06/03/1985 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

e e III. PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAM Barbara Bellamy, City Information Coordinator, proposed a broad campaign to gather public feedback on both the content and the means of funding the Eugene Agenda. She proposed a three-week period, from July 15 to August 5, to get word to the public. This would be accomplished by staff presentations at reg- ular community group meetings and by town hall meetings within the councilors' wards. The campaign would be geared toward a November election. Public talks during the summer would be followed by a ballot proposal. More meetings would follow to publicize the ballot measure. Mayor Obie said there were four categories of items: the five Eugene Agenda projects, the proposed new library and new swimming pool/community center, the Federal Revenue Sharing funds issue, and the unfunded balance of the Capital Improvements Program (CIP). The City needed to know what the public's priori- ties were before deciding on a definite package. Mr. Rutan said the array of programs was large and complicated. He wondered whether town hall meetings would focus issues for the average citizen. Mr. Holmer and Ms. Wooten both felt that City staff should go out with more than questions; some kind of definite proposal was needed, even if it was only provisional. Ms. Ehrman also thought a specific proposal would encourage more public input. Ms. Schue said it was important to let the community know that these items would not be funded exclusively through public funds. Regarding the summer information program, Ms. Bellamy said she was confident that enough groups could be reached during the four weeks of July. Ms. Ehrman suggested exten- ding the timeline to include the Lane County Fair in the third week of Aug- ust. The deadline for filing the ballot measure will be October 2. Discussing time outlay for public meetings, Ms. Bellamy said that each coun- cilor would probably organize four meetings, for a total of about 36 meet- ings. Staff will prepare documentation and support material. The length of meetings would be about one hour. She suggested 15-minute slide shows and flow chart presentations followed by general discussion. Ms. Wooten said the impact of public comment may be great. Input must be taken seriously and the councilors must be ready to rework the concept. Ms. Wooten asked what the combined annual cost of every project presented to council would be on a 20-year amortized basis. Mr. Whitlow said the total cost of $342 million, divided by 20 years, came out to be about $17 million per year. The meeting resumed at 7:00 p.m. after a ten-minute recess. After the pUblic 1 to October 2 2, the ordinance Mayor Obie outlined the main goal dates along the timeline. input campaign ending on August 5, the period from September will be spent evaluating and reworking the plan. On October will be adopted. The public will vote on November 5. The councilors discussed at length which projects should be included in the ~ proposal. Mr. Holmer pointed out that the library and swimming pool, which MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session June 3, 1985 ~~3