Item A: Joint Meeting with Eugene Water & Electric Board

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In spring 2011, council provided direction on the public involvement and decision-making process for ward redistricting and, following public input, on the criteria that drive the drawing of potential th boundaries. During a July 25 work session, the council reviewed two possible ward boundary scenarios. The two ward scenarios consider geographic and neighborhood features and strive for relative compactness and contiguity. The scenarios also attempt to bring the population for each of the potential new wards to within 3 percent of the even population target of 19,528 people. Maps of the two scenarios are available for public review at www.eugene-or.gov/redistricting (or see Attachment E). These scenarios provide a starting point for further refinements toward selection of final boundaries by the Eugene City Council. An interactive map, available on the website, allows people to compare the scenarios to current wards as well as to other boundaries such as neighborhood associations and major roads. In addition, the interactive map can help users find any city address and identify which ward it would be in for both scenarios. The map also displays U.S. Census data used in the ward redistricting process as well as demographic statistics for each scenario. A comment form on the map and a link to an online survey will collect feedback and suggestions from the public on the redistricting scenarios. Staff will also be available to present the scenarios to interested groups throughout August and September. A public hearing on the scenarios is scheduled for September 19, 2011. Issues of particular relevance to EWEB include: 1.Four of the EWEB Board members are each elected to represent two wards, with the fifth seat an at-large representative (currently, Commissioner John Simpson). Commissioner Joann Ernst currently represents Wards 1 and 8, Commissioner Bob Cassidy Wards 2 and 3, Commissioner John Brown Wards 4 and 5, and Commissioner Rich Cunningham Wards 6 and 7. The scenarios result in ward populations within 3 percent of the equal population target. Under Scenario 1, no two wards are more than 2.8 percent of one another. Under Scenario 2, no two wards are more than 3.8 percent of one another. For the combined EWEB wards, no double-ward is greater than 1.5 percent of another for Scenario 1 and 3.8 percent for Scenario 2. 2.By Eugene City Charter, Section 33, the council is responsible for dividing the city into wards and redefining boundaries to accord city residents equal protection under the laws, and no person may vote at a city election in a ward other than in which she or he resides. For more information, including agenda packets provided to the Eugene Council earlier this year, please visit the City’s ward redistricting website: www.eugene-or.gov/redistricting. Or contact Laura Hammond, Eugene Planning & Development Department at (541) 682-6021 Electric Vehicle Project Update The I-5 corridor between Eugene and Portland was selected as one of the original test sites for the federally funded EV project. The list of participating cities has since expanded to 18 cities across six states. Deployment of charging infrastructure began last winter, as did delivery electric vehicles to 3