CC Minutes - 05/12/08 Work Session

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Continuing, Mr. Carlson reviewed agenda materials that summarized the City’s funding reserves and offered recommendations for one-time gap funding to meet the County’s budget crisis. He said staff was requesting direction from the council on how to proceed. In response to a question from Ms. Piercy regarding jail beds, Chief Lehner said the County still had contracts with the U.S. Marshal for federal prisoners and with the City for municipal court beds. He said when budget reductions were fully implemented the result would be 28 beds remaining for local prisoners. Ms. Piercy asked if there was any potential for animal services to generate sufficient revenue to be self- supporting. Mr. Carlson said the County had discussed the possibility of doubling the dog license fee, but it was not certain that would double revenues. Ms. Bettman observed that the City could eliminate its own projected deficit with the short-term funding to fill County budget gaps. She said the County was cutting 188 employees, leaving 1,390 employees and without knowing who those employees were and what priorities the County used to make budgeting decisions she questioned choices such as cuts to the district attorney’s office. She said the City had no policy discretion or ability to set budget priorities if it subsidized the County with City revenues. She pointed out that Lane County had $37 million in public works reserves and suggested requesting something in exchange if the City was going to fund law enforcement or prosecution services. She suggested that from their 46.9 million dollar road fund reserve, the County could provide the City with $1.5 million annually for three years. In exchange the city could use the facility reserve allocation equaling 4.5 million dollars to fund specific county public safety services. She said the City of Springfield had built its own jail and asked for a financial analysis of the feasibility of Eugene assuming operation of the jail. Mr. Pryor was interested in the option of exchanging funds with the County. He said while transportation system funding remained a major concern, he had to consider the additional budget issues that were being raised, including City Hall maintenance costs. He said if a new City Hall was not built the existing structure needed maintenance and that had to be a factor. He said public safety, human services, City Hall mainte- nance and transportation funding became competing interests. He was reluctant to consider one-time funding for services that required ongoing funding, such as using the Facility Reserve for police, but was willing to consider options for addressing the County’s budget crisis. Mr. Clark said he was interested in discussing the possibility of operating the jail as it would require innovative thinking to address public safety responsibilities. He was troubled by discussions of subsidizing the County or solving its problems; the problems belonged to everyone and the County’s problems were the City’s problems. He said public safety was the City’s most basic mission and highest priority and it would be irresponsible not to step up and bridge the gap. He appreciated the city manager’s recommendations and balanced approach, but hoped for a more comprehensive discussion of public safety in the future. Mr. Ruiz clarified with Mr. Pryor that his reference to filling the human services gap related to Eugene and not County-wide. Ms. Taylor agreed with Ms. Bettman’s suggestion for an exchange of funds to provide the City money for road repairs. She stated it was difficult to discuss making up for the County’s budget deficits when the council had no knowledge of how the County made its budget decisions. Ms. Ortiz supported funding for law enforcement and stressed the importance of dealing with drug addiction, which was the source of many crimes, through treatment and rehabilitation programs, not just enforcement. She said programs that helped people become responsible members of society were an essential part of the public safety system.