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Ms. Bettman expressed appreciation for the motion and the approach. <br /> <br />Mr. Poling said he would support the motion because it put people on notice that the council was going to be <br />reexamining the entire issue, and there may or may not be changes. <br /> <br /> The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. <br /> <br />B. WORK SESSION: Resolution 4826 Adopting Snow and Ice Removal Policies and Repealing <br /> Resolution 4278 <br /> <br />Jeff Lankston of the Public Works Department's Maintenance Division joined the council for the item. Mr. <br />Lankston recalled that the council adopted a resolution the previous year allowing the use of de-icers and <br />anti-icers for a period of time to allow the City to experiment with their use. The council requested that staff <br />continue to examine the environmental issues associated with the use of the deicers and anti-icers, and return <br />with information on their trial use before April 2005. <br /> <br />Mr. Lankston reviewed the City's use of de-icers and anti-icers, noting that de-icing products had been used <br />five times on City transportation facilities since December 2004. He said the product being used, calcium <br />magnesium acetate (CMA), worked very well. It was effective for a period of several days, which avoided <br />the need for repeated daily sanding applications at one-sixth the cost. <br /> <br />Mr. Lankston briefly reviewed the results of the City's research regarding the use of de-icers and anti-icers, <br />noting that information was provided in the council packets and copies of the two reports were in the council <br />office. In regard to CMA, the literature indicated a concern with biological oxygen demand (BAD) if placed <br />in high quantities in a waterway. However, the literature indicated that the concentrations being used on <br />roadways did not create problems with BaD, even with ditches adjacent to roadways. Mr. Lankston <br />believed there were no environmental ramifications from the use of the product on City streets. <br /> <br />Mr. Lankston spoke to the issue of vehicle corrosion, indicating that was not an issue in regard to the use of <br />CMA. <br /> <br />Mr. Lankston noted that the council approved the use of magnesium chloride but staff had not used that <br />product on the streets. A Colorado study had examined the product's impact and concluded that the chloride <br />in the material could damage vegetation close to the road in sufficient strong concentrations, and trace <br />metals in the product should be restricted. However, the study also concluded the product was unlikely to <br />cause or contribute to environmental damage greater than 20 yards beyond the roadway. The City of <br />Boulder had been using the product for many years and extensive water testing indicated no significant <br />impacts to water quality or aquatic life. He noted that most of Eugene's snow routes had curbs and gutters <br />to limit the product's contact with the vegetation and it would be diluted to a level of 640:1 before it reached <br />a catch basin and was further diluted. <br /> <br />Mr. Lankston said staff proposed only to use products that met the strict standards set by the Pacific <br />Northwest Snowfighters, which established specifications for products used in winter maintenance that <br />emphasize safety, environmental preservation, infrastructure protection, cost-effectiveness, and perform- <br />ance. He noted that the corrosion levels for magnesium chloride met the organization's specifications. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 28, 2005 Page 4 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />