02/26/1986 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e Ms. Brody reviewed the advantages of annexations. She said the revenue base of the City is increased by annexations and annexations provide an opportunity for economic development. For example, 29 percent of the undeveloped area on the Eugene side of 1-5 is in the River Road/Santa Clara area. The property cannot be intensely developed until it is annexed. She said there is a possibility that the River Road/Santa Clara area will incorporate and become a new city. Terry Smith, Environmental Analyst in the Public Works Department, discussed the River Road/Santa Clara Sewer Project. He said a Deparment of Environ- mental Quality (DEQ) study in the early 1980's indicated that the ground water in the River Road/Santa Clara was contaminated from septic tanks which are in sandy soil. He said several governmental agencies agreed the area needed a centralized sewer system because of the environmental problem, and the Environmental Quality Commission had imposed a limitation on new development in the River Road/Santa Clara area and ratified a consent decree requiring the development of a sewer plan. Mr. Smith said Eugene applied for a grant in 1982 from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide the sewer system. In order to comply with EPA regulations, the application stated that sewers will be provided to the River Road/Santa Clara area by annexation or by the extra-territorial extension of sewer service through the establishment of a local improvement district which will levy assessments for the sewers. A sewer connection schedule to gradually service the area was approved with the grant. If the connection schedule is accomplished, an extra-territorial local improvement district will not have to be established. The connection schedule indicates that about 15 percent of the properties will be connected by 1988, 30 percent will be connected by 1990, 75 percent will be connected by 1995, and the rest will be connected by 2000. Jim Carlson of the Planning Department discussed the proposed annexation program. He said the Portland area is also using an annexation program to undergo a logical transition from rural services to urban services. Triple majority annexations are a part of the Portland program. Mr. Carlson said the proposed Eugene annexation program has three components which will be used throughout the city. They are: (l) assistance to property owners who initiate annexations. (2) an urban transition package, and (3) a City information program. Mr. Carlson said the assistance to property owners who initiate annexation requests will involve help from the City staff in developing a logical proposal, staff help in organizing neighborhood meetings which will provide information about annexation, and a focus on specific areas. The specific areas are commercial and industrial properties, developed properties in the RiverRoad/Santa Clara area which will help meet the sewer connection schedule, properties which can be easily provided with City services, and areas with significant numbers of people who want annexation. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 26, 1986 Page 2