10/25/1976 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Frank GeItner, 3055 Kincaid Street, commented on the reduction in funds to certain activities under the present proposal, especially for the auditorium and tourist, recreational, and cultural programs. He raised the question of e legality of funding parks land acquisition from these revenues. In addition, he said he felt that if special events were funded for the Chamber as suggested, that allocation could be increased beyond the present allocation. He felt the definitions of activities should be carefully reviewed prior to any definite action on the suggested formula. And he suggested serious consideration of the use of a voucher system for allocation of the funds. James Kays, 2085 Sunrise Boulevard, president of the Lane County Auditorium Association, recognized the problems encountered in adminstering the room tax funds and said the Association was ready to co-operate. However, they felt in time they would be able to justify more than a 10% allocation of such funds. He said they had hired an executive director and were aware of the application procedure for obtaining room tax funds. But they hoped for a little more flexi- bility that would allow the justification to apply for funds rather than being locked into a set percentage. Russell J. Donnelly, 2175 Olive Street, pointed out the importance of funding some activities over a period of time, citing the proposed museum in Alton Baker Park as an example. He said use of the voucher system was dangerous because it could deny some organizations. a certain amount of the revenues. He suggested a merit system which would consider those organizations needing operating funds, those having incentive (the museum, for example), and those presenting new opportunities - one-time affairs. Ed Cykler, 1055 West 17th Avenue, hoped the Chamber Music Series would fall e either into the category of cultural activities or the symphony programs. He noted past concerts which were extremely successful and the burden of carrying senior citizen tickets in their budget. Royce Saltzman, 2065 University Street, expressed concern about being locked into a percentage allocation especially when funding certain cultural activities at concert hals which seat fewer people. Some of these concert activities, he said, cannot operate without the subsidy. I Michele VanHevlingan, member of the Oregon Arts Council, commented on the im- portance of local funding for matching state and federal grants in the arts. He, as well as Jon Pincus, 1054 West 8th Avenue, urged postponement of considera- tion of the proposed percentage allocation until further discussion of the formula. Public hearing was closed, there being no further testimony presented. Councilman Murray, with regard to the question of funding specific projects raised by Mr. McNeil of the Chamber of Commerce, said the proposed formula prob- ably would not preclude specific project funding, although such funding might have to come within the percentage allocated. With regard to the question about legality of using room tax funds for park land acquisition, he said, a legal opinion had been obtained which determined that was a legal use of room tax funds. It was understood the Council subcommittee would pursue the proposal with the Room Tax Committee and bring recommendations back to the e Council for discussion at a future committee-of-the-whole meeting. D. Downtown Westside Alternatives I-A-3 Manager noted previous distribution of Planning Commission report of September 7, 1976 recommending adoption of policy statements with regard to the area immediately 508 10/25/76 - 3