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Councilor Pap~ pointed out that the total cost of the capital improvements was listed at $160 million on page 113 of the packet. He asked why there was a discrepancy from the original number presented before the council. Dave Jewett, legal counsel for the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission, responded that the cost for the improvements had not increased. He explained that Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) required the cost estimate to encompass all possible work. Because of this, the estimate involved additional work that would not be completed unless the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) required it. He said efforts were being made to convince the DEQ that the additional work was unnecessary. Councilor Bettman, seconded by Councilor Poling, moved that the Council adopt Council Bill 4876, amending the Metro Plan text. Councilor Bettman voiced her support for both motions, though not unconditionally. She believed the financing proposal to be better than what was in place, but felt some of the cost should be borne by SDCs. She reiterated her feelings that SDCs were "artificially low" to the ratepayers. Councilor Meisner conveyed his reluctant support for the motions. He recapped his previously stated concerns regarding MWMC, its contemplated 20-year plan, the cost of the plan, its specific choices, and, most of all, the lack of public knowledge about the process and the consequences of the process. He predicted "it" would "come back to bite us." Councilor Pap6 echoed Councilor Meisner's concerns, particularly the lack of public process. He agreed that the statutory process had been followed, but felt the lack of information on the cost of the 20-year project list did not allow the public to consider what the MWMC was setting forth in an educated way. He asked if approval of the two ordinances would prejudice taking on a parmership with the City of Coburg. Mr. Yeiter stated that the ordinances would not change the existing policy. City Attorney Glenn Klein agreed, adding that at this stage the result of a "yea" or "nay" vote would have an identical effect on the possibility of parmering with Coburg. Councilor Pap6 wanted to state for the record that the legislative intent was that, should efficiencies be found through partnership, the City of Eugene would be willing to parmer with Coburg on a wastewater facility. Mayor Torrey voiced his respect for what Councilor Meisner and Councilor Pap~ said regarding reaching out to the public. He said the frustration, however, lay in the fact that this was not a "sexy item" for the public. He remarked that as often as the MWMC tried to reach out and invite the public to speak to this, they had not been able to raise much interest in its long-term planning. He complimented the staff of the MWMC and the three jurisdictions who weighed in on the matter in their recent efforts to reach out to Coburg. Councilor Meisner clarified that he was not concerned with the number of people who testified on the item. He felt the communication to the public did not state in a clear fashion that the public hearings were about a double-digit percentage increase in wastewater rates. MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 26, 2004 Page 7 Regular Meeting