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The final property owner represented at the hearing was the MWMC, represented by Steve Templin, a civil engineer from the City of Springfield, and Todd Anderson from the City of Eugene. Mr. Templin explained the MWMC position, which was that the project represented a desirable upgrade in the area around the MWMC plant. The one remaining issue was the question of remonstrances. No property owner submitted a remonstrance. Several property owners indicated that they had not understood that the time of the hearing was their opportunity to do so. The Hearings Officer and the property owners discussed the nature of a remonstrance, the language of the notice of the hearing, the proper form of a remonstrance and the need for additional opportunity to file remonstrances. It was agreed that the word remonstrance is not a commonly used or understood phrase. The property owners acknowledged that they had not attempted to investigate the process or ask what the reference to remonstrances in the notice meant. The Hearings Official allowed property owners some additional time to file remonstrances, allowing property owners until 5 p.m. on Tuesday August 3 to file remonstrances. An acceptable remonstrance was defined as a written statement of objection to the proposed local improvement district formation. The remonstrance should · indicate which property is owned by the signatory. If there are multiple Owners of a property, a signature by one owner will be counted proportionately to the owner's share of ownership. Husbands and wives can sign the same remonstrance. In response to questions, the Hearings Official and the property owners discussed the ramifications of remonstrances. The Eugene Code sets the threshold for a meaningful number of remonstrances to be remonstrances reflecting fifty (50) percent of the proposed assessments. Remonstrances at or above this level do not have a particular guaranteed effect on the project. That many remonstrances mean that the hearing will be referred to the Council for special consideration. The Council may decide to continue the process or not. Property owners need to understand that remonstrances may only have the effect of delaying the project and the assessments, which may mean that the final cost will be higher. There being no further questions, the hearing ended at approximately 8:50 p.m.