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7. PUBLIC HEARING: Eugene Water & Electric Board Water Rights Mayor Piercy opened the public hearing. Roger Gray, 500 East 4 th Avenue, the General Manager of the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB), anticipated that the council would discuss EWEB's proposal to sell water to Veneta in January 2011. He said the Veneta contract would help EWEB demonstrate it had a use for a third water right on the McKenzie River. He emphasized the importance of long -term regional water planning to EWEB, the City, and the region. The Veneta contract made sense in that context. The contract moved EWEB toward certification of the third water right, started a regional discussion about a second source, and helped Veneta. He emphasized the importance of a second source to the community and suggested that if Eugene helped its neighbors they would be more inclined to help it, which would save money in the long -run. Dennis Friedrich, 88094 9` Street, Veneta, Superintendent of the Fern Ridge School District, urged the council to support the Veneta water contract because of the community's limited water supply. He emphasized the importance of an ample water supply to the schools and the residents and businesses of Veneta. Mark Robinowitz, PO Box 51222, Eugene, opposed EWEB's proposal to sell water to Veneta because of the precedent it set. He then went on to criticize EWEB's decision to relocate its operations functions to . west Eugene and its wish to keep its contract with Seneca private. He called for EWEB to make such documents public and to work to control toxins from entering the McKenzie River. Sharon Hobart Hardin, 88145 9 1h Street, Veneta, Mayor of Veneta, noted that two Veneta City Councilors were also present at the meeting due to the high priority the Veneta council placed on the issue. She requested council approval for EWEB's proposal to sell water to Veneta. She said Veneta had faced challenges regarding its water supply since its incorporation. Residents wanted to maintain Veneta as a standalone small city, and that vision could not be achieved without adequate and predictable water. Veneta was required by the State to plan to meet the demand for services created by residents over the next 20 years. She hoped to do so through the most sustainable, lowest cost means available, and for that reason the City Council had concluded that a partnership with EWEB was the most viable option. Walter Burt, 55 Southwest Yamhill Street, Suite 300, Portland, represented GIS Water Solutions. He shared technical information regarding Veneta's ability to be served by wells. Terry Nye, 25869 Vera Lane, Veneta, Fire Chief Lane County Fire District #1, spoke in support of the proposed water sale. He spoke of his department's use of Veneta municipal hydrants to fight fires in rural Lane County. He indicated that most of the year Veneta's water system was adequate, but in the summer the wells were at peak capacity. He was concerned that communities served by the district would not have enough water for an emergency when emergencies were most likely to happen. He emphasized the need for long -term planning that provided adequate water for Veneta. Mr. Nye believed EWEB was the most viable option. It had a secure, dependable water source that could be depended on for domestic, commercial, industrial, and public safety needs. Recent wells had not been very productive. He said a finding by the Oregon Water Resources Department restricted Veneta's access to future groundwater sources. Mr. Ney said that Veneta had secured federal funding to construct the necessary pipeline but an MINUTES— Eugene City Council December 13, 2010 Page 8 Regular Meeting