Resolution No. 4526 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Other Communications On June 11, 1997 the City of Eugene received a letter from Dwight Forgey, General Manager of the Eugene Farmers Co-op. Mr. Forgey felt that the project was more expensive that had been expected, and recommended that the City delay construction and seek bids in a year in hopes of a better price. Mr. Forgey felt that, at the quoted assessed cost for his property, it would be less expensive for his business to remain on the existing private septic system, than to connect to the sewers. The engineering staff has examined the bids, and reports that, although the bids were higher than expected, there is no reason to believe that they will be less a year from now. Mr. Forgey's calculation of costs also did not include the reduction in costs that the City was able to produce by recalculating the total cost with the Irving Road dryline construction cost and service area included. Mr. Forgey also apparently did not calculate the long term costs of remaining on a private septic system, which will eventually have to be replaced. The Engineering Division staff have continued to discuss these issues with Mr. Forgey, including the revised costs and other issues, since the letter was submitted. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION Notice of the public hearing was provided and all the property owners were given an opportunity to participate in the hearings. Property owners who will bear the cost for the proposed improvements were notified of the planned June 4, 1997, public hearing with the hearings official and the City Council session to establish the LID through a notice published in The Register-Guard on May 15, 1997. Letters informing property owners of the hearing and anticipated Council action date and notification to property owners of the intent of the City to characterize the sewer assessment as an assessment, not a tax, as required by ORS 305.583(5) were mailed on May 19, 1997. When the engineering staff opened the bids, and discovered that the project costs were higher than estimated, staff chose to cancel the June 4 hearing and reschedule for June 12, 1997. On May 30, 1997, staff sent a second letter notifying the property owners of the new hearing date, but a revised notice was not published in the Register Guard. All property owners did receive actual notice of the rescheduled hearing through the letters sent to them, as allowed in Eugene Code section 7.165(2). While the published notice of the actual date of the hearing specified in Eugene Code, ~ 7.165 as a method of notice to be given property owners was not provided, the alternative form of notice, mailing specific letters, gave the property owners more extensive and more certain notice of the time and purpose of the hearing and of their opportunity to participate. The public hearing itself was conducted in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Eugene Code. The Hearings Officer finds that the project is one for which the assessments are for local improvements as set forth in ORS 310.410 because SANIT AR Y SEWER, TRENCH REPAIR AND PAVING IN PRAIRIE ROAD FROM BEL TLINE TO KAISER A VENUE - FORMA nON OF A LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT Page 5