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- M I NUT E S City Council Work Session Wilder Room, Conference Center April 11, 1983 5 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Gus Keller, Emily Schue, Mark Lindberg, John Ball, Betty Smith, Dick Hansen, Cynthia Wooten, Freeman Holmer (from 5:29); Micheal Gl eason, Ci ty Manager; Gary Long, Admi ni strative Services; Don All en, Public Works; Charles Porter, Emerald Waterway Citizens Committee; Donal d Zadoff, task force member; Jerry Di ethel m, pl anning consul tant and task force member; Paul Redhead, task force member and property appraiser; Marjorie Beck, Community Council Services; Barb Bellamy, Public Information Officer; Susan Peck, Eugene Register-Guard I. INTRODUCTION Mr. Lindberg introduced guests. Three documents were distributed, including: The Fi nal Report of the Emeral d Canal Feasibil i ty Task Force, the Fl i nt River Flood Control and River Beaut i fi cati on Proj ect Close-Out Report, and an untitl ed coll ection of information pertinent to the proposed Emeral d Canal. ~ II. THE EMERALD CANAL AND WATERWAYS SYSTEM e Mr. Diethelm said that since the 19th century farmers have been interested in irrigating lands from the Willamette River but have not found an economical way. He said, the Mayor's Millrace Committee in the 1960's looked for a solution to the Millrace problem. Later, Robert Clark received $50,000 which paid for the CH2M Hill Study which looked at water resources. In 1977, Mr. Diethelm said he became interested in the waterway. $100,000 worth of study later, the Army Corps of Engineers confirmed his opinion on quality of water in the Amazon. He said the laO-Year Fl oodpl ain Map shows that fl oodwater buil ds from the west back to the city. He pointed out the canal is the best way to relieve flooding problems. Mr. Diethelm said as building is done to the west of the city, flood suseptibility will increase. He added the Emerald Canal would not only do positive things for the city but would also protect investments in that area. He said Jerry Rosenthal of L-COG suggested reversibility of water, allowing the Emeral d Canal to be more than just fl ood control or to protect interest in that west Amazon basin but said that the Emerald is a way of dealing with residents' interests in the waterway. Mr. Diethelm said hearings were held in 1978 and supporters appeared, including boaters at Fern Ridge and Ted Deitz, president of the Upper Willamette Resource Conservation District Project, who supported the Emeral d Canal as an asset to agricul ture. Al so, Senator Hatfi el d said hi s 1 i fel ong interest in water management was behind the Emeral d Canal and suggested the County and City jointly solve water-related problems. Mr. Diethelm said others in favor of the Emerald Canal include Mr. Meisenholder, a Fern Ridge MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 11, 1983 Page 1