CC Minutes - 01/24/05 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilor Solomon, responding to comments about a lack of discipline on the part of elected officials, stated that there had not been an increase in the State gasoline tax for more than a decade and during this period wherein revenues had remained the same, fuel efficiency and the cost of construction had increased. She underscored that there had been a "myriad" of reasons that brought the City to its current crisis. She called it unfair to place blame entirely on staff and the elected officials. Councilor Ortiz felt compelled to support the tax. She acknowledged that it would not fix the problem for good, but emphasized that the roads needed fixing, nonetheless. Councilor Pryor expressed his distaste for taxing people. He felt he had walked into the middle of an enormous problem with an immediate need for a remedy. He remarked that such a tax was easier to enact with a known sunset date attached to it, adding that during the next three years the elected officials should "turn over every rock" looking for modes of permanent funding for the City's road repairs. He supported the motion, as amended. Councilor Poling indicated his support for the motion. He noted the two-cent increase was in the total originally recommended by the Budget Citizen Subcommittee. He expressed a willingness to sit down with the County officials and whoever else was deemed necessary to determine other solutions to the road problems. He said once permanent funding was found, he would support the elimination of the entire five cent gasoline tax. He recognized that many people opposed the tax. He commented that people who registered their opposition did not have an alternative solution to the funding issue to tender. He added, as a point of information, that a person who drove 20,000 miles per year and whose vehicle got 20 miles to the gallon would only experience a $20 increase in their annual expenses. Councilor Ortiz appreciated the council's support for the amendment. She recalled paying 36 cents per gallon for gasoline and recalled thinking that if it rose to 39 cents per gallon she would quit driving. She noted that she now paid more than $1.50 per gallon and that this money went out of state. Mayor Piercy indicated that she would support the motion in the event of a tie. Roll call vote; the main motion passed, as amended, 5:3; councilors Bettman, Taylor, and Kelly voting in opposition. Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Bettman, moved that the ordinance be put on the ballot in order to allow the people to vote for it. City Attorney Klein explained that the council could not simply do so and suggested that the council move to direct the City Manager to bring back an ordinance that would refer the gas tax to the ballot. Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Bettman, changed her motion in accordance with the advice of legal counsel. The motion failed, 6:2; councilors Taylor and Bettman voting in favor. The meeting adjourned at 10:01 p.m. Respectfully submitted, MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 24, 2005 Page 16 Regular Session