Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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Mr. Poling reminded councilors that he and Ms. Piercy would participate in a One-on-One session at Albertson’s, on Coburg Road. He was pleased the Safety First weekend had again been a successful event. He would be away from City Council meetings for about two weeks beginning July 14. He would participate by telephone. Mr. Brown attended the Community Alliance of Lane County (CALC) open house on June 25. The organization rededicated the CALC building as the Leslie Brockelbank Peace and Justice Center, and participated in the Whitaker Last Friday Art Walk. He attended the Jefferson Westside Neighbors picnic at Monroe Park. Ms. Taylor reported the Crest Drive Citizens’ Association held a garden party which featured a book of oral histories about the neighborhood. She had read in the newspaper that there were several million dollars remaining in the parks fund. She did not think it was a good idea for the City to help John Musumeci out by spending that money on property he had available, but she did think the City should buy the Amazon headwaters property to protect the water. She was concerned about parking in the Walnut Mixed-Use Center. Jeff Nelson made good points in a communication he had sent to councilors. Mr. Ruiz said he would join neighborhood leaders from River Road, and Santa Clara, on a tour of the neighborhoods on June 29, 2010. A media event featuring the Beam project downtown was scheduled for June 29, and Summer in the City started on June 30. City of Eugene Fire and Emergency Services Chief Randy Groves would begin serving as the Acting Chief for the City of Springfield on July 1. He would attend the Wilamut Natural Area meeting on July 15. B. WORK SESSION: Eugene Water Board Sale of Water (EWEB) to Veneta Mr. Ruiz introduced Brenda Wilson, City of Eugene Intergovernmental Relations Manager. She reviewed the history of the issue, stating the council was presented with background information on May 12, 2010, on the proposed water sale to the City of Veneta by EWEB. EWEB had filed a contract with the Lane County Circuit Court for validation. The council raised many questions about the sale and the certification/perfection of water rights in general. The council directed staff to: schedule a joint meeting with the EWEB Board of Directors before the council made a decision on the issue; schedule a public forum, with EWEB’s involvement, to provide information to the public about the proposed sale of water; and to schedule a public hearing on EWEB’s proposed sale of water to the City of Veneta. EWEB filed for a 30-day extension of time, which was now June 30, 2010, in order to file an appearance in the validation case in order to provide more time for the process directed by the council. In addition to receiving information at the council-directed sessions, public comment had been received from Jan Wilson of the Western Environmental Law Center, Shawn Boles, Howie Bonnett, and Dave Funk, and EWEB, copies of which were attached to the Agenda Item Summary (AIS). While the Eugene City Manager believed the perfection of the third water right was in the City of Eugene’s interest, he also believed that the issue of Charter authority should be resolved first. The City Manager recommended that the City intervene in the pending validation proceeding. At the request of Ms. Piercy, Mr. Ruiz explained his recommendation was to ask the City Council to direct staff to intervene in the process and resolve the charter authority before the City considered the contract with the City of Veneta. He added the City of Eugene was engaged in the Envision Eugene process that was providing opportunities for discussions around how the community wanted to grow, which may or may not inform the EWEB water sale discussion. MINUTES—Eugene City Council June 28, 2010 Page 2 Work Session