Item 2E: Initiation of EWEB Metro Plan Amendment

Home Browse Search

EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY c Initiation of Eugene Water & Electric Board Metro Plan Amendment Meeting Date: July 24, 2006 Department: Planning and Development www.eugene-or.gov Agenda Item Number: 2E Staff Contact: Kurt Yeiter Contact Telephone Number: 682-8379 ISSUE STATEMENT The Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) has requested that the City Council initiate amendments to the Metro Plan and Public Facilities and Services Plan to reflect system upgrades contained in EWEB's 2004 Water System Master Plan. Initiation of the amendments does not commit the City Council to any outcome. BACKGROUND The Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan) and the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area Public Facilities and Services Plan (PFSP), a refinement plan, incorporate long-term utility projects and schedules. As described in its letter to the City Council (Attachment A), EWEB would like these plans to be amended to reflect more recent thinking about project placement and timing. As the projects are not all located within the Eugene Urban Growth Boundary, these amendments will require approval by multiple Metro jurisdictions. EWEB has hired the Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) to process the application and provide draft findings on behalf ofEWEB. Since LCOG managed both most recent updates to the Metro Plan and the PFSP, City staff expects the impact on City resources to be low. The rules for Metro Plan amendments are consistent for all three Metro jurisdictions. Staff believes these amendments are a Type I amendment, because there are too many locations referenced in the text to be considered "site specific." Type I amendments must be initiated by one of the three Metro governing bodies. When a citizen or, in this case EWEB, requests a governing body to initiate an amendment, that body must act within 60 days from when the staff report is submitted or the request will be considered denied. No public hearing is required. No reason for denial is required. Once the amendment is initiated, there will be a joint public hearing by the Planning Commissions, and a joint hearing by the governing boards before a decision is rendered. Initiation of the amendments does not commit the City Council to any outcome. RELATED CITY POLICIES The Metro Plan and PSFP contain the adopted policies and service strategies related to infrastructure improvements needed to meet the region's needs. The service strategies should be updated periodically LICMOl2006 Council AgendasIM060724IS0607242E.doc