02/26/1986 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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- Answering questions from Mr. Miller, Mr. Smith said properties can be connected to the sewers without annexation if a local improvement district is formed. Answering a question from Mr. Thwing about the disadvantages of a local improvement district, Mr. Gleason said the cities need property value inside the city limits in order to indebt it for capital improvements. For example, the seweage treatment plant is indebted on the cities of Eugene and Springfield, but Federal regulations required that it be built to serve the whole metropolitan area. Mr. Smith said the "match" money for the intercepter sewer came from present city residents. That arrangement might not be appropriate if a local improvement district is established. Answering questions from Mr. Holmer and Mr. Thwing, City Attorney Tim Sercombe said the Boundary Commission would have to consider whether the establishment of a local improvement district in the River Road-Santa Clara area complied with the Statewide 'Land Use Planning Goals and the Metro Plan. He said a local improvement district can be formed to finance a public improvement such as providing sewers for a large non-continguous area. e Responding to a question from Ms. Ehrman, Mr. Carlson said the State law which would apply to the incorporation of the River Road-Santa Clara area will expire on December 31, 1987. Petitions calling for a vote on incorporation must contain the signatures of 20 percent of the registered voters. Mr. Gleason said the citizens of a new city would have to pay an appropriate portion of the debt structure for the sewage treatment plant and the existing trunk sewer system and must assume the EPA limitation on development. Those costs will be great. Discussing the City Information Program part of the annexation program, Mr. Carlson said it will include a package of information about the costs, benefits, and process of annexation; publicity for the annexation program; and cooperation with the Urban Services Policy Committee, Springfield, and Lane County. He said Lane County will no longer provide the level of urban services it has provided in the past. People will have to annex to the cities to get those services. Mr. Miller stated that the status quo, apparently, cannot be maintained. He wondered about the best way of verifying the costs of annexation and incorporation. Mr. Carlson replied that the City will do its best to provide good figures, but costs keep changing. Ms. Schue and Ms. Mulder commented on the City Information Program. Ms. Schue said it is very important to state the reasons the status quo cannot be maintained so that people in the River Road-Santa Clara area will understand it is in their best interests to annex. Ms. Mulder said it is important to explain the costs of a new city. She understood it will be very expensive for the residents. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 26, 1986 Page 4