,ti <br /> . <br /> There have already been at least two decisions made regarding sewer services from outside <br /> the UGB: the Eugene airport and Short Mountain. Each of these was considered on its merits <br /> without the creation of a universal program.. As each of these is dealt with individually, a series <br /> of common answers does develop, so that the fourth and. fifth times (if they ever happen)-the <br /> ,answers will be easier. But it is not fair to expect the MWMC staff to guess what all these future <br /> requests.might be like. And it is not fair fo Coburg for it to wait and pay so much for something <br /> that will need to be changed in the future anyway. <br /> What Coburg was suggesting wasaess time consuming, and less expensive. Coburg was <br /> proposing to take all the answers to these questions that have already developed, and apply them <br /> to Coburg and the, MWMC. Coburg was suggesting that Coburg and MWIVIG build a model and <br /> <br /> ..establish a precedent by resolving the issues rather than studying them, discussing them, solving <br /> them, in theory, and then seeing if they apply to Coburg. <br /> It is in the best interests of the people of Eugene. to allow Coburg to connect. The last time . <br /> Eugene. was faced: with a ground water problem outside the city (in River Road and Santa Clara) <br /> the advantages to solving the problem were clear. The ground water of the region is a regional <br /> asset, which even Eugene is thinking of using,'and helping improve~the groundwater is important <br /> .for residents in Eugene as well as residents in. Coburg.. There are many residents of Eugene who <br /> work in Coburg. Protecting their employment, and improving the prospects for more <br /> employment .opportunities, is in the best interest ofEugene. One of the concerns expressed <br /> during the work session concerned the prospects of growth between the two cities. Coburg <br /> shares the Council's concerns that.the presence of wastewater services in Coburg must not <br /> become an excuse for growth outside the two urban growth boundaries. There are several ways <br /> to prevent this, but from Eugene's perspectiveprobably the best way is to enter into an <br /> agreement that gives. Eugene. and MWMC a direct right to control and prevent connections to the <br /> wastewater transfer line between Coburg and MWMC. <br /> One important question raised during your work session concerned the comparative <br /> environmental effects of the different points of discharge for Coburg's wastewater. Coburg's <br /> engineers developing Coburg's options for wastewater treatment have looked at these issues <br /> closely and, wonting with the DEQ, they have developed some important conclusions. Of <br /> Course; Coburg's current discharge is into the groundwater. This is a situation that nearly <br /> everyone agrees should be resolved as quickly as possible. From the perspective of the <br /> Willamette River downstream of the MWMC discharge, there would be little environmental <br /> difference among Coburg's treatment options. If Coburg does not connect to the MWMC <br /> system, the same discharge, treated to the same extent, will likely flow down the McKenzie to <br /> the confluence with the Willamette. If Eugene chooses to delay~the answer to. Coburg's request <br /> the. environmental consequences will be that instead of mixing with the MWMC discharge at the <br /> MWMC treatment facility, Coburg's discharge will mix with the MWMC discharge at the <br /> confluence of the Willamette and the McKenzie, after flowing approximately four miles down <br /> the McKenzie. Coburg prefers the outcome that preserves the McKenzie. . <br /> Coburg has been involved in discussions about connecting to.MWMC for years. If Coburg <br /> had. the luxury, perhaps it would be easier to accept the staff recommendation that another four <br /> <br />