CC Minutes - 01/20/99 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Nathanson said that the task force would have liked to continued to work on the issue, but that it had been agreed that the criteria in the proposed agreement would serve as an adequate guide for future development. Mr. Farr stated that his biggest concern regarding the project was the cost involved. He said he also recognized the importance of safety in the proposals and was glad that the two concerns had been recognized. Mr. Farr asked if other service providers using wire delivery had been involved in the work of the task force. Mr. Lyle replied that telephone and cable television service providers had been invited to participate, and representatives did attend the meetings, but were not officially members of the task force. Most of these services were normally undergrounded at the same time as that of EWEB. Mr. Farr moved, seconded by Mr. PapS, to approved the Articles of Agreement proposed by the Underground Utility Task Force; and to direct the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding which incorporated the Articles of Agreement with the Eugene Water & Electric Board, subsequent to similar action on the proposal by the EWEB Board. Mr. Lee said that the proposed criteria and agreement would positively affect the older neighborhoods of his ward. He said he hoped that the project would move forward quickly. He expressed appreciation to Ms. Nathanson and other members of the task force. Mr. Farr and Mr. Pap8 left the meeting at 1:30 p.m. Mr. Kelly thanked the task force for its thorough work. In response to a question from Mr. Kelly, EWEB Director of Public Relations Marty Douglass stated that the expense of placing existing utility wires underground would be born by all rate payers, but that the expense of doing so in a new development would be paid for by the developer. Mr. Meisner expressed appreciation for the work of the task force. He said he would like as much undergrounding of facilities in his ward as possible. In response to a question from Mr. Meisner, Mr. Lyle explained that judging the "remaining life of existing overhead facilities" was done jointly by the City and EWEB on a project-by-project basis. Ms. Nathanson added that there was a lifetime for utility poles and wires, even with good maintenance. Mr. Meisner reiterated that he wanted to make sure that when an EWEB facility was rehabilitated that EWEB would place those facilities underground. The motion was adopted unanimously, 6:0, Mr. Farr and Mr. Pap8 having left the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 20, 1999 Page 10 11:30 a.m.