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Ms. Taylor asked why staff supported SB 0325, which called for the establishment of a tax credit for employers that pay all or part of an employee's community college tuition. Mr. Hill responded that generally, the City would oppose bills that reduced State general revenues, but staff believed the legislation in this case would create an improved local work force. He thought it would be particularly useful in Eugene because of the presence of Lane Community College in the community, and that the benefits would ultimately outweigh the costs to the City. He said that a lack of trained work force was a continuing local issue. Mr. Heuser noted that the bill enjoyed considerable support at the legislature. Ms. Taylor moved to change the status of SB 0325 to Oppose. The motion died for lack of a second. Ms. Bettman asked the rationale for the staff recommendation to monitor SB 0344, which directs the State to adopt regulations implementing the California motor vehicle emission standards commencing with the 2009 model year. Mr. Davis said that California's standards were the highest in the country, and he estimated the City's cost of complying to be approximately $3,000 per vehicle. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Ms. Taylor, moved to change the status of SB 0344 to Support. Ms. Bettman believed the bill, if passed, would make a difference by reducing pollution. She noted increased asthma rates among Americans and suggested the other protections the City had envisioned, such as transit and nodal development to reduce vehicle miles traveled, had been ;;gutted" and the City was making no progress toward cleaning the air. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Ms. Taylor, moved to change the status of SB 0344 to Priority 2. The motion passed unanimously. Responding to a question from Ms. Bettman about SB 0440, relating to crimes involving unborn children, Mr. Cushman said the bill was the same as a bill the committee previously reviewed. He recommended the bill be dropped from further consideration. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Ms. Taylor, moved to drop SB 0344. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Heuser and Ms. Brooks left the meeting. Ms. Bettman referred to HB 2199, and asked if the bill increased the ratio of commercial to residential uses in a vertical housing development. Mr. Weinman said the State currently provided for a tax exemption of up to 20 percent for every floor of housing, up to 80 percent. The State had never defined the ratio of commercial space to residential space. Ms. Bettman asked about the relationship of the exemption to zoning. Mr. Weinman clarified that the exemption was specific to a property and was not related to zoning. Such developments could occur in Eugene on land zoned for C-2, C-3, and Mixed Use. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Ms. Taylor, moved to accept the pending legislation as amended by the committee. The motion passed unanimously. MINUTES--Council Committee on INtergovernmental Relations February 11, 2005 Page 7