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ORDINANCE NO.
<br />GRANTING AN EXEMPTION FROM THE APPLICATION OF SECTION 6.200 OF
<br />THE EUGENE CODE, 1971, AND PROVIDING FOR A SUNSET DATE.
<br />The City Council of the City of Eugene finds as follows:
<br />A.Section 6.200 of the Eugene Code, 1971, (EC), proscribes the practice of open
<br />burning within the City of Eugene with specified exceptions to this ban. This ordinance, which
<br />makes a limited exception to EC 6.200, is a component of local measures designed to assure
<br />compliance with federal ambient air quality standards.
<br />B.Maintenance and enhancement of air quality is critical to the health and welfare of
<br />metropolitan area residents, the area's ability to attract new businesses, and the avoidance of
<br />sanctions for noncompliance.
<br />C.The West Eugene Wetlands Plan (the Plan), adopted by the City Council on May
<br />20, 1992 and amended numerous times since, sets forth policies for preserving significant
<br />wetlands in West Eugene, allowing development of lower quality wetlands, and establishing a
<br />system for mitigation of filled wetlands. The Plan also includes goals and policies for protecting
<br />and expanding populations and habitats of rare, threatened, or endangered plants, including
<br />Lomatium bradshawii Î delisted in February 2021)), Willamette Valley
<br />daisy (Erigeron decumbens var. decumbens(Lupinus oreganus), and
<br />policies for protecting and managing the native Willamette Valley wet prairie plant community. In
<br />addition, the Plan contains policies for managing the preserved wetlands in public ownership.
<br />D.Experimental burns conducted in 1986, 1987, and 1991 in the Willow Creek natural
<br />area within habitat containing the above-mentioned plant species have resulted in expansion of
<br />populations of those plants in the areas burned. Controlled burns in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,
<br />2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015,
<br />2016, 2017, and 2018 on several sites have also been beneficial for enhancing and maintaining
<br />wetland and associated upland habitats. The first ecological burn implemented in the Ridgeline
<br />Area occurred in 2018 at Suzanne Arlie Park following extensive mechanical fuels reduction.
<br />E.The Ridgeline Area Open Space Vision and Action Plan, published in February
<br />2008, is based on the Rivers to Ridges Vision and Strategies document endorsed by City Council
<br />on March 12, 2003. This document establishes management principles for the safety of
<br />recreational users and the reduction of potential hazards inherent to the rural-urban interface
<br />Vision and Action Plan recommends the implementation of prescribed fire (where feasible) to
<br />prevent woody vegetation from establishing in prairies and savannas and management of
<br />vegetation to help reduce risk of wildfire spreading to adjacent properties, also known as fuels
<br />reduction.
<br />F.Management of natural areas and preservation of fire-adapted native plant
<br />communities requires controlled open burning of vegetation for ecological purposes and to foster
<br />growth of native species in the areas noted on the map attached as Exhibit A hereto and
<br />incorporated herein by reference. Repeated burning of vegetation in these areas will enhance or
<br />maintain natural areas to sustain fire-adapted plant and animal communities.
<br />Ordinance - Page 1 of 3
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