CCMinutes - 09/27/04 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Kelly cautioned that although there was a compelling need for street preservation, it was necessary to establish expectations. He encouraged staff to make available to the public the map of potential projects and tabulated data. He observed that even in ten years the backlog of projects would still exist, although it would not have increased and in fact would be somewhat reduced. He said he would support the motion, but cautioned staff not to proceed too far without a sense of the positions of the major constituencies. Ms. Solomon asked staff to provide a summary of how effective TSMFs had been in other communities in Oregon. Mr. Meisner remarked that the motion was premature and he would not support it. Ms. Taylor stated that she would not support the motion and preferred to concentrate on efforts to establish a vehicle registration fee. Mr. Pap~ thanked staff for keeping the issue before the council and stressed the need to provide the public with specific information as was done with the parks bond. Ms. Bettman said that she wished other needs, such as social services and education, were as easy to quantify as deteriorating streets. She commented that the County had been generous in its support of City street projects in downtown and the courthouse district. She said that elected officials had been negotiating with the County to obtain substantial funding for new projects and all of those funds were County Road Fund moneys that could be used to preserve the existing street system. She expressed concern that identifying a specific revenue target of $4.5 million would result in a shift of costs to ~average folks" when the chamber negotiated for a cap on high-end users who generated a lot of trips. City Manager Taylor said that if the motion passed it was essential to reach out again to the community and build a new case for revenue. Mr. Meisner declared that there should be no public education to the community before the issue had been returned to the council for a decision. Mr. Kelly said that outreach should focus on stakeholders who were likely to raise significant issues, such as neighborhood groups and the chamber. He agreed with Ms. Bettman's warning regarding the effect of a cap on high-end users. Ms. Taylor said that the need for street repairs had already been conveyed to the community and encouraged staff to discuss methods for funding those repairs with stakeholders. The motion as amended passed, 5:3; Mr. Meisner, Ms. Taylor, and Ms. Bettman voting in opposition. The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m. Respectfully submitted, MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 27, 2004 Page 7 Work Session