CC Minutes - 11/28/05 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Medary said that staff was working through the next steps of building the Environmental Education Center (EEC). She stated that the federally owned “Red House property” had to be transferred into local ownership in order to continue working towards a multi-partner development of the site. She explained that in working with the Federal Congressional Delegation, they had been contacted by the Association of Oregon and California Counties (O & C) and it identified that the BLM site was purchased with funds generated from O & C lands. She stressed that the O & C had a “no net loss” policy with the BLM for O & C lands and asked the BLM to honor the policy. She said staff felt the land transfer would be a “win-win solution,” in that a parcel in West Eugene had been identified that had a majority of BLM funds in it as they had purchased an overlying/underlying conservation easement on it. She conveyed staff’s proposal that the City give the remaining fee title ownership on that piece of property to the BLM so that it could honor the “no net loss” policy with the O & C Counties. Ms. Medary noted that under the City ownership, the goals for the property proposed to be transferred were habitat conservation, natural resource values, recreation connections and the BLM shared those same goals. She stressed that this transfer did not represent any loss to the city. She asked the council to support the proposal, which would happen if and when the “Red House site” was legislatively transferred to the City of Eugene. She added that if the City was not able to build the ECC on that site, all of the transaction would be reverted and the City would retain ownership of the Quarry Lane site, the site proposed to be transferred. Councilor Poling, seconded by Councilor Solomon, moved to direct the City Manager to execute a land transfer of approximately 19 acres of the Quarry Lane site to the Bureau of Land Management, if needed, to satisfy the “no net loss” policy with the Association of Oregon and California Counties. Councilor Bettman felt there was not enough information in the AIS, though it sounded like a great plan. She said to receive the questions from Mr. Matthews and Ms. Segel had been troubling and this could have been circumvented had there been adequate information in the AIS. In response to a question from Councilor Bettman, Ms. Medary said the “Red House” site had buildings on it, adding that this was one of the reasons it was considered an ideal site. Councilor Bettman asked what percentage of the site had buildings on it. Ms. Medary responded that most of the site was developed. Councilor Bettman asked what the comparative costs of the sites were. Ms. Medary replied that the Quarry Lane site had cost the City $28,000 and cost the BLM approximately $121,000. She said the City would be giving its $28,000 investment and receiving in return 12 acres inside the UGB at the “Red House” site. Councilor Papé questioned the equity of trading a 19-acre parcel for a 12-acre parcel. Ms. Medary responded that the portion of the site on which the BLM had a conservation easement was 19 acres. She averred that it made sense to pick a piece on which the BLM had already done the work to transfer it into their ownership. She stressed that no additional cost would be brought about by trying to subdivide or do additional survey work on the property as it stood. Councilor Papé expressed concern that this would take 19 acres out of the City’s parks inventory and would only receive 12 acres. Ms. Medary responded that the land would still be in the partnership and would still be publicly owned and tagged together with all of the parcels in West Eugene. She recognized his point, but MINUTES—Eugene City Council November 28, 2005 Page 10 Regular Session