Item 4: Ratification of IGR Committee Actions

Home Browse Search

million will come from the COPS grant with the remaining $1 million from the local match. EWEB has stated that it would be able to contribute a large portion of the match. The remaining will be provided by the City of Eugene, City of Springfield, Lane Rural Fire Department and Santa Clara Fire Department proportional to the number of subscriber units purchased. It also appears that several other jurisdictions are interested in participating in the grant. The Eugene Fire Department portion of the match is estimated to be $183,000 over a three-year period. Western Environmental Law Center’s (WELC) letter of support: WELC has requested the City of Eugene’s support of its petition to the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) to use its legislatively granted authority to ban all open field burning, propane flaming, stack and pile burning in the Willamette Valley. WELC’s petition will be made on the grounds that smoke and associated pollutants from field burning cause significant and sometimes life-threatening health impacts to residents of the Willamette Valley and are an extreme danger to public health and safety. Alternatively, WELC intends to urge the EQC to make a finding that reasonable and economically feasible, environmentally acceptable alternatives have been developed that warrant cessation of this archaic, dangerous practice. The IGR Committee voted unanimously to support the Western Environmental Law Center's request to the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission to ban field burning in the Willamette Valley. Because the letter of support to WELC was due on June 22, 2007, the letter was prepared and signed by Mayor Piercy. Accordingly, the IGR Committee is requesting validation of its support position. RELATED CITY POLICIES Ratification of IGR Committee actions is the making or affirming of the City of Eugene’s policy with respect to Federal and State legislative issues or such other matters as may come to the council from the committee. COUNCIL OPTIONS The council may ratify or decline to ratify the IGR Committee’s actions as set forth in the minutes of the committee's meeting. The council may also grant or decline to grant permission to the Emergency Management Program to apply for the COPS grant. Additionally, the council may validate or decline to validate the IGR Committee’s support of the Western Environmental Law Center's request to the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission to ban field burning. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager recommends ratification of the IGR Committee's actions as set forth in the minutes of the committee's meeting and that there be a discussion on the decisions that were not unanimous, as well as discussion on the grant request and the letter of support to ban field burning. SUGGESTED MOTION Move to ratify the IGR Committee's actions as set forth in the minutes of the May 8, May 22, May 29, and June 6, 2007, IGR Committee meetings. Motions to state positions for the bills, the COPS grant request, and the letter of support to WELC discussed at this City Council meeting may also be made. L:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M070625\S0706254.DOC