Item A: River Road/Santa Clara Transition Project

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Both Lane Rural and Santa Clara Fire have a volunteer firefighter component supporting fire protection services, and both fire districts represent that the volunteers are essential to providing viable fire protection service to the neighborhood. The City of Eugene cannot actually permit volunteer brigades based on its current collective bargaining agreement with the firefighters union. This particular provision has been in place for approximately 15 years. Lane Fire/Rescue has a collective bargaining agreement with the same union but has nonetheless continued to sustain a volunteer service. In the past, Lane Rural Fire and Santa Clara Fire have considered the possibility of a merger, but these talks did not yield such an outcome. Lane Rural Fire has expressed concern that a merger with Santa Clara could eventually (if the pace of annexation continues) result in a higher tax rate for the consolidated district than presently enjoyed by the property owners within Lane Fire. This circumstance could result if “out-of-UGB” residential properties are all that remain from the original Santa Clara Fire District. Transition and Heritage Options River Road Insofar as there are no fire districts servicing the River Road neighborhood, the question of transition and heritage strategies in this neighborhood appear almost moot. Nonetheless, the issue of the continued viability of the River Road Water District, which both maintains local waterlines and retails water (obtained from the Eugene Water and Electric Board) to non-City properties, and contracts for City fire protection for those same non-City properties, provides reason to consider some transition or heritage options. If the Water District were to go out of business, there would be no local neighborhood institution via which the City could pass-through fire services to non-City properties (except theoretically the River Road Parks and Recreation District). Transition Options ? Option No. 1: EWEB Contract - The City and the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) negotiate a contingency agreement for River Road fire protection service, with EWEB assuming the current role of the Water District, if the River Road Water District were to cease operations. Advantages: EWEB is a firmly established governmental agency, and would not face a shrinking customer and tax base such as the River Road Water District will experience as incorporation continues apace. Challenges: The role of fire service contractor may not interest EWEB ? Option No. 2: Fire District Contract – The City contracts with Santa Clara or Lane Fire to protect unincorporated residents and businesses in River Road (again only if the River Road Water District were to cease operations). Advantages: May help to sustain local institutions (e.g.: the two fire districts) already in the business of fire protection Challenges: Neither Santa Clara Fire nor Lane Fire may have the operational capacity to expand to River Road, nor the ability to develop needed physical infrastructure; Eugene Fire is expanding in the general area already (e.g.: new Santa Clara City fire station) ? Option No3: City Provides Non-City Fire Protection Service without Pass-Through . Contract - The logical conclusion once all properties within River Road are incorporated (but one that creates issues of equity until that happens – see Challenges below) Advantages: City is already the provider for all residents and businesses in River Road, either directly or through contract wit the local water district Challenges: Absent another solution (see above), if the River Road Water District were to cease operations before the neighborhood was fully incorporated, the City may 10 River Road/Santa Clara Transition/Heritage White Paper DRAFT 11-24-05 Service provider Review