CC Minutes - 05/19/99 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Nathanson did not want to lose sight of an integrated watershed management approach and expressed excitement the City could meet multiple objectives related to storm water management, wetland protection, and species preservation with the assistance and coordination of multiple State and federal agencies. She believed the West Eugene Wetlands Plan was a model for a common approach to an ideal solution. Mr. Bj0rklund noted that NMFS staff had indicated to the City that it was looking for models that integrated the Endangered Species Act with the Clean Water Act, but did not have the staff to develop such programs. There were opportunities for local municipalities with experience in natural resources planning to help them develop those models. Mr. Rayor was pleased the City was addressing the ramifications of the Endangered Species Act situation at this time. Referring to the provisions of the Arterial Street and Collector Plan, he said that the City needed to ensure it could preserve right-of-way for the installation of swales. The City needed to protect drainageways to protect the Willamette River. He would like to see guidelines for when developers should use technologies such as sediment separating vaults in development, new technology incorporated into the standards, improved enforcement and education, and improvements in maintenance. Public Works Department Director Christine Andersen said that the chart in the Arterial and Collector Street Plan did not infer the City would divest itself of existing right-of-way. The City would be acquiring additional right-of-way if needed for stream purposes. She referred the council to the Stormwater Annual Report, which included an overview of activities regarding the frequency of maintenance activities and information about the use of technologies such as swales and sediment vaults, and offered to make copies available. Ms. Taylor said the City needed a stronger erosion control ordinance and more enforcement of such ordinances. She said that she hoped the listing would lead to greater environmental awareness. Ms. Taylor also hoped the City was not merely meeting, but exceeding, environmental standards. She agreed with Ms. Nathanson's comments related to meeting multiple objectives. She said that the City should close any loopholes before it was too late, citing development along stream sides as an example. Mr. Lee stressed the complexity of the issues involved and the need for public education to change people's behaviors. He asked how the listing could be integrated into the City's Growth Management Study policies. Mr. Meisner believed that there were many things the City could do better on an environmental level. Many of the things that will need to be done regard private conduct. He believed that the City needed something similar to the McKenzie Watershed Council to ensure that all the citizen stakeholders were involved in decision making. Mr. Meisner said the City would not be able to pass ordinances implementing the listing without education. He said Eugene needed to begin to budget for its response to the Endangered Species Act listing in a way that involved citizens. Mr. Meisner did not think that the City had a formal stakeholder role in the McKenzie Watershed Council. He noted that he was no longer able to serve on the council and was unable to find another councilor to take his place. He believed the City should divert the financial contributions and effort now given to the McKenzie Watershed Council to a metropolitan response to the Endangered Species Act listing. Mr. Pap8 left the meeting. MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 19, 1999 Page 6 5:30 p.m.