Laserfiche WebLink
10. ACTION: RESOLUTION 4613: A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A CITY ELECTION ON <br /> MAY 16, 2000, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REFERRING TO THE LEGAL ELECTORS OF THE <br /> CITY OF EUGENE A MEASURE AMENDING THE EUGENE CHARTER OF 1976 TO <br /> AUTHORIZE EWEB TO PROVIDE ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY <br /> <br /> Councilor Lee moved, seconded by Councilor Taylor, to adopt Resolution 4613 <br /> Calling a City Election on May 16, 2000, for the purpose of referring to the legal <br /> electors of the City of Eugene a measure amending the Eugene Charter of 1976 to <br /> authorize EWEB to provide advanced telecommunication capability. <br /> <br /> Councilor Rayor moved, seconded by Councilor Taylor, to amend the motion with the <br /> following: Section 4. The City Manager is directed to work with EWEB to develop a <br /> joint resolution for adoption by EWEB and the council by March 15. The joint <br /> resolution shall provide that EWEB's telecommunication activities comply with the <br /> following: 1) service to every address in the EWEB service area within the city limits; <br /> 2) open platform or open access; 3) collaboration with other governmental entities; 4) <br /> will not be funded with revenues from the water, electric, or other utilities; 5) use only <br /> nonrecourse bonds, which will not be issued without voter approval; and 6) involve a <br /> significant public involvement. If a joint resolution is not adopted by March 15, then <br /> this resolution is automatically repealed. <br /> <br />Responding to a request for clarification from City Attorney Glenn Klein, Councilor Rayor indicated his <br />intent was that the resolution would be binding within the city limits. <br /> <br />In explanation of his amendment, Councilor Rayor said that there were many issues with the situation that <br />had not been resolved because of the tight time frame associated with the charter amendment election. The <br />motion would allow time for EWEB and the City to work through and resolve those issues. Since the <br />resolution was a joint resolution, it would be binding until the EWEB commissioners and City Council agreed <br />to change it. <br /> <br />Councilor Lee asked about the nature of the United States Court of Appeals' open access issue, raised in <br />testimony, and its applicability to the issue at hand. Mr. Klein said that the case, in his opinion, had nothing <br />to do with the charter amendment as it involved the City of Portland and the actions taken by that city were <br />not similar to those contemplated by Eugene. <br /> <br />Councilor Meisner asked Mr. Klein to comment on Section 5 of the amendment, in particular the potential <br />that EWEB would have the right to charge ratepayers for costs not recovered by revenues. Mr. Klein said <br />that if only Section 5 existed, there might be a concern, but Section 4 precluded revenues from the other <br />EWEB utilities from being used. <br /> <br />Councilor Kelly requested comments about the proposed amendment from EWEB staff. Randy Berggren, <br />EWEB's General Manager, said staff had a chance to review the amendment proposed and he did not object <br />to it. <br /> <br /> Roll call vote; the motion to amend carried unanimously, 5:0. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 28, 2000 Page 16 <br /> Regular Meeting <br /> <br /> <br />