CC Minutes - 03/07/05 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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8. ACTION: Ratification of Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations Actions of February 11, 2005 Councilor Poling, seconded by Councilor Solomon, moved to ratify the actions of the Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations as set forth in the minutes of February 11, 2005. Roll call vote; the motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Bettman, seconded by Councilor Kelly, moved to authorize City staff to lobby against any proposed legislation that would weaken or eliminate any of the powers and responsibilities of the Lane County Local Government Boundary Commission. Councilor Bettman said this would direct staff to take a proactive stance with the legislature should it propose legislation to eliminate the boundary commission, as had been suggested might happen. Councilor Solomon was unclear about the function of the boundary commission. She wanted more information about possible pending legislature, such as whether there was a bill on the table. She noted that Lane County was the last county in the State that still retained a boundary commission. City Manager Taylor asked Intergovernmental Relations Manager Jason Heuser to speak to the issue. Mr. Heuser explained that there were no known bills that specifically sought to abolish the boundary commission. However, he thought the likelihood of such a bill being introduced was great. He thought it was in the best interest of the City to preserve the status quo on this subject. Councilor Pap~ felt there could be many issues on the horizon and the council should not try to pull bills into the Council Chamber and out of the Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations (CCIGR) process. He said he would be more inclined to be proactive if legislation was imminent, but given that this was not the case, he did not feel the need to take it on at the present time. Mr. Heuser stated that the deadline for new bills to be introduced was by 5 p.m. on the present date. He said the legislature would work through the "logjam" of bills and then he would have a greater sense of what bills the City should be aware of. Councilor Pap~, seconded by Councilor Solomon, moved to substitute for Councilor Bettman's motion a motion that dictated that such concerns be handled through the CCIGR process. Councilor Bettman asked if there was a difference in the strength of lobbying efforts that were only approved by the CCIGR as opposed to those receiving council approval. Mr. Heuser replied that there was not. Councilor Bettman withdrew her motion. Councilor Bettman, seconded by Councilor Kelly, moved to authorize City staff to lobby against any proposed legislation that would weaken or eliminate any of the powers of the City with respect to the formation or establishment of any special district whose territory would overlap land within the boundaries of the City or the urban growth boundary. MINUTES--Eugene City Council March 7, 2005 Page 16 Regular Session