Item B: River Road/Santa Clara Annexation Policy

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ATTACHMENT F May 3, 2006 To Eugene City Council, Mayor Piercy, Lane County Boundary Commission, and the Lane County Commissioners; We, the board of directors of the Santa Clara Community Organization are writing to inform you of our position on street annexations in our community. SeeD represents both city reside,nts and non-city residents in Santa Clara. More than 500/0 are non-city residents. We feel that the City's present policy of tacking on street annexations is systematically placing those residents at risk of island annexation and leaving them without adequate voice in their future. It is the city of Eugene's stated practice and the Metro Plan's policy to pursue only voluntary annexations of private property where possible. However, the current practice of extended street annexations presently and potentially creates islands of unincorporated residents who fear that should Eugene's practices change, they will be forcibly annexed. 9. If my property becomes an island of unincorporated property, does something change? Yes. By current state law, the City can initiate annexation of those properties in an unincorporated island. In other words, the City could ask the Boundary Commission to approve an annexation of the island. The Boundary Commission will provide a public hearing where anybody can testify before taking deciding. (From city of Eugene's Annexation FAQ) The Urban Services Committee Report and SUbsequently the Transition Team's work have repeatedly stressed the importance of the themes EQUITY, TRUST, VOICE AND COLLABORATION for a healthier relationship between the city and the residents of Santa Clara. The systematic islanding of unincorporated residents runs contrary to these principles, and only serves to heighten the tensions between the city and our community. We understand that the city views itself as the eventual, logical provider of services in our area. However presently we cannot see that patchwork provisi>on of urban services is significantly im.proved through street annexations. Given that th>e city of Eugene is already over 100 milliondoUars behind in street repairs it seems illogical to take on a larger share of street maintenance.