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Ms. Nathanson observed that the things she had heard residents being concerned about were tax rates, what <br />were the benefits of paying Eugene tax rates, and neighborhood character. She said that her concern was for <br />what was the money that was paid to the River Road Parks and Recreation District being used. Mr. Johnson <br />answered that residents of Eugene in that park district received services at an in-district rate. Mr. Carlson <br />concurred adding that the money was used for operation costs. Ms. Nathanson noted that Eugene had had to <br />cut its own program because it could not afford recreation facilities. <br /> <br />Mr. Fart commented that annexation had to be at least one of the scenarios that was considered in order to <br />create a win-win situation in that area. He said that he thought that neighborhood character was something <br />that a neighborhood could choose. He wondered if urban renewal was a tool that could be used in the area. <br />He added that whatever happened had to be customer-driven. He said that he thought that if one asked the <br />residents in these areas, police coverage would be their first priority. He said that he would support the <br />proposal for $10,000 to do the study. He added that he hoped that the County would be helping with <br />sponsoring the study. <br /> <br />Mr. Johnson clarified that the only policy that staff was working on for annexation was for new development. <br />He said that no staff was working on annexation for already developed areas. He added that the proposal <br />asked for information about the law regarding large annexations simply to get that information, not with the <br />intent to do anything about it. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap6 said that he sensed a change in attitude in the River Road/Santa Clara area in terms of cooperating <br />with the City. He said that he would like to see a task force formed in that area that included County and City <br />officials and residents from that area. He said that the most complaints that he heard from residents were <br />about streets, planning, and permits. Mr. Pap6 supported beginning the process and staying with it in order to <br />make things work better in that area. <br /> <br />In response to a question from Mr. Rayor, Mr. Johnson said that a new development could not get sewer lines <br />without being annexed. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly said that it was clear that the situation was not working for the customers. He said that he was <br />concerned about what the proposal covered. He said that he would like to see a background document that <br />covered all of the services, not just police, and that he would even support delaying the report if it could be <br />more comprehensive. He added that he liked Mr. Pap6's idea of a task force. Mr. Johnson explained that <br />staff could just not take on a large project right now and that the idea was to at least focus on police issues in <br />the area. Mr. Carlson also explained that this report was something that LCOG could do now based on <br />existing data and analysis. Mr. Kelly said that he would be more comfortable with broadening the context <br />and outline to include all the issues before approving Phase 1. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor wondered about, and asked the following series of questions: <br /> <br /> · How did we get into this situation? <br /> · Why did we start annexing little islands? <br /> · Why don't we know what the law is? <br /> · What do the citizens want? <br /> · Why can't LCOG pay for the report? <br /> <br />Mr. Johnson said that those questions would be best answered in writing. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council March 15, 2000 Page 8 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />