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Mr. Poling asked if one appraiser was doing both appraisals. Mr. Klein said that a firm was involved; the <br />principle appraiser was doing both appraisals with assistance from other members of his firm. <br /> <br />Mr. Clark recalled he had also asked staff about the property owners’ investment in attempting to comply <br />with the City’s land use laws. He asked if that information could be provided by the time the council <br />received the appraisal. Mr. Corey said that it was difficult to answer the question. He said the City could <br />provide information about the cost of going through City processes, but he could not provide information <br />about the private costs the property owners incurred. Mr. Clark asked if the City could ask the property <br />owners the information and if there was a reason not to. Mr. Corey thought the City could ask for the <br />information of interest to Mr. Clark but he doubted the property owners would provide it. Mr. Clark asked <br />about the numbers mentioned at the public hearing. Mr. Corey said the City had no way of confirming the <br />accuracy of the information. <br /> <br />Mr. Clark asked if Lidar was an established science for establishing where to build houses. Mr. Klein said <br />the geotechnical engineering analysis was established and the commission found it lacking in information. <br />Having geotechnical information was a requirement of the code for such an application. He did not know <br />about Lidar and said he could ask the City’s geotechnical expert the question. He said the expert must be <br />prepared to get on the witness stand and testify as to his professional opinion, taking into account the <br />information about Lidar. <br /> <br />Mr. Clark said that the neighborhood group suggested that Lidar was a more advanced way to understand <br />the geology of the area, and if that was the case, it seemed like a good idea. However, he wanted to know <br />more about the science involved. Mr. Klein repeated that the City was relying on the experts it had retained. <br />Mr. Clark asked if the City’s experts recommended such research. Mr. Klein did not know. He said that <br />staff could provide that information to the council. <br /> <br />Mr. Clark said if what the City was being told was true about the instability of the soils, he was concerned <br />about what other undeveloped residential lands in the south hills might exist with unsafe slopes. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy said if the council was to separate the two issues, she questioned the best time to do that. Mr. <br />Klein said it would be useful to have that direction prior to December 10. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman suggested the council make the decision about separating the items at the executive session that <br />would occur before December 10. <br /> <br /> <br />C. WORK SESSION: MULTI-UNIT PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION <br /> <br /> <br />The council was joined for the item by Urban Services Manager Richie Weinman. Mr. Weinman provided <br />the staff report, reporting that the program was established to encourage housing in the core area and was <br />enabled by State statute. It impacted feasibility, location, and quality by providing incentives for financing, <br />setting a boundary for eligibility, and by requiring applicants to address quality standards. Sixteen <br />applications had been approved since 1978. The statutes had changed over time and had been expanded to <br />include condominiums and transit corridors. He invited questions. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy solicited comments from the council. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council October 22, 2007 Page 7 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br />