Eugene officials and a local natural gas provider disagree on whether the city can link ability to use public rights of way to carbon reduction goals.
It's been the "biggest stumbling block" as the city has attempted to negotiate a new franchise agreement with NW Natural before a quickly approaching deadline, City Manager Sarah Medary said.
"We feel we have authority to include carbon reduction as a condition of using right of way," Medary said during a Monday City Council work session.
The franchise agreement gives NW Natural the legal authority to lay, maintain and operate pipes and other facilities in and under streets, sidewalks and other public rights of way when it goes out to work on a line, install a new line or take other similar actions that aren't related to emergency repairs.