04/10/1989 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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4It III. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES OF MARCH 1 AND MARCH 27, 1989 City Manager Mike Gleason introduced the item. Councilor Schue requested amendment of the motion as written to state that approval is being given to lithe concepts as expressed in the minutes of the Legislative Committee," and not to the minutes themselves. Ms. Schue described the boundary commission as a State agency whose members are appointed by the Governor and which is staffed by the Lane Council of Governments and funded locally. Ms. Schue stated that the City has supported the boundary commission because it serves as a neutral third party in situations such as that involving the proposed incorporation of the River Road/Santa Clara area, it supervises noncontiguous annexations, it prevents the creation of special districts without a review, and it is the only agency supervising the extension of extra-territorial services. Ms. Schue considered the boundary commission effective in handling the problems associated with a large urban area with a State-certified ground water problem and which needs urban services. e Ms. Schue introduced Representative Larry Campbell who represents the 43rd District and resides in Eugene at 2435 Wilson Drive. Reporting that 59 members of the Legislature co-sponsored Senate Bill 100, Representative Campbell asked the council to reconsider its continued support of the boundary commission in light of present land use plans. He expressed disappointment that the City had testified in opposition to HB 3413 without conferring with him to address concerns with the proposed legislation. Representative Campbell explained that his opposition to the continued existence of the boundary commission was a result of his belief that property tax payers are supporting a level of service that provides them little benefit. He maintained that County services are available at a lower cost and he encouraged the council to seek innovative and cost-efficient changes in the way services are provided. Representative Campbell cited the example of Marion County which successfully combined the duties of its boundary commission with City of Salem staff functions, and he referred to a recent 174-acre annexation as evidence of that success. He said many of the most difficult problems facing the Salem/Keizer governments were created by the boundary commission's development of special service districts within the urban growth boundary. Representative Campbell invited councilors to pursue the question of the continued existence of the Lane County Boundary Commission by contacting his office. Mr. Holmer suggested scheduling council discussion of the boundary commission at the Wednesday meeting. Mr. Gleason said time would be available at the April 19 work session. Mr. Holmer listed his reasons for requesting further discussion as the following: 1) language in the current statute exempts the boundary commission from observing significant land use regulations; 2) annexation of e MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 10, 1989 Page 3