01/22/1990 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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. M I NUT E S Eugene City Council McMillan's Westside Cafe 720 Willamette Street January 22, 1990 5:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Ruth Bascom, Rob Bennett, Shawn Boles, Emily Schue, Freeman Holmer, Bobby Green, Roger Rutan. The regular City Council meeting of January 17, 1990, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Jeff Miller. Ms. Schue informed council members that she has written a letter to the State Emergency Board regarding funding for in-home health care, and in the absence of council opposition will send this letter. Ms. Schue recognized that this is a State problem, and needs to be dealt with seriously. Mr. Holmer indicated that although he appreciates the importance of this issue, he is reluctant to take any action without more information. Mr. Boles informed council members that the Mayor of Nagasaki, Mayor Notoshima, has been shot, and said that he will send a sympathy letter to the e Notoshima family. Funding for the Cultural Services In response to the council and art community interest, the Ad Hoc Arts Funding Committee was formed. The committee met regularly during the latter half of 1989 and held hearings to receive input from both the arts community and hospitality industry. The views of the latter were solicited as the committee soon focused on the Transient Room Tax and a possible increase therein as the most likely source of additional revenue to fund the arts. The committee developed a recommendation to council for an increase in funding for the arts. Mr. Holmer said that the Arts Funding Committee met with local art groups in the community such as the Lane Regional Arts Council (LRAC) and the Center for the Performing Arts in an attempt to identify the relationship which exists between the City and the arts community. Ms. Schue said that of all the components of this proposal, the Transient Room Tax has been the central focus of discussion. It was the position of the hospitality industry that any moneys generated from this tax should be used to promote tourism. Ms Schue indicated that although there is no dispute that some of the revenue generated from such a tax should go toward promoting tourism, there is also an important cultural dimension unique to Eugene which needs to be taken into account when dispersing tax moneys. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session January 22, 1990 Page 1