CC Minutes - 02/20/07 Public Hearing

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ments were drafted in a manner contrary to the City’s statutes because they did not take into account the City’s Growth Management Study policies, seven of which he believed were applicable in this instance. The amendments did not consider the impact of the de facto delay caused by Ballot Measure 37; in this case, the amendments would sunset before the measure could be fully implemented. Mr. Hinkley maintained that the amendments were also contrary to two statewide planning goals, the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan General Area Plan, the neighborhood refinement plan. Because of the lack of consistency with those adopted policies, the amendments failed to meet the approval criteria. Mayor Piercy closed the public hearing. She called for questions or comments from the council. Ms. Bettman asked the time line for the development of infill standards. Ms. Harding indicated the draft plan for the compatibility standards project identified a target date of September 2008 for city-wide standards. Ms. Bettman requested that staff return with a motion including text that provided for a sunset date congruent with that target date when the council considered the ordinance for action. She also requested text that made the ordinance effective on adoption. Ms. Bettman said the neighborhoods indicated no opposition to density but wanted it done right. She agreed with that sentiment. She referred to an article that day in The Register-Guard regarding a new development on a greenfield site zoned low-density where lots of 4,500 square-feet to 13,500 square-feet were permitted. She asserted that if density was important in the inner city, it should be important throughout the urban growth boundary, and urban core neighborhoods should not be burdened with more density than they had while new developments enjoyed lower densities. She asserted that “it was not a balanced formula.” Mayor Piercy thought Ms. Bettman brought up a good point. Responding to a question from Mr. Poling, Mr. Lidz recommended the council pick a date certain for the sunset date. Mr. Poling suggested a sunset date of January 1, 2009. Mr. Poling also supported making the ordinance effective immediately. Ms. Taylor concurred. Ms. Taylor expressed admiration for the neighborhood association for its work in protecting the neighbor- hood and thanked the neighbors for their work. 4. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Concerning Noise Disturbances; Amending Sections 4.083 And 4.084 of the Eugene Code, 1971; and Adding Sections 6.750 and 6.753 to that Code Mayor Piercy opened the public hearing. Anita Sullivan , 3745 Emerald Street, spoke in favor of controls on noise and noted her annoyance at people working on weekend projects that made noise. She wanted the full force of the City behind her when she confronted those people about the noise they made. Kevin Jones , 4740 Wendover Street, spoke to what he considered the inefficiency of leaf blowers and the pollution created by two-stroke engines. He recommended the council ban leaf and mulch blowers in two years’ time by imposing strict day and time limits on their use. He suggested that the council allow parking lot cleaning companies to register with the City and receive a one-year grace period so that alternative tools could be found by those companies. He suggested that by year three of a ban, neighborhood-friendly, ecologically sound alternatives could be found. MINUTES—Eugene City Council February 20, 2007 Page 4 Public Hearing