10/27/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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issue. Councilman Haws wondered whether the city really wanted to become involved. He said he had always noted a reluctance on staff's part and perhaps it would be better to forget it and get on with more important matters. Assistant Manager tit reviewed meetings that were held with representatives of the Freedom Train Founda- tion and discussion of necessary police protection, parking, shuttling people to and from the Train site, provision of physical plant - all anticipating about 80,000 people going through the exhibit. Consensus in those meetings was that the only available site for location of the train was in Springfield, and the Springfield Council, with assurance that Eugene would assist, agreed to sponsor it. However, the Foundation has the ability within the terms of the contract it is requesting to make demands not now anticipated, and there appear to be mixed reactions in the other jurisdictions with regard to concerns expressed by administrative people about the potential liability under the agreement. Staff felt the best approach at this time was to let Springfield deal with the matter and for Eugene to provide this in- demnification up to $2000. Lorie Adams of Springfield said her husband was site chairman and was the one who talked to Eugene people with regard to what staff commitments had been made - sanita- tion, police, etc. She noted the amount of advance preparation from citizens groups for the Train's visit, the amount of time involved and frugality practiced in ex- penditure of available funds. Now, she said, papers need to be signed if the Train is to stop. She didn't think any money would be lost on the venture, and asked that Eugene support the effort if for no other reason than the publicity of the Train's visit to the Eugene/Springfield area. In response to Mayor Anderson, she said they were anticipating about 15,000 people daily over a period of four days and expected enough tickets to be sold so that the Train could open the afternoon before it was originally planned to open. Councilman Bradley wondered if there was any comparison with Eugene's position with e regard to limiting its liability in this instance and Springfield's withdrawal from the social services programs. Councilman Murray didn't think so because of the sub- stantial difference between the two. The social services program, he said, was on- going, well funded, and a governmental responsibility. Councilman Keller wondered if the Foundation agreement could be changed more to the city attorney's liking. Mr. Long answered that it depended upon what the Council wished to accomplish. The liability could be limited to $2000 in the contract if the other parties were willing to agree to that limit, however there was no certainty they would negotiate on that basis. He said it was a letter agreement and not con- sidered a good contract for the city because of the unlimited liability. It limi ts the Freedom Train liability, covered by insurance, but there is no assessment of what that is. Mr. Keller wondered, if the matter was tabled until the Wednesday committee meeting, whether more information could be given at that time. He didn't think it advisable to enter into a contract against the attorney's advice, but he did think the project was worthy and thought more information from both sides might be worthwhile. Manager said copies of the Freedom Train contract could be distributed to Council members to give them an impression of anticipated financial arrangements, etc., then action could be taken later. Councilman Williams asked if fundamentally the money involved was staff commitment for sharing sanitation, police, etc., and insurance costs as opposed to about 10% override on ticket sales. Manager replied that 500 parking spaces were to be pro- e vided, also there would be a traffic problem because of a football game during the time the train was here. He said no estimates of total cost had been received from Springfield, although there was verbal assurance from their staff that they didn't anticipate losses to exceed $5000. He added that there were a lot of items Spring- field wanted Eugene to take care of. 10/27/75 - 4 S-5~