CC Minutes - 01/24/07 Work Session

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Mayor Piercy said it seemed more aggressive annexation was creating tension in the discussion of transition. She asked about the status of the transition process and suggested that if the current policy remained, it would be helpful to have a timeline established for conclusion. She asked for comments on the council making a statement that it was not interested in doing island annexations. Ms. Bettman said just stating the council was not interested in island annexations while the staff was pursuing annexation of road rights-of-way meant that people would be surrounded by annexed roads while their property remained unannexed. She said that a promise not to pursue island annexation was not a guarantee. She referred to a letter from the River Road community organization underscoring the fact that annexing streets adjacent to unannexed properties created as many problems as it solved. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Ms. Ortiz, moved to direct the City Manager to halt the practice of adding road right-of-way to annexation requests in the River Road/Santa Clara area where such additions would create islands. Ms. Bettman restated her motion as “I move to direct the City Manager to halt the practice of adding road right-of-way to annexation requests in the River Road/Santa Clara area adjacent to unannexed property. Ms. Ortiz accepted the re- stated motion. Mr. Carlson asked if Ms. Bettman’s intent was that street annexation could not be requested unless property on both sides of the street was in the City. Ms. Bettman said that was her intent. Mr. Zelenka suggested keeping the language simple by prohibiting island annexations. Ms. Bettman said there could be a situation where it would not create an entire island because the unannexed property was not completely surrounded. Mr. Zelenka said he did not see a problem with road annexation; it was the creation of an island that concerned people. He did not disagree with the City’s current road annexation policy and said the council could just direct the City Manager to halt island annexations. Mr. Zelenka offered a friendly amendment: “…annexation requests in the River Road/Santa Clara area where such additions would create islands adjacent to un- annexed property.” City Manager Taylor clarified that Mr. Zelenka was supportive of rational service provision annexation of road right-of-way for police, fire and maintenance but not when it would create an island that people feared would enable the council or boundary commission to act without their input. Mr. Zelenka agreed. He said he would not care if an island was created as long as it was not annexed. City Manager Taylor said that the City’s practice was not to annex islands. He said the staff had no plans to request island annexations in River Road/Santa Clara or any other part of the City. Mr. Klein pointed out that the there had been no disposition of Mr. Zelenka’s friendly amendment. MINUTES—Eugene City Council – Work Session January 24, 2007 Page 8