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Mr. Gordon observed that approximately 10 to 12 full time equivalent (FTE) employees worked on the <br /> wetlands program from several agencies with a total budget of approximately $500,000, not including <br /> capital costs. He said that in addition, many volunteer hours were expended on wetland projects. Mr. <br /> Gordon said that staff took the work program very seriously and attempted to implement it fully. <br /> The WET approved the work program amendments without objection or change. <br /> VI. WETLAND COORDINATOR REPORT <br /> Mr. Gordon provided the report. He referred the WET to the 1998 Annual Report, distributed with <br /> the agenda of the meeting. He said that staff used the annual report extensively in its lobbying efforts. <br /> He asked that WET members forward suggestions for improvements to the annual report to him. <br /> Mr. Gordon said that staff had lobbied the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for funding to <br /> support a national wetlands conference in Eugene in the year 2000. The City and County had endorsed <br /> the proposal. EPA staff liked the idea, and put Mr. Gordon in touch with the nonprofit Teeren <br /> Institute, which helps organize the national wetlands conference each year. Mr. Gordon said that he <br /> met with the chair of the board of directors of the institute and executive director, who indicated <br /> interest in taking the conference "on the road." The Lane County Visitors and Convention Association, <br /> was working with the major hotels on a hospitality package to submit to the institute. Mr. Gordon said <br /> that if the conference happened, he anticipated the participants in the partnership and other federal and <br /> State agencies, as well as private companies, would be asked to help fund the effort. <br /> Mr. Gordon provided an update on lobbying activities. He said that the new transportation bill <br /> recently signed by President Clinton included $1.17 million for a bicycle path through the 1135 project <br /> and terminating at Greenhill Road. He said that Congressman Peter DeFazio had asked the City for <br /> projects to fund through ACOE's Challenge 21 program, and two projects were proposed: 1) flood <br /> plain restoration and bioengineering along the Willamette River in Skinner Butte Park; and 2) a <br /> restoration project for the upper Amazon Creek through Amazon Park and up to the ridgeline trail. <br /> Mr. Gordon reported that the Eugene City Council had recently approved ordinances refining the <br /> criteria in the West Eugene Wetlands Plan. The Board of County Commissioners would consider the <br /> revisions soon. He said that following joint adoption, the two bodies would consider the site - specific <br /> amendments, including those related to Hyundai. He anticipated that would occur after September <br /> 1998. <br /> VII. OTHER, NEXT MEETING TIME AND DATE <br /> Mr. Gordon said that LCOG staff had adopted a wetland in the plan area at the project office. He said <br /> that 25 LCOG employees participated in a recent clean-up, and several volunteered to do monitoring at <br /> the site. <br /> MINUTES— Wetland Executive Team June 19, 1998 Page 5 <br />