08/08/1988 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e disabled and take the necessary steps to allow for their care in a reasonable and affordable manner. She said the council can also choose to make a state- ment of disregard by not amending an incomplete housing code. Mayor Obie said Planning Department staff will respond to her concerns and make report back to the council. City Manager Mike Gleason asked the council to delay the scheduled public hearing on an ordinance concerning the River Road/Santa Clara Urban Facili- ties Plan Amendment. He said the Lane County Planning Committee has made a recommendation that is not consistent with the City's Planning Commission recommendation. Hearing no objections from the council, Mayor Obie said the council would delay action on the item until an agreement has been reached. II. PUBLIC HEARING: ORDINANCE CONCERNING TRANSFER OF ELECTRIC SERVICE TERRITORY IN THE WILLOW CREEK AREA FROM LANE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE TO THE EUGENE WATER AND ELECTRIC BOARD City Manager Mike Gleason introduced the item. Susan Brody, Planning Direc- tor, presented the staff report. She said the issue has been a concern for City for several years. She reviewed that the City held work sessions in 1986 during which the City asked Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) and Lane Electric Cooperative (LEC) to present information on their abilities to serve the Willow Creek area. She said the concern came out of evidence that rate differential and reliability issues may cause problems for industry e recruitment. She noted the City has made a substantial investment in sewers and road construction. Ms. Brody said negotiations between EWEB and LEC have broken down. For that reason, she said staff is asking the council to consider adopting the ordi- nance as a way of putting pressure behind continuing negotiations. The area in question represents 15 out of LEC's approximately 10,000 customers. The area in question is 510 acres, all within the City of Eugene, She said the council is also being asked to consider the transfer of 49 customers who live within EWEB's service territory but who are currently served by LEC. Ms. Brody said the primary reasons the City is considering the action in- clude: duplication of service in the Willow Creek area, rate differential, and reliability of service, She said EWEB currently has two substations available to serve the area while LEC would have to construct a new substa- tion. The rate differential is an impediment to industries considering locating in the area. Ms. Brody noted staff has evidence indicating that rates are a point of confusion and discomfort to industries looking into the area. Ms. Brody turned the staff presentation over to EWEB representatives. Laurie Power, EWEB governmental affairs coordinator, said EWEB commissioned R.W. Beck, an independent consultant, to research the impacts of such a transfer on current LEC and EWEB customers, as well as potential future customers. Kurt Winnerfeld, R.W. Beck representative, said the methods and assumptions used in the study were provided to the council in a written e MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 8, 1988 Page 2