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<br /> <br /> <br />ECC <br />UGENE ITY OUNCIL <br />AIS <br />GENDA TEM UMMARY <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Action: An Ordinance Amending Chapter 1, Introduction and Purpose Section of the <br />Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan by Adding Separate Population <br />Forecasts for the Cities of Springfield and Eugene for the Period 2010-2030 and Including <br />the Years 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034 and 2035; Adopting a Severability Clause; and <br />Providing an Effective Date (Eugene City File MA 09-6) <br /> <br /> <br />Meeting Date: October 12, 2009 Agenda Item Number: 3 <br />Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Jason Dedrick <br />www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541/682-5451 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ISSUE STATEMENT <br /> <br />The City Council is scheduled to take action on a proposal from the City of Springfield to amend the text <br />of the Metro Plan. This amendment would update population forecasts for the 2010-2035, period for the <br />cities of Eugene and Springfield, replacing the existing forecast that extends to the year 2015. <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />On September 22, 2009, the Eugene and Springfield City Councils and the Lane County Board of <br />Commissioners held a joint public hearing to amend the Metro Plan to update population forecasts for the <br />2010-2035 period, and replace the current population forecast that extends to 2015. There was no public <br />testimony received at the public hearing. Following closure of the public hearing, the Eugene City <br />Council, the Springfield City Council and the Lane County Board of Commissioners voted to leave the <br />record open until September 30, 2009 in order to receive additional testimony. No testimony was received <br />during this period. <br /> <br />State law gives the County (not the cities) the responsibility of determining the population forecast for all <br />of its cities. Once the County has adopted its countywide forecast, the cities must adopt consistent <br />comprehensive plan amendments for land use planning purposes, such as the city’s work under House <br />Bill 3337. Only when a county fails to adopt a countywide forecast can a city adopt its own (safe harbor) <br />forecast. Initially, it appeared that Lane County would not be adopting a countywide forecast within the <br />needed timeframe to be used for the purposes of the Eugene Comprehensive Lands Assessment (ECLA), <br />so the City began the process of adopting a safe harbor forecast. On June 17, 2009, Lane County adopted <br />the countywide coordinated population forecast into its Rural Comprehensive Plan. Now that the County <br />has adopted a countywide forecast, safe harbor is no longer an option, and we are required to proceed with <br />the adoption of the County forecast. <br /> <br />Lane County Adoption Process <br />Although state statutes require the cities to hold a public hearing before adopting the population forecast, <br />the most meaningful opportunity for community input was during the earlier County process. The County <br />contracted with Portland State University (PSU) to develop the population forecast. The County’s <br />process included a great deal of public outreach and was not appealed. The City participated in this <br /> <br /> <br />