CC Minutes - 10/10/05 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Walch highlighted program developments facing the City, including the need to reduce the TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) of pollutants in the Willamette River, development of water quality waterway protections, development of a stormwater basin plan for Santa Clara in conjunction with Lane County, and implementation of the stormwater Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Ms. Walch recommended that the council direct staff to prepare the FY07 budget to include additional stormwater permit-related items. Mr. Poling opened the floor to questions. Mr. Kelly commended the presentation and packet materials. He said the Agenda Item Summary (AIS) mentioned the citywide policy related to pesticides and herbicides. He asked if that would apply to the City, other government agencies, the industry, or consumers. Ms. Walch said that it would apply to the City organization and would establish a consistent policy for the entire organization. She said staff found that the City had very good integrated pest management practices, but there were small differences between divisions and departments. Mr. Kelly requested a memorandum regarding the general public use or professional use of herbicides and pesticides in the community, and its relationship to the program established by the State legislature some time ago and only funded recently. He did not want to be redundant in regard to the State program, but he thought the issue had broader water quality implications. Mr. Kelly was supportive of the actions being proposed. He said he would be very interested to see the results of the protected waterways effort. He supported the option recommended by staff. Ms. Ortiz said she frequently received calls from constituents in her ward asking why they pay stormwater fees but received no stormwater service. She attempted to connect them to the appropriate staff. She wanted to know how many such residents existed, and what plans existed to get them “online.” Ms. Ortiz said she was generally very supportive of the program but would find that information useful. Ms. Walch responded that staff had met with the River Road and Santa Clara community organizations. The City would identify a long-term stormwater CIP and if the City or County was responsible for construction. Long-term issues related to the continued use of dry wells would also be addressed through that process. She emphasized staff’s interest in getting a lot of public involvement, and staff would work to keep those community organizations informed and involved. Mr. Pryor said it would be useful to know what would be paid for by the identified funding. He referred to the proposal for monitoring program expansion and equipment upgrades, and asked how that coordinated with the State’s reductions in its monitoring programs. He was if the City’s monitoring was coordinated with the State’s program. Ms. Walch said the local program did not compensate for the reductions in the State program. The monitoring done was what was necessary to satisfy the City’s own needs. Speaking to the proposed funding, Ms. Walch said it would be used to pay for three positions related to the development standards as well as needed equipment. City Manager Taylor said the staff recommendation came about as a result of the council’s decision to maintain the program within the current revenue structure as long as it met the City’s comprehensive policies and ensured permit renewal. As a result of the permit renewal, staff had identified specific gaps that spurred the changes recommended. MINUTES—Eugene City Council October 10, 2005 Page 9 Work Session