10/22/1990 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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-- e Jim Breeden, 3885 Wilshire, commended the council for its concern regarding the budget, but maintained that the recommendations in the study offer a short-term solution that will lead to fewer rental vacancies and higher rent- al rates. He proposed reducing staff and shortening the time required to process a residential building permit as a better means of addressing budget shortfalls. Tim McCloskey, PO Box 986, spoke as president of the Lane County Home Build- ers Association. He shared the concerns expressed by Mr. Sheppard and asked the council to reject fee increases that could make affordable housing less attainable. Larry Schoelerman, 2350 Olive, applauded the City's efforts to reduce its reliance on property taxes but objected to the study's recommendations for philosophical reasons. Commenting that if the costs of services provided to user groups are to be fully recovered from those groups, they should have input into the way those services are provided. He said that building in- spection services are to assure the safety of the community at large and are not for the benefit of building professionals. Therefore, the community should pay for those services. Ann Schoelerman, 2350 Olive, identified herself as a development processing consultant and realtor. She considered building costs in the community to be high already and said that adoption of the study's recommendations would jeopardize the construction industry in this area. e Paul Nicholson, 1855 East 28th Avenue, agreed with all previous speakers and said that the study's recommendations would add to an already burdensome regulatory environment that encourages lawlessness. He thought the public process on this issue had been inadequate and requested notification of small businesses and other potentially interested parties. Steven Ericson, 201 River Loop No.1, said he represented many contractors in the electrical field and is an instructor at Lane Community College. His LCC class accompanied him to the meeting, and he told the council his students would be the people who would suffer a negative impact if the study's recom- mendations were enacted. Mr. Ericson criticized the Building Division for nit-picking in its inspection practices. There being no further requests to speak, the public hearing was closed. Mayor Miller added a letter from the Lane County Home Builders Association to the public record. Responding to council questions, Mr. Gleason explained that the State charges the same fees as the City, so there would be no reduction in the cost of service if the State assumed control. Several permitting systems are con- nected to building permits (e.g., curb cut permits, sanitary connection per- mits, land use permits, and everything relating to public access and egress issues). Assigning a third agency such as the State of Oregon responsibility e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 22, 1990 Page 3