HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 4506
RESOLUTION NO. t..fSDh
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE SITING OF A
STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN THE EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD
METROPOLITAN AREA
The City Council of the City of Eugene finds that:
A. In 1995, the Oregon Legislative Assembly adopted, and the Governor signed,
House Bill ("HB") 2214 in order to establish an expedited process for the siting of additional
correctional facilities in this state. Pursuant to that process, the Oregon Department of
Corrections ("ODOC") solicited from local governments statements of interest in the siting of
correctional facilities within or near the local jurisdictions. Numerous local governments adopted
resolutions expressing such an interest. Neither the City of Eugene, City of Springfield nor Lane
County adopted a resolution expressing any interest in having the State locate a correctional
facility in or around the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area ("metro area"). Among other
factors to be considered in determining whether to nominate a site, HB 2214 requires that ODOC
base its decision on (a) the interest demonstrated by local jurisdictions in having a site selected
for a corrections facility within their jurisdiction, and (b) the availability of, or the ability of the
local jurisdictions to provide, adequate infrastructure (such as water and sewer) to serve the
facility. There was no interest expressed by any of the three governments and there are
unanswered questions about our ability to adequately serve the proposed facility with needed
infrastructure.
B. On October 2, 1996, officials from ODOC met with local officials to inform them
that ODOC was considering nominating a site in the metro area for a medium security correctional
facility. Prior to that date, no state official had indicated any intent to site such a facility in this
area. Nor had Eugene, Springfield, or Lane County expressed any interest in having the State
locate a correctional facility in or around the metro area.
C. ODOC indicated that the site under consideration was located near the Eugene
Airport. The site is approximately 400 acres in size. Half the site is located within the urban
growth boundary ("UGB"), and the other half is located outside. The medium security prison
would incarcerate up to 1600 medium security prisoners. In addition, up to 600 correctional
facility guards and staff would work at the prison. The facility would require approximately 2.4
million gallons of water per day, and produce up to 1.4 million gallons of wastewater. ODOC' s
consultant indicated that the facility would obtain its water from the Eugene Water and Electric
Board ("EWEB"), and would need to dispose of its wastewater to the regional wastewater
treatment facility serving the metro area.
D. For several reasons, sufficient or adequate water may not be available to serve the
proposed correctional facility. First, EWEB may not have the capacity to provide on a daily basis
an additional 2.4 million gallons of water without jeopardizing EWEB's ability to provide full
water service to its current customers. Second, it is unlawful for EWEB to provide water service
to this site. The correctional facility would be located at least partially, and possibly entirely,
outside the UGB. State law (ORS 199.464) prohibits EWEB from extending water service beyond
the UGB. Moreover, Resolution No. 2643, adopted by the Eugene City Council on March 28,
1977, also prohibits EWEB from extending water service to areas outside the UGB.
E. Similarly, sanitary service legally is not available, and may not be made available,
to the prison site. Sanitary service in the metro area is provided by the Metropolitan Wastewater
Management Commission ("MWMC"). State law (ORS 199.464) prohibits MWMC from
providing such service outside the UGB. MWMC also is prohibited from providing such service
outside the UGB by the intergovernmental agreement creating MWMC.
F. Other than information from ODOC's consultants about water and sewer, and the
identification of the site and numbers of prisoners and staff, ODOC has not, as of this date,
provided sufficient information about the site, the operation, the effects on the metro area, or
similar information which Eugene, Springfield and Lane County could use to further evaluate the
possible nomination.
G. It is possible that the siting of a medium security correctional facility on a site just
outside the UGB may have detrimental effects on the metro area. The facility may result in
increased costs to the local communities -- both in terms of social services and growth. In the
event that the metro area is nominated, the local jurisdictions need time and information from
ODOC in order to analyze the potential impacts, identify possible conditions to alleviate those
impacts, and then prepare as best as possible to deal with those impacts. Other communities --
those which expressed an interest in having a correctional facility located within their jurisdiction
-- have had months to contemplate such issues. Therefore, the consideration and development of
those sites should precede consideration of a site in the metro area.
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EUGENE, a
Municipal Corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows:
Section 1. At this time, the City of Eugene opposes the siting of a State correctional
facility in the metro area. The site does not appear to meet the mandatory criteria established for
nominating a site, including the requirements for adequate water and sanitary sewer.
Section 2. In the event that ODOC nevertheless nominates the metro area, the State
Corrections Facilities Siting Authority should schedule the hearing on the metro area site as late
as possible, in order to provide the community a meaningful opportunity to respond to that
nomination.
Section 3. The City of Eugene wants to cooperate with ODOC in determining the
feasibility of using the site near the Eugene Airport for a prison and directs the City Manager to
make staff time available to assist ODOC.
The foregoing Resolution adopted the I ~ day of October, 1996.
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City Recorder