12/02/1991 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mr. Gardiner reviewed sections of the document. He said that 7.33 percent of the City's total employment was in central business function staffing. This '---'" equates to 7.79 CSF positions per 10,000 of Eugene's unadjusted service base and 5.35 CSF positions per 10,000 of Eugene's adjusted service base. Mr. Boles asked what would be a valid comparison of the City's total CBF posi- tions based on the adjusted population service base. Mr. Gardiner said that this figure would be comparable with the other cities outlined in the study. He explained that the service deliveries of those cities were not significant enough to adjust their populations beyond their city limits. Mr. Gleason added that both figures for Eugene were comparable to the other cities. Responding to a question from Ms. Ehrman, Mr. Gardiner said that salaries of CBF positions were not part of the study. He said he understood that a sepa- rate study was being conducted to analyze this. Mr. Nicholson felt that it would have been more valid to compare the City I with other municipalities that were more similar than those included in the study. Mr. Gleason said there would have been other variables to consider if I the study had compared Eugene to other regional service providers. He sug- gested that the council not focus on the adjusted figures. Mr. Gardiner I explained the criteria used to select the cities for comparison with Eugene. I He said that California cities were specifically not included because of the evolution of those cities since the passage of Proposition 13. I In conclusion, he said PFM found that Eugene's CBF expenditures and staffing levels were well within the normal range for cities of 75,000 to 175,000 population. He said the City has done a more stringent job in keeping cen- '-- tral functions (i.e., data processing) centrally organized, as opposed to distributing the service among departments. PFM recommends developing a "service stress index" designed to identify the direct services which are likely to face major challenges in the future and to provide the basis for analysis of the adequacy of CSF staffing and expenditures in the future. Such an index could provide early warning of significant demographic, econom- ic, or other changes which may require a major service response from the City. Additionally, the index could incorporate indicators of potential internal stress (i.e., major public safety retirements) which could affect the City's ability to deliver services to the community. Mr. Boles asked that staff flag for the next process session a discussion on reviewing the methodology adopted by contractors. Mr. MacDonald asked staff for a follow-up report on the recommendations outlined in the report. I1. WORK SESSION: WARD BOUNDARY STUDY City Manager Mike Gleason introduced the topic. Jim Croteau, Planning and Development, gave the staff presentation. Every ten years, the City Council is charged with revising its ward boundaries to equalize the adjusted popula- tions within each ward. Using the 1990 census data and the criteria used for the 1981 wards adjustment process, staff generated a draft redistricting map which was reviewed by individual councilors. Comments received during this '-" MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 2, 1991 Page 2 l -