July 29, 1998
WORK SESSION-BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
1:30 p.m. Harris Hall Main Floor
Commissioner Steve Cornacchia presided with Commissioners Ellie Dumdi, Bobby Green,
Sr., Peter Sorenson and Cindy Weeldreyer present. Acting County Administrator David
Suchart, County Counsel Teresa Wilson and Recording Secretary Melissa Zimmer were also
present.
12. COMMISSIONERS' ANNOUNCEMENTS
Green announced that on Monday he attended a meeting of the Local Government Advisory
Committee's Association (LGAC), the committee that is the advisory group to the Oregon
State Commission on Children and Families. He reported that he is Chair of the committee.
He added that letters will be going out to school board and county chairs asking them two
questions: "What population falls through the cracks in the delivery system?"
and "What are the systemic barriers that obstruct or prevent you from providing
services to these populations?" He said this information will be used by the governor
to help formalize a statewide system. He also announced that he attended the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) National Conference in Atlanta,
Georgia.
Dumdi reported that she attended the NACo Convention in Portland. She said there were
5,000 delegates from all over the country. She said there were several sessions related to
children, families, teenagers and violence in the work place. She said she moderated a
session called "Violence in the Work Place."
Weeldreyer reported that she also attended the NACo Convention in Portland. She attended
meetings with community, rural, economic development and transportation and
telecommunication issues. Also, she congratulated the community of Leaburg for a
successful festival and said she attended the Westfir community clean-up.
Cornacchia announced that tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. there will be ground breaking for the
substance abuse facilities at the Juvenile Justice Center, with Governor Kitzhaber in
attendance.
Dumdi said that she has been President of the Women Officials of NACo and as part of her
responsibility, she gives a presidential scholarship. She said this year's recipient,
Alexann Ralph of Eugene/Springfield, was awarded the scholarship at the convention, but
the sponsor of the scholarship was in Houston, Texas and not everything arrived. She asked
if a presentation could be made during a meeting. She also announced that the Applegate
Trail Days will be in the Veneta/Elmira area this weekend.
13. PUBLIC HEARINGS
a. SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING/Ordinance PA 1118/In the Matter of Amending
the Rural Comprehensive Plan to Redesignate Land From "Agriculture" to
"Marginal Land" and Rezoning That Land From "E-40/Exclusive Farm Use"
to "ML/Marginal Land"; and Adopting Savings and Severability Clauses (file PA
0026-98; Myers/Rudinsky).
Cornacchia opened Public Hearing. There were no ex parte contacts reported by any of
the Commissioners.
Mike Copely, Land Management Division, said the property is a 96 acre piece on the
southeast side of Gimpl Hill Road. He said the land has two owners. He said the proposal
is for marginal land and the staff analysis of the proposal is that the land does meet the
statutory definitions of marginal lands. He said the productivity is not enough to
disqualify the land in terms of agricultural production or forestry. He said the applicant
has introduced consultant studies concerning both of the topics and are part of the
application and addressed in the findings. (Exhibit "C" in the Ordinance.) He
said the matter went before the Lane County Planning Commission on March 17, 1998 and the
commission recommended approval. He said there was no contesting testimony, there were
letters in support of the proposal. He said the matter was referred to the Department of
Land Conservation and Development and there were no comments or objections received from
that agency. He said staff was comfortable with the recommendation for approval.
Cornacchia requested Copely to furnish the Commissioners with the current written
departmental policies.
Al Cooper, 2258 Harris Street, agent for applicant, reported that he came to the
Board with a unanimous recommendation from the Planning Commission. He said that under the
marginal lands test there was no evidence of management as a farm operation during the
statutory five year period, however there was evidence of passive forestry management. He
said that Mr. Booth tried to use the formula for income analysis and got $8,500 for income
which is below the $10,000, so it passes for passive forestry management. He said that
there were other criteria in the code and the applicant met with all of them. He said the
wells were pumped and there were no effects to other properties.
Cornacchia closed Public Hearing.
Dumdi said she looked through the materials and read the report from Mr. Copely and
minutes from the Planning Commission. She said they have complied with all of the
requirements to designate the land as marginal and her assessment is that it is a feasible
application and she is in support of it.
MOTION: to approve Second Reading and Public Hearing/ Ordinance PA 1118.
Dumdi MOVED, Green SECONDED.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0.
14. OTHER BUSINESS
Green stated that he would like the Board to give direction to Myra Wall of the Public
Safety Coordinating Council (PSCC) that the one thing is still missing, and that is the
message, it is not okay to do crime in Lane County. He said that an ordinance or
legislative approach with all of the jurisdictions is needed so everyone can help the
police enforce the current ordinances.
Cornacchia said what needs to be done is to make the law enforcement and public safety
system effective and efficient. He said the only way to achieve this is through
accountability. He said he is looking for a stronger union between the Commission for
Children and Families and the PSCC.
There being no further business, Commissioner Cornacchia adjourned the meeting at 2:40
p.m.
Melissa Zimmer
Recording Secretary
