CCAgenda-3/10/04WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

POTTER Glen D From: WALSTON Mary F ;ent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 2:55 PM I'o: POTTER Glen D Subject: FW: Regarding Toxic Fee Increase Public Hearing FYI.. ..... Original Message ..... From: CLYDE CARSON [mailto:CARSONC@usbakery.com] Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 2:48 PM To: mayorandcc@ci.eugene.or.us Subject: Regarding Toxic Fee Increase Public Hearing My name is Clyde Carson. I live at 618 D. Street, Springfield, OR 97477. I am an industry representative on Eugene's Toxic Board. The state fee cap for local chemical reporting programs was passed to prevent unreasonable fees. At one time some companies were assessed fees as ridiculous as $17,000 per year for Eugene's Toxics Program. The State of Oregon, unlike the city of Eugene, recognizes that there must be some reasonable limit to how much a company should have to pay for a local community right to know program, given that we already have a very comprehensive state-wide program in place. The result of the fee cap means that some companies will be paying a higher fee to make up the difference in the budget shortfall. In short, we have replaced one inequity with another. ~he root cause of the inequity is that the fee base is too narrow to support this type of program and maintain reasonable fees regardless of the size of one's operations. This is a problem inherent in such local programs and is one of many compelling arguments as to why it is bad public policy to regulate these concerns on the local level. Do not construe the unanimous fee recommendation by the Toxic Board to mean that business group supports this way of funding the program. We have tried without success to recommend public funding and/or voter referral. It is even unclear to us if those are options we can recommend as a board given that we are both created by and constrained by the Charter. If we had thought it would have made any symbolic difference we easily could have voted "no" on the fee recommendation. As board members, our choices may be limited in ways that you as the City Council are not. 1. You have the power to conclude that the program in place is not the same program passed by the voters and that it should be referred to them. 2. You can trim the budget back, but be advised that if the program continues we want it to be predictable and stable. 3. You can change the Charter, but not advised without public approval. 4. You can realize that Eugene has serious chronic problems attracting and keeping jobs in this community and programs like the Eugene Toxics Program- Hurt us deeply! .............................. Electronic Communications Disclaimer This e-mail communication and any attachments may contain confidential and privileged information for the use of the designated recipients named above. If you are not the CityCouncilA~enda page643