03/04/1992 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e Mr. Boles said that the Council Committee on Infrastructure, with assistance from Planning Commissioner Ken Tollenaar, agreed to review the material from the Tree Commission, provided as a result of council's last request. The Council Committee on Infrastructure refined the information into the set of options which is contained in the March 4 memorandum. He said the committee itself did not take a position because there was disagreement within the group. This was a direct result, he said, of the council not being clear in its original charge to the Tree Commission with respect to these issues. He said that the CCI tried to frame the options around Policy 12 and Policy 17, but the two additional issues in the CCI's charge to the Tree Commission were not responded to. Mr. Boles said there are some legitimate reasons for the lack of responses. One is the urban transition zone and the other is predevelopment of large lots. Mayor Miller wondered if the council should favor a direction prior to the public hearing. Mr. Boles expressed concern with the absence of Councilor Nicholson, saying a direction chosen today may not have the full backing of the council. Mr. Rutan reminded councilors that the spirit of this council has always been to go into public hearing with the goal of listening to the public. He noted that the public's opinions could change councilors' minds. Ms. Bascom saw the council's task as understanding of the basic issues and conflicts in the plan. Mr. MacDonald began discussion of Policy 17 by suggesting that a group of volunteers inventory heritage trees in the community. Mr. Boles said the Urban Forester had estimated the number of heritage trees at about 2,000. He expressed concern about the cost of a volunteer inventory group. Staff noted that the highest cost associated with a volunteer inventory would be soft- ware, together with staff support, the cost would amount to about $5-10,000 a year. Mr. Hammitt added that it would also depend on how the City decided to manage the inventory. The tagging of trees is fairly inexpensive. However, making it a part of deed restrictions, would cost more. Mr. Boles said that CCI favored the less expensive approach. Ms. Bascom noted that this would be a good opportunity to implement a volun- teer force as a way of doing things differently as supported by citizens in the Eugene Decisions process. Mr. Hammitt said a volunteer inventory would cost less but take longer to accomplish. Responding to a question from Mr. Rutan, City Attorney Bill Gary said that if the City does not provide a mechanism by which people can challenge the ex- pertise of a volunteer, it will go to court. The City will have less control and more vulnerability. With respect to a contention that designating a tree a heritage tree is a "taking," Mr. Gary said the US Supreme Court just heard MINUTES--Eugene City Council 11 :30 a.m. March 4, 1992 Page 4