Item A: Joint Work Session with EWEB Board

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Joint Work Session with EWEB Board of Commissioners: Discussion of Planning Process for Eugene Water & Electric Board Riverfront Property Meeting Date: May 30, 2007 Agenda Item Number: A City of Eugene Department: City Manager’s Office Staff Contact: Nan Laurence www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5340 Eugene Water & Electric Board: Staff Contact: Mark Oberle www.eweb.org Contact Telephone Number: 484-2411, ext. 3230 ISSUE STATEMENT During a joint work session of the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) Commissioners and City Council on February 12, 2007, elected officials met to discuss possible approaches to plan for the future of the EWEB riverfront. Since that time, EWEB Commissioners met to discuss options in more detail. The agenda item summary provides information on their discussion and on opportunities to partner in the preparation of a master plan for the EWEB riverfront property. (See Attachment A for a map of EWEB riverfront property holdings.) The AIS has been prepared by staff from the City of Eugene and EWEB. The desired outcomes for this joint work session are as follows: To get the City's perspective on EWEB’s, “Revised Collaborative Approach to the Riverfront Master ? Planning Process, May 10, 2007” (see Attachment B). To hear any recommended changes to EWEB’s approach or alternative proposals that City Council ? members may wish to put on the table. To identify the need for additional information in order for both organizations to agree on a process. ? To continue to develop a constructive and collaborative relationship between the City and EWEB, ? leading to the development of an outline for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the disposition and redevelopment of the EWEB riverfront property. BACKGROUND Discussions concerning the redevelopment of the EWEB riverfront site have been ongoing for many years. The most recent round of discussions began during a joint meeting of EWEB Commissioners and City Council on November 15, 2006. At that time, elected officials from the City and EWEB identified the need for additional opportunities to discuss current and emerging issues, such as the future of the EWEB riverfront site. As a follow-up to that meeting, councilors and commissioners met on February 12, 2007, to discuss the disposition and planning requirements for the riverfront property. The focus of the meeting was to identify areas of agreement and disagreement and to further a collaborative dialogue in the planning work for the site. At that meeting, the City Council directed the City Manager to bring back to a work session a proposal that negotiates City acquisition of the property, in the event that it is declared surplus, and provide L:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M070530\S070530A.doc