Agenda Packet 2-18-20 Public Hearing

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February 18, 2020, Public Hearing – Item 1 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Public Hearing: An Ordinance Providing for Withdrawal of Annexed Properties from the Following Special Districts: River Road Parks & Recreation District; River Road Water District; Santa Clara Rural Fire Protection District; Santa Clara Water District; and Willakenzie Rural Fire Protection District. Meeting Date: February 18, 2020 Agenda Item Number: 1 Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Althea Sullivan www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5485 ISSUE STATEMENT The City Council will hold a required public hearing to consider an ordinance concerning the annual withdrawal of annexed land from special service districts. BACKGROUND State law and local code require properties that are annexed to cities to withdraw from special service districts through a separate process after the annexation of those properties becomes effective. When annexed properties are withdrawn from special districts, the City assumes responsibility for providing services (such as fire protection and water service) formerly provided by the special districts, and the properties are included on the City tax roll (instead of the special service district). Withdrawals come before the City Council on an annual basis. Properties annexed during the previous year are batched together to facilitate this process. The 2020 batch contains 10 annexations approved by City Council in 2019 and early 2020—for a total of 11 tax lots. The special districts affected by this year’s annexations are the River Road Park & Recreation District, River Road Water District, Santa Clara Rural Fire Protection District, Santa Clara Water District, and Willakenzie Rural Fire Protection District. Withdrawals from special districts are reviewed by the City Council through a public hearing process, consistent with state law and local code requirements. After the public hearing, the City Council will be asked to determine whether the withdrawals meet the approval criterion established by state law and local code; the only approval criterion is that the City “shall determine whether the withdrawal is in the best interest of the city” (Eugene Code section 9.7835).