08/14/1972 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilman Williams commented on addition of fire stations and equipment necessary to keep the City's present fire rating, and the possibility of increased fire in- surance rates should that fire rating not be maintained. He asked if it is true that City property owners are being asked to pay about $19 per year more in taxes to avoid a $2.15 increase in insurance premiums. Fire Chief replied that the - greatest advantage in the lower fire rating goes to industrial and large commercial . installations, but that fi gures woul d be checked and a report brought back. Discussion touched on minor amount of revenue produced by the auditorium for bond retirement. After discussion on whether a public hearing is desired on the projects presented before a program is decided upon for presentation to the vote.rs, it was agreed that a hearing to' provide an opportunity for public comment on the 5-year projects list as presented would be held at the August 14 Council meeting. The list would be brought back for discussion at the commi ttee meeting on August 16, and any amendments Comm based on comments resulting from the hearing would be made and then brought back for 8/2~'~2 final Council decision at the August 28 meeting. . Aff~rm R. Mall Regulations - counciimanTeague referred to Manageri s memo on mall -Jje- havioral problems previously distributed to Council members and draft of proposed ordinance covering mall regulations. He asked staff to bring back Comm recommendations with the proposed mall regulation ordinance which would help 8/9/72 in correcting the problems. Affirm S. Collective Bargaining - At the request of Councilman McDonald, Manager ex- . plained the intent of his August 8 memorandum mailed to Council members with regard to proposed amendments to the Charter and City Code. Council was asked to postpone discussion of the amendments and consider their submission at an election later than that in November to avoid the issue's being lost among others on the ballot and to give opportunity for alternative suggestions. Patrick Flynn, speaking for the Fire Fighters, said they have material for Council members with regard to the proposed legislation and favored further discussion of the issue prior to Council action. He noted a recent policy change whereby discussion on any proposed collective bargaining legislation will undergo a 60-day period prior to presentation to the Council. It was understood the matter would be brought back at a later date and that it would not be a part of the November general election. Mayor Anderson told Comm Mr. Flynn that the Council is always willing to talk about collective bargain- 8/9/72 ing, but it is not willing to discuss bargainable issues. Affirm I T,Capital Projects Ballot Measure (Housing, Auditorium, Corrections Facility) -' \ Betty Niven, chairman of the Joint Housing Committee, commented on the priority i rating of a $450,000 serial levy to finance low-income housing in the City in- , I I . cluded in a capital expenditures program to be considered for submiss~on to the : ~.' voters in November. She distributed copies of a memorandum to Council members listing the purposes for which the levy would be used and why it is needed, and explained in detail,why the item should be among those presented for voter ap- proval. She said the Ci ty must make some contribution because of the numbers of people who are spending too much of their income for housing. Mrs. Niven also commented on a statement in the Lane County Auditorium Association brochure distributed to audiences at its summer production" 1776." She said the objectionable wording suggested property will be removed from the tax rolls and asked that the Auditorium Association have the sentence referred to blacked out. In answer to Mrs. Beal, Mrs. Niven explained procedure for using Federal funds . to acquire land when it is available at a reasonable price for resale to developers, ,thereby making it possible to disperse low- and middle-income housing throughout :the City. An arbitrary figure of $1000 per unit for 450 units for land costs was' chosen to determine an amount -to put before the voters.' In answer to . Councilman Teague, Mrs. Niven said all land purchases would be approved by the ,Council if the levy is approved and money is available. Councilman McDonald said he feels householders would be in a better position were they to purchase homes rather than renting. Mrs. Niven answered that that would be more desirable but } that money is not available to people in those income brackets to purchase homes. . ,Mayor Anderson said the proposal should be considered in light of whether the City should actively participate in providing low- and middle-income housing, since Federal programs do not fill the need. The program should be considered, he said, as fulfillment of the City's objective when a housing resolution was ,adopted some years back. ) d~J 8/14/72 - 11