Item 2: Ordinance Concerning Withdrawal of Territories from Special Districts

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Public Hearing: An Ordinance Providing for Withdrawal of Territories from the River Road Water District and River Road Park and Recreation District and from the Santa Clara Water District Meeting Date: February 20, 2007 Agenda Item Number: 2 Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Ann Siegenthaler www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: (541) 682-5452 ISSUE STATEMENT Pursuant to Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 222, territories annexed to cities are withdrawn from special service districts through a separate process after the annexation of those areas becomes effective. The City Council is asked to adopt the attached ordinance providing for the withdrawal from special service districts of recently annexed territory. BACKGROUND Withdrawals routinely come before the council on an annual basis. Properties annexed during the previous year are batched together to facilitate this process. The 2006 batch contains the 32 annexation requests made by property owners in 2006 for which withdrawals are needed. In accordance with state law, withdrawals from special districts are initiated by the council passing a resolution setting a time and place for a public hearing for the purpose of hearing objections to the withdrawals. Such resolution (Resolution No. 4901) was passed by the council on January 22, 2007. Public notice of the hearing was published and posted as required by State law. The attached ordinance (Attachment A) describes the affected properties and withdraws them from special districts. After the public hearing, the council will be asked to determine whether the withdrawals are or are not in the City’s best interest. If the withdrawals are found to be in the City’s best interest, the ordinance should be adopted to make the withdrawals effective. Withdrawals are time-sensitive. The Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 222, provide that, if the withdrawal is not approved or enacted prior to March 31, 2007, the withdrawal does not become effective until July 1 of the following year. If the withdrawal is not effective by July 1, these properties will remain on the tax roll of the special service districts that no longer provide services to the property. Enacting the withdrawal ordinance prior to March 31, 2007, will result in the withdrawals taking effect on July 1, 2007. To meet this deadline, staff requests that the council take action at the close of the public hearing, time permitting. Based on previous years' withdrawals, little or no public testimony is anticipated. Alternatively, action on this item has been tentatively scheduled for March 12, 2007 . L:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M070220\S0702202.doc