Item A: River Road/Santa Clara Transition Project

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Assumptions and Limitations Fiscal and Legal Implications 1. . The financial and tax implications of urbanization and annexation to the City of Eugene is not directly addressed by this White Paper. EcoNorthwest Inc. has already conducted such an analysis, and it is assumed that such implications of urbanization and annexation have been or will be assessed elsewhere. Similarly, an analysis of the legal and statutory options available to municipalities in the State of Oregon with respect to urbanization and annexation was not conducted, except insofar as urban transition and heritage initiatives and options identified in this White Paper take into consideration the general limitations of such legal issues. The “Inevitability” of Urbanization and Annexation 2. . The goal of this White Paper is to identify initiatives and options that foster and support a real sense that urbanization and eventual future annexation does not necessarily mean an absolute loss of heritage, control and community. This being said, practically all the service options outlined in the White Paper are annexation “neutral” – many options can be part of strategies and positions the community (or local governments) may want to pursue under ANY circumstances, and such options may be useful regardless of the current or future circumstances influencing the pace of annexation. The neighborhoods in question will, nonetheless, eventually become part of the City and its governance, based on the simple facts that River Road and Santa Clara are within the UGB, and that considerable parts of both neighborhoods are already annexed. Applicability within State Land Use Law. 3. Research focused on Oregon examples, and the recommended initiatives and options in this White Paper are generally feasible under Oregon land use law and the stipulations of ORS 199 and 222, which govern annexation options in Oregon, and OAR 191, which is specific to the Lane County Boundary Commission, and other applicable State regulations and policies. A comprehensive legal and statutory compliance analysis of each option is, however, well outside the scope of this White Paper, and any selected options should be examined with the caveat that additional research may be required. Applicability within Local and Regional Policy 4. . Identified initiatives and options considered the policies and authorities of the City, and other impacted service providers, and take into account applicable regional policies and adopted plans accordingly. This does not mean, however, that useful and effective options were omitted simply because they were contrary to an adopted local or regional policy. Differing from the above stated general standard for compliance with State statutes, non-compliance with adopted local or regional policy was not a “default” criteria for dropping an urban transition or heritage option. All things being otherwise equal, if the policy or ordinance changes necessary to make an otherwise effective option feasible were within the authority of local or regional government, such options have been included. Comprehensive Nature of the Analysis. 5. This White Paper does not purport to explain each initiative and option in its entirety, or to be a complete and authoritative feasibility analysis for each. The initiatives and options described herein appear to hold promise for the community, but only the test of the public process will decide what works and what doesn’t. That will be the responsibility of the City, local service providers, the two neighborhoods, and other impacted citizens and stakeholders. The White Paper is an outline of ideas that the neighborhoods could promote – or local governments offer. The White Paper is a starting place – not a final “plan” or a “strategy”. 3 River Road/Santa Clara Transition/Heritage White Paper DRAFT 11-24-05 Service provider Review