CCMinutes - 07/26/04 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilor Papd 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 partnership 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 partnering with Coburg. Councilor Papd 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 partner with Coburg on a wastewater facility. Mayor Torrey voiced his respect for what Councilor Meisner and Councilor Pap6 said regarding reaching out to the public. He said the frustration, however, lay in the fact that this was not a %exy 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. Councilor Poling spoke as an MWMC commissioner. He related that the commission had debriefed the whole issue and understood that the information to the public had not been adequate. He conveyed the commission's desire to do a better job in the future in this respect. Roll call vote; the motion passed, 7:0. Councilor Bettman, seconded by Councilor Poling, moved that the City Council adopt Council Bill 4877, amending the Public Facilities and Services Plan. Roll call vote; the mo- tion passed unanimously, 7:0. Councilor Bettman remarked that it seemed that staff was already working on a partnership with the City of Coburg. She asked if the council had given the authority to staff to do so. Mr. Taylor responded that there had been talk of an interjurisdictional meeting of staff. He said there had been two meetings and a document on the expedited scope overview was being prepared for the council. Councilor Bettman reiterated her objection to staff moving forward on this without council authorization. She wished to clarify that staff started to move on this issue without a ;;decision point" at the City Council or the Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC) levels. She felt staff was moving forward on a ;;monumental issue" which would cost the ratepayers money. She expressed alarm at this. Councilor Nathanson stated that her understanding of the staff activity was that it was usual in that staff was conducting scoping activities prior to bringing information to the council. Mr. Taylor affirmed this. Mayor Torrey pointed out that this was becoming another agenda item. He recommended the council proceed with the agenda before it, as written.