Item 5: Ratification of IGR Actions of Feb. 27, and Mar. 6, 2013

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ATTACHMENT B IGR BILL REPORT FEBRUARY 27, 2013 / IGR COMMITTEE MEETING CITY OF EUGENE HB 2173 : Changes status of activities conducted to create, restore or enhance wetlands on land zoned for exclusive farm use from outright permitted use to conditional use. Exempts land zoned for exclusive farm use from limitation on liability for damage, injury or death for certain fish and wildlife habitat improvement projects and watershed or stream restoration or enhancement programs. Declares an emergency, effective on passage. Relating to: Relating to water projects; declaring an emergency Sponsored by: Representative Clem and Representative Krieger Staff Comments: House Bill 2173 would make “creation, restoration or enhancement of wetlands” a conditional use in the Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) zone. Currently these activities are outright permitted on EFU land. The City of Eugene should OPPOSE this bill. Since the mid 1990’s, the City of Eugene and its partners in the West Eugene Wetlands Program have restored and enhanced wetlands and we continue to do so. These wetland restoration projects meet multiple objectives for the City, including helping the City meet its goals for the broader Stormwater Program and meet water quality standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Oregon Department of Environment Quality. Adding the requirements to obtain a Conditional Use Permit would add substantial cost and time to the City to enhance and restore wetlands. Conditional Use Permits are subject to substantial public process and the potential for appeals to the Land Use Board of Appeals. This bill would make it harder for the City of Eugene, private landowners, non-profit organizations, and framers to engage in voluntary restoration activities. The bill is also opposed by multiple partner organizations of the City, including The Nature Conservancy. Recommendation: Priority 1 Oppose HB 2212 : Raises amount used to classify public procurement as small procurement under Public Contracting Code from maximum of $5,000 to maximum of $10,000 Relating to: Relating to an amount that constitutes a small procurement under the Public Contracting Code. Sponsored by: Staff Comments: This increase will be helpful for small procurements such as small purchases of materials or limited scope consultant services. This bill will have very little impact on public infrastructure contracts, however, and overall, very little impact on how Engineering procures contracts. This bill would increase the limit of small procurements from $5,000 to $10,000. Small procurements can be made using direct selection as opposed to a competitive process. Based on our research the statutory limitation was last changed from $2,500 to $5,000 in 1999, at the 1 | Page February 27, 2013 IGR Committee Meeting