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Special District White Paper <br /> and Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) have an intergovernmental arrangement under which <br /> LCOG provides operating services, including staffing, to the Commission. <br /> The Commission is generally charged with following legislative policy, stated in ORS 199.410. This <br /> includes the following: <br /> "Urban population densities and intensive development require a broad spectrum and high <br /> level of community services and controls. When areas become urbanized and require the <br /> full range of community services, priorities are required regarding the type and levels of <br /> services that the residents need and desire. Community service priorities need to be <br /> established by weighing the total service needs against the total financial resources <br /> available for securing services. Those service priorities are required to reflect local <br /> circumstances, conditions, and limited financial resources. A single governmental agency <br /> rather than several governmental agencies is in most cases better able to assess the <br /> financial resources and therefore is the best mechanism for establishing community service <br /> priorities." <br /> These policies encouraging efficient delivery of services under city governments, but they do not <br /> prohibit the use of special districts. The local comprehensive plan is the tool that is used to fit <br /> legislative policy to local needs. The Eugene - Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro <br /> Plan) was adopted under these State policies. <br /> However, at the time these policies were developed, voters of a city could decide to tax themselves <br /> to fund desired services, to be provided by a general - purpose city government. This fundamentally <br /> changed with adoption of Ballot Measures 5 and 50. <br /> The Metro Plan may now act as an obstacle to delivery of desired urban -level services which <br /> cannot be afforded by a city but which may be funded by a special district with its own revenue <br /> sources. The Plan will have to be carefully reviewed and probably amended if the special district <br /> alternative for delivery of urban services is to be available. The adopted policies of the Boundary <br /> Commission will also probably need to be revised to allow a special district alternative for service <br /> delivery. <br /> At this time, several existing special districts now provide park and recreation, fire and wastewater <br /> services to various part of the Eugene - Springfield metropolitan area. Port and library districts also <br /> serve various areas within Lane County. If the special district alternative for provision of urban <br /> services were to be implemented, one or more of these existing districts might expand their <br /> services through annexation of territory, or a new district might be formed. <br /> SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER STATE LAW <br /> Special Districts as Independent Municipal Corporations <br /> Special districts are considered to be independent municipal corporations and subdivisions of the <br /> state under Oregon law. State statutes allow formation of quite a range of special districts, each <br /> with particular purposes, organizational framework, powers, debt limitations and revenue <br /> capabilities. Each type of district is authorized by a particular principal Act setting out the district's <br /> Special Districts Paper - Final 11- 8- 01.doc Page 5 of 41 <br /> City Council Agenda page 29 <br />