2 million. Both scenarios are well within the available funding provided by the 2006 bond measure. Additionally, system development charge funds can also be directed towards these acquisitions. Q2. How will it effect the city’s ability to purchase Amazon Headwaters? A: I don't see that there is a direct effect on the acquisition of the Amazon Headwaters property. However, funds spent on the matching component of the Forest Legacy and OWEB grant applications would not be available for other projects. Staff response to question from Councilor Taylor Q1. If it affects the Amazon Headwaters acquisition, I would like to withdraw my approval. Will there be enough money left for the Headwaters? A: As mentioned previously we do not see this as having any direct impact on Beverly or Green. However, expenditure of these funds will reduce the amount of total funds we have for other future acquisition purposes. Since the amount that may be needed for Green or Beverly has yet to be determined we cannot answer the question regarding sufficiency of available funds.