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Springfield is at risk under this proposal. She indicated that at this time there are <br />no County protective regulations regarding water quality or the resources to <br />provide them. She said the League believes that interdependence of land use <br />planning and water planning must be recognized and required at all levels of <br />government. She commented that water is a resource that should be managed for <br />the benefit of the public and sustainable habitat for all life forms. She said the <br />League opposes Ordinance PA 1281 and urges the Board of Commissioners to <br />reject it. <br /> <br />Mia Nelson, Eugene, 1000 Friends of Oregon, commented that this is a major <br />change and one of the most important decisions they might ever make. She asked <br />for Springfield and Eugene to be careful. She said this is only about the County’s <br />ability to say no. She stated that if the cities say yes to this, they will have the <br />same rights that any citizen has and not more. She didn’t understand why the city <br />would give that up. She commented that this is not just about the County and <br />Springfield; there are substantive rights for Eugene at stake. She thought the <br />phased idea was a bad idea. She stated there is no urgency to this. <br /> <br />Robert Emmons, Fall Creek, said he is President of Landwatch Lane County. He <br />commented that it was disingenuous to say that this proposal would retain <br />regional planning. He said when Springfield instigated HB3337 to separate itself <br />from Eugene; regional planning was on the way out. He commented with <br />Metropolitan Planning, Eugene, Springfield and Lane County benefit singularly <br />and collectively by having a governing body where decisions of regional import <br />are based on the separate but equal authority of its three jurisdictions. He said <br />that land use decisions that affect Eugene and Springfield affect the County as a <br />whole and the reverse is true. He thought that regional or interjurisdictional <br />planning could help mitigate or eliminate negative impacts and protect common <br />resources. <br /> <br />Kate Kelly, Eugene, said she is speaking as a private citizen and River Road <br />resident. She recalled that since the 80’s Eugene, Springfield and Lane County <br />have worked jointly concerning issues around the Metro Plan Boundary and all <br />three jurisdictions have had a joint voice in what is happening in the areas. She <br />stated there is a move by the present Board of Commissioners to do away with <br />this long established tradition. She added that the Board wants to establish sole <br />authority for the land between the UGB and the Metro Plan, leaving Springfield <br />and Eugene without a voice in how these lands are developed. She said she was <br />concerned about the potential of water quality. She asked why Springfield would <br />give up authority over its drinking water and leave it to the discretion of the <br />County. She noted that both Eugene and Springfield are looking to expand the <br />UGB’s in the future so she didn’t know why this issue was taking place now. She <br />was concerned about eliminating the checks and balances that are in place. She <br />asked the elected officials to think long and hard about giving up this right. <br /> <br />12 <br /> <br /> <br />