10/23/1973 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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just reviewed, some changes suggested, and referred to staff for further review before going back to the Attorney. Staff's concerns are that a process will be developed of sufficient stability to obviate changing the assessment process each time a new hardship situation arises, and at the same time be flexible enough so -- that every time a change occurs in structure or procedure a Charter amendment will not be necessary. It is hoped to have a workable procedure from the standpoint of legislative need, yet stable enough to predict ahead of time and let the people know what is involved in assessments when a public improvement occurs. Councilman Hershner wondered whether the committee at the same time should become involved with deferral of assessment payments for hardship cases. He noted that a fund for that purpose was created and hardship situations were brought up in considering a change in alley assessment methods. Councilwoman Beal suggested that the subcommittee review the draft mentioned by Manager before it is finalized to be sure it provides for what the subcommittee wanted. Manager said he would rather have agreement at staff level on what was to : be presented before it was taken back to the subcommittee. 'Council agreed with Mayor Anderson's suggestion that former Councilman Ray Bradshaw remain a member of the alley assessment committee if he is willing to serve. Mayor Anderson also urged inclusion, at least in the first meetings, of representatives of the ABC Traffic Committee, who initiated the request for consideration of a change in street assessment policy. He said it had been his experience that many times problems can be resolved by explanation of existing processes, and he thought e : it very important that the people who proposed changes know exactly what the pro- cedures are before any changes are made. lCouncilwoman Beal suggested appointment of another representative of the Bethel : area on the committee, saying that although Mr. Bradshaw's aid was valued he was ; extremely busy and she wanted to be sure there would be three people able to attend ~meetings. Councilman ~urray noted Mr. Bradshaw's long-standing membership on the " committee and felt he would be able.. to serve. It was understood Mr. Bradshaw would be asked and if unable to serve, Councilman Murray would be appointed. Comm Vote was taken on the motion as stated. Motion carried unanimously. JO/:J.0/73 Approve >Councilman Murray expressed the hope that the concern about the Barger Drive improve- ;ment would be taken into consideration since it would not be addressed through action just taken. Manager said that as planning proceeds on the Barger Drive project there jwill be contact kept with both the neighborhood group and the Council. And Finance Department will be assigned to questions on assess.ment in hardship cases, working on a process for judging hardship cases and method 0/ handling. B. : Realignment of Ward Boundaries';' Manager said there maybe-legItimate reason to" -- review ward boundaries in view of potential problems with inequality of representa- . . tlon because of recent annexations and lack of geographical continui ty in Ward 3 and to some extent in Ward 2. He commented on the last realignment of boundaries ,made in 1972 to cope with equalit~ of representation when the City's POPUlation was 79,000. Now the population is 90,100, with probable addition of about 2000 upon completion of the Willagillespie annexation. There is possibility of. not meeting the Supreme Court one-to-one representation requirement under the present ward alignment. -- -,,-,,-,.- ' ._~--;. -- . -",' -.-~ ... ,. .. . "- .. -- .----- :Manager continued that one of the problems encountered in reworking ward boundaries- :is question of legislating elected officials out of office - not only council 'members, but also EWEB members who are elected from wards. Also, some of the ap- iproaches might involve Charter requirements if there is to be consideration of change from the present method of nomination and election by wards. He said the :Mayor has suggested a way of nominating and electing council members which may in- , volve reworking the Charter, and money has been budgeted for starting that process. i The decision in that respect now is whether to codify, update, and eliminate duplica- tion or take a broader approach of redoing the Charter completely. Councilman Murray asked whether the Charter dictates that there shall be four wards in the City. Manager said the Charter states that the Council may divide the City . into wards. It also states that if the City is divided into wards a councilman must live in the ward from which he is elected, and people in a ward can vote only :for the councilman in that ward. Nomination by wards and election at-large may ,require a Charter amendment. i ,Councilman Murray asked then whether the Council and EWEB must have the same kind of geographical representation or would election of councilmen from eight wards and EWEB members from tour be possible. Glen Stadler, representing ~WEB, read the'; '3'~ 10/23/73 - 4