BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS'
REGULAR MEETING
August 3, 2010
1:30 p.m.
Harris Hall Main Floor
APPROVED 9-1-2010
Commissioner Bill Fleenor presided with Commissioners Bill Dwyer, Rob Handy, Pete Sorenson and Faye Stewart present. County Administrator Jeff Spartz, County Counsel Liane Richardson and Recording Secretary Melissa Zimmer were also present.
10. PUBLIC
HEARINGS
PUBLIC HEARING/
ACTION / In the
Assistant
County Counsel Andy Clark explained that the matter came to the Board by
resolution of the Emerald People’s Utility District (EPUD) to annex a single
lot into the EPUD district. He noted
the statute changes to the boundaries of public utility districts are governed
by Chapter 261 of the Oregon Revised Statutes.
He said the Board is to determine whether the boundary of the affected
territory is correct and if so, to refer it onto the electorate for the affected
territory. He indicated the boundary
is appropriate and correct and this matter could be referred to the electorate.
He noted the next special election is set for November 2, 2010.
He discussed possible changes in the order.
With regard to discretion, he said if this Board finds that the described
boundary is accurate and describes the territory to be affected and finds the
resolution complies with ORS Chapter 261, this Board must submit this for a
special election.
Dwyer
asked about the public benefit associated with this.
He asked who pays for the costs.
With
regard to public benefit,
Dwyer
commented that they are going to prepare an election for one elector who is on
the Board of Directors for EPUD.
Sorenson
asked if there was any legal issues with there only being one electorate voting.
Clark
said there was no legal issues.
He indicated the statute sets this up as the process.
Commissioner Fleenor opened the Public Hearing.
Sandra
Bishop,
Eugene, said she is not within the district of the PUD, she is a former EWEB
commissioner. She said it came to
her attention that something was going forward that was not a public benefit.
She said the Board is being asked to further the cause for annexing one
single residential property on a street that has at least three dozen
properties. She indicated that EPUD
is a public utility. She commented
that this was for a political purpose. She
noted the Board could approve the boundary description or they could ask more
questions to get more information. She
added the Board needed more information. She
said the resolution they received from EPUD is not valid.
She added that under 261.141 (b) and 261.460(3), all ordinances except
for emergency ordinances shall become effective thirty days after the date of
their passage. She asked for this
not to go forward and clear up questions before it is not in the public benefit.
Patti
Chappel,
Veneta, stated she is the Director of EPUD.
She indicated that she sold her former residence in Veneta and found a
piece of property in her service district. She
said after that, they found out the service district is different than the
political district. She indicated
there are 1200 people served by EPUD but not in the political district.
She commented that this should have been taken care of a long time ago to
make the utilities more efficient so there is a public benefit.
She noted it is confusing from the County’s standpoint.
She said they thought they would start with one property because it has
been challenging with
Jaime
Cramer,
Creswell, stated that she represents
EPUD. She stated they were directed
by their Board of Directors in January 2010 to clean up 1200 customers that are
not part of their district. She said
in doing so they started working with the County to figure out how an annexation
happens. She said they wanted to
start with single annexation. She
stated there is a difference between the service district and the political
districts. She said EPUD and the
County worked together and they decided it would be best if they could get the
single annexation process with the goal of next year to get all of the
properties in because in 2012 they will be doing a redistricting and they want
all of the properties in. She
indicated this is part of the process to bring the 1200 homes into EPUD’s
political jurisdictional boundaries.
There
being no one else signed up to speak, Commissioner Fleenor closed the Public
Hearing.
Sorenson
asked how they could hold an election if no one lives on the property.
Chappel said this housekeeping issue should have been taken care of before.
Dwyer
thought this should be a legislative fix that says when a utility takes over a
customer, that the political line follows the service.
Clark said there were questions on whether the process for doing this fell under Chapter 198, and that was how it originally came in. He thought it needed to be dealt with Chapter 261 and EPUD did another resolution. He said that was the discussion early on. He didn’t remember the discussion as being one property or everything in the neighborhood.
MOTION:
to hold an additional Public Hearing on this matter and continue it to August
18, 2010 at 1:30 p.m.
Sorenson
MOVED, Dwyer SECONDED.
Fleenor
asked how an election will be held with no elector.
Clark
said if Elections decides there is a registered voter at the lot, there would be
an election and if not, nothing would happen.
Chappel
thought the entire EPUD district could vote on this.
Stewart thought EPUD should decide if they want to move forward. He wanted to get a copy of the minutes of the EPUD meeting showing the resolution passing to get more clarity as to why this effort is taking place. He agreed to take care of this problem at the legislature.
Clark
said as he understands, voters
can register to vote close to elections. His
initial thought was that it was odd to have an election with one home.
He said the EPUD board could have a resolution to annex all of the
properties and that could be an option.
Dwyer
commented that this was not the avenue to use to achieve their objective.
VOTE:
5-0.
11. COMMISSIONERS’
BUSINESS
PRESENTATION/Working for You Video, Community and Economic Development: Sustaining
12. PUBLIC WORKS
STATUS REPORT/Work Group for Lane Code/Manual/Comp Plan Revisions.
Matt Laird, Land Management, explained that this is part two of the final report from the Lane Use Task Force.
Mike Reeder, Vice Chair, Land Use Task Force, recalled that last week Mia Nelson and Jim Mann reported on Part One of the Land Use Task Force process. He indicated there were 18 meetings the Land Use Task Force convened. He discussed his report on marginal lands, greenhouse gases and home occupation (Copy in file).
Sorenson wanted to take time to more formally thank the task force with a board order. He asked what the steps are to move this forward. He thought this could be notice to DLCD that they are going to be amending their code and they are going to hold a public hearing.
Laird said if they broadcast out these issues, it will generate the possibility of upsetting people unnecessarily. He said he will be required to schedule additional meetings that will fill up the agenda space so other projects will not be able to be scheduled. He indicated there was unanimous support for code compliance and it does not need to involve the Planning Commission. He thought they could do that on Consent Calendar. He added on marginal lands, they will need a public hearing on Rural Comp Plan policy amendments. He recalled they took a vote without the 50 or 60 year rotation in it and everyone supported everything else. He said the public hearing could focus on that issue. He said if it was passed, it would take things off the table.
Sorenson asked when they have to give notice to DLCD.
Laird said they will give notice on August 20. He said they will come back on August 18 and they will send notice.
Fleenor stated there were five issues that were solid: item 20, the ORL dwelling fix; item 19, contiguous definition; item 15, alternate code compliance amendments to Lane Manual; item 29 to 38, climate change and greenhouse resolution. He wanted to have staff blend the two proposals together into a resolution.
Reeder recalled that there wasn’t necessarily consensus on the issue of definition of contiguous, (item 19), but there wasn’t strong opposition to it.
Fleenor wanted to start a process. He said if they get push back on item 19 they can get it modified.
Reeder said if there are going to be non-consensus issues together with the DLCD notice, his recommendation (based on the work done with the subcommittee on F1 to F2) would be to put it in the same category. He suggested that everything go into the DLCD notice as well as F1 to F2.
Laird agreed the five items listed would go into a DLCD notice: compliance amendments, marginal lands, definition of contiguous, greenhouse gasses and home occupations.
Reeder said it is a political policy decision by the Board. He recalled the task force was charged to look at consensus. He said if they are solely looking at consensus issues, then many of these topics would go out.
Fleenor asked about item 39.
Reeder said they got close on marginal lands and F1 to F2 lands. He commented that it would be a shame not to include that in the process. He thought that was some of the best work the task force members did.
Fleenor thought all eight items should be included: item 20, 19, 15, 29 to 38, item 40, item 16 to 17, item 39, item 8 to 14.
Sorenson wanted this as part of an agenda item on August 18.
13. COMMISSIONERS' ANNOUNCEMENTS
Fleenor announced
that he will be at the Moose Lodge in
14. EXECUTIVE
SESSION as per ORS 192.660
(Commissioners' Conference Room)
Per ORS 192.660(2)(h) for the purpose of discussing pending litigation.
15. OTHER BUSINESS
Dwyer
wanted to facilitate a WIC clinic in
Spartz thought they should seek parking for the Charnelton building.
Sorenson said he and Handy had a town hall meeting on the Lane Events Center. He said they will be having another meeting on September 22. He said they need to get Rick Reno to make a presentation at the next meeting.
There being no further business, Commissioner Bill Fleenor recessed the meeting into Executive Session at 3:55 p.m.
Melissa Zimmer
Recording Secretary