Item 4: Transfer of Water Pollution Control Property to MWMC

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Action: Transfer of Water Pollution Control Property from City of Eugene to Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission Meeting Date: February 12, 2007 Agenda Item Number: 4 Department: Public Works Staff Contact: Peter Ruffier www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-8606 ISSUE STATEMENT The City Council is requested to approve the transfer a total of approximately 168 acres in two parcels of City-titled property to the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission. BACKGROUND The City of Eugene, City of Springfield, and Lane County entered into an agreement in 1977 for the purposes of establishing the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC). The MWMC was established as an intergovernmental entity to “construct, operate, and maintain the Regional Sewerage Facilities.” MWMC provides regional wastewater collection and treatment to the Eugene/Springfield metropolitan area. The property proposed to be transferred from the City to the MWMC is composed of two parcels of land (one at 122 acres, and one at 45.83 acres) that are part of the Seasonal Industrial Waste Facilities (SIWF), located off of Prairie Road in Lane County. These parcels are located on the northwest corner of the site (see the map in Attachment A), which has been used for the treatment of wastewater derived from food processing operations in the service area of MWMC. These parcels were originally acquired by the City pursuant to condemnation proceedings undertaken on behalf of the MWMC, and were subsequently dedicated to the regional wastewater operations. The SIWF was classified as an “alternative project” under the federal construction grant program, which made it eligible for funding at 85% of the costs of the property purchase and facility construction. The 15% local contribution for the project came from local GO bonds issued by the County Service District for the regional wastewater program. In May 2005, the council, by ordinance, approved a revised intergovernmental agreement (IGA) creating the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission as an Intergovernmental Entity and defining the duties and powers of the commission and the three parties to the IGA. The revised IGA provides, in section 3(b), that the parties will: “Facilitate the completion of the process of transferring ownership to the Commission of the Existing Sewerage Facilities as defined in Appendix “A” Section VI. The transfer of ownership process shall proceed in a timely manner as determined by the mutual agreement of the Commission and the cities of Eugene and Springfield. The transfer of ownership shall include consideration of the following factors: L:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M070212\S0702124.doc