CC Minutes - 05/12/03 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Bettman repeated her earlier arguments that ratepayers were subsidizing growth because the SDCs were not set at a rate adequate to fund the capacity needed by new development. She objected to that, particularly in an economic downtown. She indicated opposition to the budget. Mayor Torrey called for a vote in favor of the MWMC's budget, saying that the needed wet weather improvements planned for in the agency's ClP had nothing to do with development. The agency had to deal with that because it had not been sufficiently dealt with before. Ms. Smith said that the original SDC was an equalization charge developed in 1991. That approach had worked well until Hynix came to town and then the agency found its methodology inadequate to address that type of user. Ms. Smith said that at that time, a citizen advisory committee was formed to review the methodology and to develop a new approach that adequately addressed SDC issues in the community. That committee had recommended the methodology now in place. She noted that the last SDC review took place six years ago, and if it was the wish of the governing bodies to do so, they could call for a review of the SDC for its adequacy. Ms. Smith said that she would be happy to return with that message to the MWMC. Responding to a question from Mr. PapS, Ms. Smith said that the past review of the SDC methodology had not been focused on large users alone, but on all factors related to the SDC, including capacity, net asset value, and the future CIP. The vote to approve Item 3 of the Consent Calendar passed, 6:2; Ms. Bettman and Ms. Taylor voting no. Mr. Pap8 clarified the details of the EWEB-related resolution with Sue Cutsogeorge of the Central Services Department. The vote to approve Item 4 of the Consent Calendar passed unanimously, 8:0. D. ACTION: Approval of Findings and Recommendations from the Hearings Official and Adoption of an Ordinance Levying Assessments for Paving, Curbs and Gutters, Sidewalks, Street Lights, Wastewater Systems, and Drainage Systems on Royal Avenue from Terry Street to 1,000 Feet West of Terry Street; and Declaring an Emergency; and Providing an Immediate Effective Date (Contract #2002-20) (Job #4044) Mr. PapS, seconded by Ms. Nathanson, to approve the findings and recommendations of the Hearings Official of April 21, 2003. Ms. Solomon reviewed the details of the assessment process with Mr. Carlson, who indicated that the assessments could not be issued until the City knew the full construction costs. Ms. Bettman believed that the funding for the project should include a higher proportion of SDCs and assessments. She said that the Lane County Road Fund was paying nearly $500,000 toward the project. She believed that money could be used for other purposes, such as maintenance and reconstruction, and it should be available to pay for what the transportation system maintenance fee was intended to pay for. MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 12, 2003 Page 11 Work Session