Item A: Green Infrastructure and Low-Impact Development

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Green Infrastructure and Low-Impact Development Meeting Date: January 17, 2006 Agenda Item Number: A Department: Public Works - Engineering Staff Contact: Mark Schoening www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5243 ISSUE STATEMENT This work session responds to City Council direction during the adoption of an ordinance implementing post-construction standards for stormwater management for staff to research issues related to green infrastructure and low-impact development and possible amendments to the stormwater standards in response to the public comments received after the close of the public record. BACKGROUND On June 12, 2006, the City Council considered an ordinance amending certain sections of Chapter 9 of the Eugene Code and implementing post-construction standards for stormwater management. Prior to approving the main motion, the council passed the following motion made by Councilor Kelly: Reject as part of the record all arguments, evidence, and other testimony received since the close of the public record on May 22, 2006, and direct the City Manager to retain that information for use in a future work session to be scheduled later this year on possible amendments to the stormwater development standards ordinance and related work. In an e-mail prior to the council meeting Councilor Kelly explained his goal for the future work session as follows: What I propose is to have a council work session and staff research on the broad areas of natural drainage (citywide, not just RR/SC), as well as other “green infrastructure” issues raised by the River Road Community Organization under the heading of “low-impact development.” A related issue addressed in a memo to the Mayor and City Council dated May 22, 2006 (attached), is the relationship between the stormwater development standards and the development of the River Road – Santa Clara Basin. The Low-Impact Development Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of low- impact development technology defines low-impact development as follows: Low-impact development is a new comprehensive land planning and engineering design approach with a goal of maintaining and enhancing the pre-development hydrologic regime of urban and developing watersheds. L:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M070117\S070117A.doc