12/17/1980 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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"' the council requested that weatherization of existing residences on a mandatory basis be brought back to them in ordinance form. Improvements have been made to the ordinance since the original draft, but it basically remains the same as it . was in March. Adoption by the EWEB Board to provide financing for weatheriza- tion is very important. He introduced Jean Reeder. Ms. Reeder stated tbat the program has not yet been implemented, but it was adopted May 27, 1980. It will provide for zero-percent-interest loans for electric space-heat customers, matching grants for the most cost-effective measures installed by electric space-heat customers, low-interest loans for non-electric space-heat customers, availability of loans and grants for both landlords and tenants, provisions for loan payback at the time of sale for elec- tric space-heat customers or on a monthly payment schedule which may be assumed by any resident, and it will be totally independent of the ordinance with the exception that all proposed housing code measures will be covered by the finan- cinq program. On November 17, the Oregon State Attorney General's office issued the opinion that there is no need to change the Oregon Constitution nor to pass enablinq legislation in order for public utilities to offer conservation finan- cing. A test case pursued by EWEB has resulted in a Circuit Court ruling on December 2, 1980, and the judgment declares that the financing program does not violate the Oregon Constitution, State statutes, or the City of Eugene Charter. They expect that the Circuit Court decision will be appealed to the Oregon Court of Appeals, and they expect that a decision at that level will be made within two to six months. Voter approval of a revenue bond measure will be necessary to provide funds for the financing progam. This could go before the voters as early as March 31, 1981. They expect to be able to offer a financing program by the end of 1981. . Mr. Page stated that the financing proposal will be available for rentals as well as owner-occupied dwell"ings; it will be available for oil and natural gas customers; it will be effective for the rate-payer; and there will be no effect on the property tax. This ordinance would not become mandatory until 1985. Within the next four years, the board thinks that most residents will volun- tari ly comply. For those who do not comply by January 1, 1985, it would become mandatory. This ordinance would affect residential structures from single-family up to four-plexes. Of those dwellings, it would affect only those built before July 1, 1974, and they must meet the prescriptive standards which would be listed as part of the Eugene Housing Code: This ordinance is very different from the goal adopted by the City of Portland last year. It does not affect the sale of property; it is not dependent upon the availability of State or Federal funds; it only affects residential units up to four-plexes; there is a prescriptive code clearly defining what is necessary; administrative costs for inspection and enforcement will have a minimal finan- cial impact upon the general fund or property tax; and the utility will complete and certify the inspections. Only when new tenants or buyers request a change of service would the ordinance be enforced. There would be no effect upon those who live in homes who do not have housing code inspections. However, it would be a good incentive to weatherize for those on fixed incomes since it would save them money on utility bills. . MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 17, 1980 Page 5