CC Minutes - 10/15/07 Public Hearing

Home Browse Search

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. Ms. Bettman noted that the consortium membership was geographically determined, which meant Eugene was not represented based on its population. She was concerned that the decision-making process of regional bodies gave smaller cities the same voting power as Eugene. She said the proposed agreement indicated financial resources would be the responsibility of the governing body and Eugene would be participating in a process where it was not proportionately represented. She felt Eugene was often considered the "deep pockets" in those situations and she was reluctant to be involved in a regional decision- making body with budgeting authority without the weight of the City's population behind it. She asked how the agreement would assure that Eugene taxpayers did not bear a disportionate burden. Ms. Berrian said the agreement insured that no financial obligation would be undertaken without the council's specific authoriza- tion. Ms. Bettman asked if any consortium financial obligation would come before the council. Ms. Berrian said any obligation that affected Eugene would come to the council. She reviewed the relevant provisions of the bylaws. MINUTES—Eugene City Council October 15, 2007 Page 7 Public Hearing