CC Minutes - 07/23/01 Work Session

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Mr. Corey provided background on the Draft Stream Corridor Acquisition Study, which provided policy direction to broaden the scope of stormwater management beyond conventional flood control services to include enhancement and preservation of water quality and stormwater-related natural resources. He noted the involvement of the Stormwater Department Advisory Committee in the development of a stormwater management strategy that included protection and restoration of open waterways, the council's approval of that recommendation, and the subsequent work done by staff on the study. Mr. Bingham provided a PowerPoint presentation on the study and the study recommendations. The presentation spoke to the study objectives, expected benefits, how the sites were selected, the criteria for their selection, how the study worked with other City programs, the suggested priority categories for acquisition, the nature of the acquired areas, the recommended priority acquisitions, and the recommended Tier I and II sites. Mr. Bingham briefly discussed the study's impact of the buildable lands inventory, saying that the 20-year requirements would still be met. The type of City ownership sould have an impact on the inventory. Staff was discussing updating the inventory through a monitoring mechanism. Mr. Bingham reviewed the financial implications of the study, indicating that the estimated costs for the 12 priority stream corridors ranged from $6,423,000 to $7,775,000, requiring an annual budget of $1,200,000 over five years and $600,000 over ten years. He reviewed two options for funding, which included a user fee approach and a combined user fee/systems development charge (SDC) approach. Mr. Bingham noted the public outreach received by staff and the impact that input had on the study in terms of the proposed acquisitions and funding approach recommended. He called attention to the Planning Commission's preference for a maximum five-year acquisition time frame and its interest in implementation flexiblity to allow for the inclusion of new, unknown sites. Mr. Bingham noted the next steps in the study process. Mayor Torrey called for council comments and questions. Mr. Rayor recalled that the council earlier discussed a user fee of 50 cents, and asked the implication of using that figure on the acquisition schedule. He asked how the acquisition program could result in lawsuits. He liked the fee title approach. Mr. Rayor asked how the program would help the City and developers addressed the ramifications of the Endangered Species Act listing of the salmon. Mr. Rayor urged the City to place a large display advertisement regarding the fee, what it is for, and the pros and cons of the fee. Mr. Rayor thought in general staff did an excellent job and was supportive of the recommendations. He feared, however, that the public outreach would not get to the end user, the payer of the fee. MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 23, 2001 Page 3 Work Session