Item 4A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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could make any use of the property that was permitted under the new zone. Ms. Hansen agreed, but noted there were some limitations on uses due to the nodal development overlay. Ms. Bettman asked for clearer copies of the trip generation chart and other agenda packet materials. She did not perceive a connection between modifying the FAR and increasing density in nodal areas. Ms. Piercy asked if Ms. Bettman wished to keep the record open. Ms. Bettman asked if the applicant would be able to provide additional testimony if clearer copies of the tables and graphs were provided to her. City Attorney Jerome Lidz replied that the materials were already in the record and providing more legible copies would not change the record. Ms. Piercy closed the record and the public hearing. 3. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Providing for an Intergovernmental Agreement to Establish a Regional Fiber Consortium for the Ownership and Operation of a Fiber Optic Sys- tem; and Repealing Ordinance No. 20181 Pam Berrian, Telecom/Cable Program Manager, introduced Milo Mecham with the Lane Council of Governments, who was available to answer questions. She reviewed the proposed ordinance, which would merge two western Oregon public fiber consortia that had been working together for several years. She explained the Fiber South Consortium, composed of Oregon city and county governments, owned an intra- Oregon fiber optic backbone. She said the Regional Fiber Consortium existed nearby and both organiza- tions were established eight years ago when two fiber backbone providers gave several miles of dark fiber to cities and counties in exchange for a 20-year waiver of rights-of-way use fees; in Eugene's case that represented 66 feet of rights-of-way. She said merging the local government consortia under one organiza- tional government body was permitted under State law ORS 190. Ms. Berrian said the fiber was lit by a private provider chosen by a competitive process and the intention of the urban/rural partnership was to deliver high speed broadband and voice services to nearby, but less urban areas that did not have affordable access to such services. She emphasized that the merger would not create new obligations for the City and the City's actions would remain voluntary; any financial obligation would apply to Eugene only if Eugene agreed to the obligation beforehand. She said the partnership would serve the public interest and reflect the reality of the administration of both networks. She said nothing in the agreement reduced or adversely impacted Eugene's financial or program authority. Ms. Piercy opened the public hearing and called for testimony. Drix , Eugene, said his background was in communication and reviewed the changes in growth in the field over the past several decades. He said the Internet represented a vast river of knowledge and wonder that represented freedom and was accessible to a majority of the population, but it was important that everyone be connected. He said fiber optics was the future and urged the council to support the ordinance. Ms. Piercy closed the hearing. MINUTES—Eugene City Council October 15, 2007 Page 7 Public Hearing