Item 2: Coordinated Population Metropolitan Plan Amendment

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Public Hearing: An Ordinance Amending Chapter 1, Introduction and Purpose Section of the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan by Adding Separate Population Forecasts for the Cities of Springfield and Eugene for the Period 2010-2030 and Including the Years 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034 and 2035 and Adopting a Severability Clause (Eugene City File MA 09-6) Meeting Date: September 22, 2009 Agenda Item Number: 2 Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Jason Dedrick www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541/682-5451 ISSUE STATEMENT This joint public hearing with the Eugene and Springfield City Councils and the Lane County Board of Commissioners is being held on a proposal to amend the Metro Plan. The proposed text amendment to the Metro Plan would update population forecasts for the 2010-2035, period, for the cities of Eugene and Springfield, replacing the existing forecast that extends to the year 2015. BACKGROUND State law gives the County (not the cities) the responsibility of determining the forecast for all of its cities. Once the County has adopted its countywide forecast, the cities must adopt consistent comprehensive plan amendments for land use planning purposes, such as the City’s work under House Bill 3337. Lane County adopted the countywide coordinated population forecast into its Rural Comprehensive Plan on June 17, 2009. Only when a county fails to adopt a countywide forecast can a city adopt its own (safe harbor) forecast. Initially, it appeared that Lane County would not be adopting a countywide forecast within the needed timeframe to be used for the purposes of the Eugene Comprehensive Lands Assessment (ECLA), so the City began the process of adopting a safe harbor forecast. However, now that the County has adopted a countywide forecast, safe harbor is no longer an option, and the City is required to proceed with the adoption of the County forecast. Lane County Adoption Process Although state statutes require the cities to hold a public hearing before adopting the population forecast, the most meaningful opportunity for community input was during the earlier County process. The County’s process included a great deal of public outreach and was not appealed. The City participated in this process by attending public hearings as well as separate meetings convened by the County where representatives from each city had the opportunity to provide comments and interact directly with representatives from Portland State University (PSU), who were contracted to develop the forecast. Staff submitted comments as part of these meetings and they were satisfactorily addressed by PSU and the County. Exhibit A, Attachment 1, contains the findings as well as the County agenda item and ordinance associated with adoption of the coordinated population forecast into the Rural Comprehensive Plan. Z:\CMO\2009 Council Agendas\M090922\S0909222.doc