CC Minutes - 10/23/06 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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In closing, Mr. Schoening underscored that this was not just a property exchange; Tedron properties would pay $143,000 for the property. Councilor Papé thought there was a gap of $35,000 between the value Tedron was receiving and the value the City was receiving. Mr. Schoening responded that the initial appraisal had come in at $35,000. The City negotiated this up to $143,000 because of the value the property held for Tedron. Councilor Bettman questioned the reference to the Millrace as a resource and asked what kind of resource it was. Mr. Schoening replied that portions of the Millrace conveyed stormwater; additionally it was a Goal 5 protected resource from the retaining wall across the northern edge of the Tedron properties. He stressed that the City was gaining more than an access easement; the City was gaining control of the property for public purpose. Councilor Bettman was uncertain how the public would access or use the property given its configuration. She asserted that either in Goal 5 or the adopted stormwater ordinance, the council said that if there was a significant stormwater conveyance, there would be a setback for a maintenance easement. She said hearing that it was a stormwater conveyance made her think that the City already had access to maintain it. She questioned why the City should acquire it for that purpose if it already had the ability to access it. Councilor Bettman asked if the neighborhood association or the Walnut Node citizen task force had looked at the proposal and whether they had signed off on it. She asked if anyone knew what Tedron intended to do with the property. Mr. Schoening replied that he did not know Tedron’s plans. In response to a question from Councilor Bettman, Mr. Schoening explained that the property owned by ODOT on the eastern side of the property in question was contiguous with its right-of-way. Councilor Bettman said it seemed to her that the City could ultimately negotiate an access from the existing property to the City property east of the Tedron property so that there was access from one City-owned parcel to another. Councilor Kelly thanked Mr. Schoening for the additional information. He considered the Millrace to be a significant asset, even in places where people could not walk or bicycle along it, as it was still a “habitat asset.” He felt the more the City could acquire direct management control over the Millrace and its banks, the better for city residents, the flora, and the fauna. He said given the differential between the appraised value and the negotiated value and that he was “hard pressed to imagine” what access to the current City parcel would bring to the City in terms of beneficial use, he did not see it as nearly the asset that acquiring control over the Millrace would be. He said he would support the exchange. Councilor Bettman asked if there was any urgency to complete the transaction. Mr. Schoening replied that there was not. Councilor Bettman ascertained from Mr. Schoening that the exchange would not provide enough land for the bicycle path. She said she would oppose the exchange. She recommended that the proposal be submitted to the neighborhood association for review in order to determine what the neighborhood wanted to see there. Councilor Pryor expressed his appreciation for the additional information. He said that to gain control of the Millrace was persuasive. He averred that the land the City was giving up had limited capability in MINUTES—Eugene City Council October 23, 2006 Page 4 Regular Meeting