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<br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />M I NUT E S <br /> <br />Eugene City Council <br />Eugene Hilton Hotel--Directors Room <br /> <br />February 17, 1986 <br />5:30 p.m. <br /> <br />COUNCILORS PRESENT: Debra Ehrman, Emily Schue, Freeman Holmer, Roger Rutan, <br />Jeff Miller. <br /> <br />COUNCILORS ABSENT: Richard Hansen, Cynthia Wooten, Ruth Bascom. <br /> <br />Mayor Brian B. Obie called the quarterly process session to order. <br /> <br />I. ITEMS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL <br /> <br />A. Proposed Lane County Law Enforcement Levy <br /> <br />Mayor Obie said he received an invitation from Lane County Commissioner Chuck <br />Ivey to a meeting on Wednesday, February 18. The proposed Lane County law <br />enforcement levy will be discussed at the meeting. <br /> <br />Mr. Gleason explained the proposed county-wide, three-year levy. He said the <br />net financial benefit to the City would be about $1.2 million annually for <br />three years. He said the distribution would probably be based on population, <br />but another formula could be considered. The levy, as proposed, indicates <br />Lane County would assume responsibility for the jail in perpetuity. <br />Mr. Gleason recommended that the City apply the $350,000 it now spends on the <br />jail to the police or emergency services if the levy is approved. The rest of <br />the funds from the levy (about $900,000) could be spent for capital improve- <br />ments. He said the levy would help the transition of urban services. <br /> <br />Mr. Miller wondered if there are other ways to address the need for law <br />enforcement. He asked if there should be a metropolitan-wide system. <br />He wondered what will happen in three years if the County does not assume <br />responsibility for the jail. Mr. Gleason responded that the best way to <br />finance law enforcement would be to increase the tax base, but that doesn't <br />seem possible. He said a county-wide law enforcement system is not very <br />feasible because law enforcement in the county is different from the law <br />enforcement needed in the cities. Several levels of consolidation are being <br />implemented now and the money from a County levy would help the consoli- <br />dation. Mr. Gleason said the County would be obligated to assume the costs of <br />the jail. <br /> <br />Answering a question from Mr. Holmer, Mr. Gleason said the City would have to <br />be careful not to spend the money from the County levy for things that will <br />create additional operating expenses. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council <br /> <br />February 17, 1986 <br /> <br />Page 1 <br />