MINUTES OF THE METRO COUNCIL GROWTH MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 19, 1999

Council Chamber

Members Present:  Susan McLain (Chair), David Bragdon (Vice Chair), Rod Park

Members Absent:  None

Also Present:    Rod Monroe, Bill Atherton

Chair McLain called the meeting to order at 1:35 P.M.

1.  Consideration of the Minutes of the October 5, 1999, Growth Management Committee Meetings

Chair McLain announced that the October 5 minutes were not available at this time.

2.  Proposed Goal 5 Riparian Corridor Fish & Wildlife Habitat Protection Report

Rosemary Furfey, Senior Regional Planner, Growth Management Services, presented a Preliminary Draft of Development of Measures to Conserve, Protect and Restore Riparian Corridors in the Metro Region “Streamside CPR”, of which a copy is included in the meeting record. She introduced Ken Helm, Office of General Council, who spoke to the legal side of the issues addressed in the report. A copy of Mr. Helm’s slides, Streamside CPR and Standard Goal 5 Process, is included in the meeting record.

Ms. Furfey presented a summary of the report, Metro Steamside “CPR” Project, based on Federal and other information and is included in the meeting record. She said that staff recommendation is that all riparian corridors be identified as regional resources. Under Goal 5 a balance is required between uses of riparian resources. Stormwater is one of the most crucial impacting the corridor. Staff proposed a 25-foot corridor of stormwater protection beyond the riparian corridor.

Ms. Furfey stated that the Goal 5 committee will meet on November 12 after which she hopes to come back to the committee within a month to present a refined version of the report. She said that next-step refinements include sharing the report with local jurisdictions and citizen groups in order to be as thorough and comprehensive as possible.

Councilor Park suggested that the public might be aided by a graphic presentation of how property would be impacted by this proposal. He said that the legal description is highly complex and not easily understood. Ms. Furfey said that staff had done some preliminary visualizations; what if scenarios, and would try to work this into the proposal

As there were no further questions from the committee, Chair McLain thanked Ms. Furfey for the report and opened the meeting for public comment.

Holly Michael, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife testified in support of the Goal 5 Streamside CPR preliminary draft report. Her written comments are included in the meeting record.

Mike Houck, Audubon of Portland stated that he supported Metro in this process and asked the committee not to allow the process to languish. He said it took 3 years to get to this point; now jurisdictions are asking for extensions. He is relying on Metro to move forward expeditiously. He stated that there are no legitimate reasons to give Goal 5 extensions and the process should be finished by October 2000. While he understands that staff has limited resources, development continues throughout the process.

Mr. Houck said that it is a fundamental mistake to use 150-foot riparian; that it is more logical to protect 300-feet with 150-feet through law and 150-feet through incentives and education. He further stated that Metro region does not have a lot left to protect and suggested that the committee should view the region by air to validate his comments. He said that Goal 5 was meant to be a fast track process, not take years to put back resources to where they were before growth and it must be done without delay. If an extension is requested he suggested that Title 3 and Goal 5 be tied together to expedite the process.

Marc Liverman, National Marine Fisheries Service, testified in support of the Goal 5 Streamside CPR preliminary draft report. His written comments are included in the meeting record

A faxed letter from Paul Henson, Acting State Supervisor, US Department of the Interior Fish & Wildlife Service to the Growth Management committee regarding Title 3 and Goal 5 programs is also included in the meeting record.

As there were no further requests to testify, Chair McLain directed staff to complete a time line and get the preliminary draft out for public review as soon as possible. Mark Turpel, Growth Management Services, said it would be written and ready for public review by November 5. Committee agreed to go forward on Goal 5 process as presented by staff.

Chair McLain said that Rosemary Furfey is leaving Metro, but continuing in her field in another government agency. She said that Ms. Furfey is one of the best and most committed staff people she has worked with in her 9 years at Metro and she will be sorely missed. She then introduced Presiding Officer Rod Monroe who presented a gift to Ms. Furfey as thanks from the entire Council for her hard work and dedication. Mr. Houck, Ms. Michael and Mr. Liverman each made statements of appreciation to Ms. Furfey for her many contributions to the area’s livability over the years they have worked with her.

3.  Resolution 99-2850 For the Purpose of Changing the Representatives of Cities of Multnomah County and Changing the Alternate for the Cities of Washington County on the Affordable Housing Technical Advisory Committee

Gerry Uba, Growth Management Long Range Planning, presented Resolution No. 99-2850. A staff report to the resolution includes information presented by Mr. Uba and is included in the meeting record.

Chair McLain directed Councilor Park to carry Resolution No. 99-2850 to the full Metro Council.

4.  Urban Growth Boundary Related

•  Options Review

Larry Shaw, Office of General Council, stated that the rough draft of Option 5 will be out this Thursday. Chair McLain asked if the work the committee is doing on 150-175-feet shows good faith and is a good thing. Mr. Shaw said yes, the principle that has been in place since 1975 is not only consistent, but also consistent with the spirit of the statute to get to 20-years.

Councilor Park asked Mr. Shaw to insert the conversion date and include a statement that we are not going to expand intent. Instead, he said, we will expand as we protect. Chair McLain agreed with this philosophy if the committee agrees as to the needs assessment. Mr. Shaw said that Kelly Ross, Homebuilders Association of Oregon, might consider UGB amendment. Chair McLain will work on the philosophy statement.

Chair McLain expressed concern that Metro needs to make a decision as soon as possible and brief each jurisdiction in order to get their input. She is concerned that it not be sent to State with only the committee having acted on it.

Councilor Park said that MPAC is looking at options and must give its input by November 18 to be in time for the December meeting of LCDC (Land Conservation and Development Commission). He felt that this will allow time for local input. Chair McLain agreed that the October 26 meeting could be used for discussion of the issues along with November 2, in time for the November 4 Council meeting, or, if not, for the November 18 Council meeting.

5.  Councilor Communications

There being no further business before the committee, Chair McLain adjourned the meeting at 3:33 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Pat Weathers

Council Assistant

i:\minutes\1999\grwthmgt\10199gmm.doc

ATTACHMENTS TO THE PUBLIC RECORD FOR THE MEETING OF OCTOBER 5, 1999

The following have been included as part of the official public record: