Laserfiche WebLink
Roll call vote; the motion to pass Item B, the Tentative Agenda, passed unanimously, 8:0. <br /> <br />Councilor Clark noted that due to the findings of compliance, lack of testimony received, and non-controversial nature <br />of Resolution 4963, annexing land to the City of Eugene, no public hearing was suggested. He asked if staff was <br />certain this was the best way to go. Assistant Planner for the Planning Division, Bill Almquist, replied that the City <br />Council had the option of modifying, denying, or approving annexations in a Consent Calendar in lieu of going to a <br />public hearing. He said it was staff’s position that no public hearing was necessary for the reasons that Councilor <br />Clark had listed. <br /> <br />Councilor Clark observed that the City was requesting that a portion of Beaver Street be included in the annexation. <br />He acknowledged that this did not create island annexation issues but he had not seen in the background material <br />whether or not this was an improved road. He did not think the City should annex an unimproved road given the <br />current road conditions. <br /> <br />Steve Nystrom, principal planner for the Planning Division, stated that the street was not fully improved, but the City <br />had an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Lane County that it would maintain some of the roads in that area and <br />this was one of the roads that the City was already responsible for in that IGA. <br /> <br />Councilor Clark remarked that the IGA could go away and, if annexed, the street would be permanently the City’s <br />problem. He was uncertain he could support it because it caused him concern that the City would intentionally take on <br />roads that were not improved. He thought the City should find a way to motivate the County to bring the road to an <br />“improved status” prior to taking on responsibility for it. <br /> <br />Councilor Taylor shared Councilor Clark’s concern regarding the annexation of a substandard road. She also wanted <br />to ask if the water and sewer pipes were adequately sized for a potential increase in development. Mr. Almquist <br />replied that the Public Works Department had determined the wastewater pipes were adequate and the Eugene Water <br />& Electric Board (EWEB) had made no comments to the contrary. <br /> <br />Councilor Taylor asked if staff knew what the owners intended to do with the property. Mr. Almquist responded that <br />he did not know their intentions and the property was currently zoned R-1, residential. In response to a follow-up <br />question from Councilor Taylor, Mr. Almquist clarified that if the owners of the property wished to change the zoning <br />they would have to apply to do so and it would be heard by the Hearings Official. <br /> <br />Councilor Brown asked if the church was occupied and active. Mr. Almquist replied that it was vacant and not <br />currently being used. In response to a follow-up question from Councilor Brown, Mr. Almquist said he was not aware <br />that the property had been tax exempt. <br /> <br />Roll call vote: the motion to approve Resolution 4963, annexing land to the City of Eugene, passed <br />7:1; Councilor Clark voting in opposition. <br /> <br />The meeting adjourned at 8:19 p.m. <br /> <br />Respectfully submitted, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Jon Ruiz <br />City Manager <br /> <br />(Recorded by Ruth Atcherson) <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council January 26, 2009 Page 5 <br /> Regular Meeting <br />