05/24/1982 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ '- - e e ~ M I NUT E S Eugene City Council City Council Chamber May 24, 1982 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: D. W. Hamel, Mark Lindberg, Gretchen Miller, Brian Obie, Emily Schue, Betty Smith, Cynthia Wooten. COUNCILOR ABSENT: Eric Haws. Adjourned meeting of the City Council of the City of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Gus Keller. I. DISCUSSION OF CITY SUPPORT FOR COUNTY TAX PROPOSAL Mr. Gleason said that the Lane County Budget Committee was in the process of reviewing the May 18,1982, defeat of its tax base proposal, and deciding whether to place another tax proposal on a future ballot. He said that because of the timing of placing measures on the ballot, a decision would need to be made within the next forty-eight hours. Mr. Gleason felt it was necessary for all local jurisdictions, including the County, the cities, the school districts, and Lane Community College to work together to solve the budget problems affecting them. He said that the State and Federal governments would no longer be able to help the cities with their problems and that the local governments must act together and accept full responsibility for local budgetary concerns. Mr. Gleason felt that the ability of the City of Eugene and the Eugene area to attract new businesses and industries would be severely crippled if action is not taken to provide adequate public safety, social services, and intergovern- mental cooperation in the area. He said that such cooperation is needed to provide the capital improvements, such as airport and sewer improvements, needed to serve new industry. Mr. Gleason said that property taxes were inadequate to support the activities of City and County governments, schools and community colleges, and that other taxing mechanisms must be found. Mr. Gleason recommended that the council authorize the mayor to meet with mayors of the other cities in the area and special district heads to discuss cooperative efforts at working toward solution of mutual budget concerns. He suggested that the Eugene City Council agree to work aggressively to support a county tax base proposal, provided that such a proposal can be worked out in the best interests of the citizens of Eugene. He believed that through such cooperation, at least $300,000 could be restored to the municipalities for public safety operations. Mr. Gleason said he believed that if some such action is not taken, there will be an initiative petition to place public safety funding on the ballot. MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 24, 1982 Page 1