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Mayor Torrey opened the public hearing. Seeing no one who wished to speak to the issue, Mayor Torrey closed the public hearing. In response to a question from Councilor Pap6, Assistant City Manager Jim Carlson explained that the properties could not be included on the tax rolls of the City until the City Council had taken action to withdraw them from the districts. He said, with council approval, the properties would be taxed for the City as of April 1, 2004, but without council approval, the properties would be taxed by both the special districts and the City. Mayor Torrey asked if there was any council objection to taking action. Seeing none, he called for a motion. Councilor Bettman, seconded by Councilor Poling, moved that the City council adopt Council Bill 4868, an ordinance providing for withdrawal of territories from special districts. Roll call vote; the motion passed unanimously, 8:0. 5. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Adopting Hazardous Substance User Fees for the Fiscal Year Commencing July 1, 2004 Mr. Taylor said Glen Potter, Fire and Emergency Medical Services staff to the Toxics Board, would outline the recommendations regarding the fees that were subject to the hearing. Mr. Potter stated that the Toxics Board was, for the first time, forced by legislative action to implement a State fee cap of $2,000 per year per facility for the fees. He reiterated, as explained in the council packet, that the cap inevitably had the effect of substantially reducing fees for larger employees and substantially increasing fees for smaller employees in order to maintain the stability of the program. He explained this was the foundation for the recommendation that the fees be increased to $31.65 per full time equivalent (FTE), up to the State maximum of $2,000. Mayor Torrey opened the public hearing. John Jordan-Cascade, 1575 Larkspur Loop, stated that he had resided in the City of Eugene since 1978. He alleged that the City had let narrow business interests "run roughshod over the public interests." He stressed that the Toxics Right-to-Know Law was passed in 1996 by a majority of the voters despite the best attempts by business interests to dissuade them. He affirmed the public's fundamental right to know the identity and amounts of toxic chemicals released into workplaces, air, water, soil, and environment of the community as mandated by this law, calling the law innovative and unique. He asserted the law had been successful in serving the interests of Eugeneans and that it was the first and best right-to-know law in the nation. He opposed holding another ballot on the law, calling it an unnecessary financial burden on the public. Mr. Jordan-Cascade alleged that councilors Nathanson and Meisner had received a rating of ten percent on their votes on conservation issues from the Oregon League of Conservation Voters. He exhorted the council to let the record show by their votes whether they were on the side of public health. Ruth Wilday, 3120 Coraly Avenue, noted that she resided in a heavily industrialized area. She lauded the Toxics Right-to-Know website, calling it an "amazing" resource. She felt the Toxics Right-To-Know law was a wonderful law. She recommended basing fees on a straight her eanit~ nr per gallon amount. Fe~oixia-ry 23 7~004' Page 10