12/07/1992 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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M I NUT E S . Eugene City Council Council Chamber--City Hall December 7, 1992 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Shawn Boles, Bobby Green, Ruth Bascom, Randy MacDonald, Paul Nicholson, Kaye Robinette, Roger Rutan. The regular meeting of December 7, 1992, of the Eugene City Council was called to order by His Honor Mayor Jeff Miller. Mayor Miller announced that agenda items II, VIII, IX, and X were processed by the City Council during the preceding work session this evening. I. PUBLIC FORUM Dave Sweet, 1237 Ferry Street, said that it touched his heart when he heard of homeless children who received quilts when their families sought shelter at a local church recently. He questioned what the price of compassion was to people who feel that government cannot afford to provide for all citizens who . are in need. He noted that the City's overall goal "to give Eugene the most effective city government in the nation- is not enough, saying that Eugene must stand out as a model for civic integrity among other cities in the world. In conclusion, he asked councilors and councilor-elects to consider those in need. William J. Mason, 1803 West 34th Avenue, stated that on July 15, 1992, he submitted written correspondence to staff inquiring about the City's legal costs related to several Oregon Tax Court cases. He said that after inquiring again on August 10 due to a lack of response, he received a letter stating that he would have to first pay approximately $120 for the cost of staff to research the information. He noted that he received incomplete responses during personal and phone contacts with staff and complained that information related to some of his inquiries was confidential. On another matter, he noted that a lack of funds caused the requests for dismissal of two lawsuits in which he was a party. He pointed out that similar lawsuits filed by citizens in other Oregon cities have been adjudicated in support of the contention of the lawsuits filed locally that urban renewal debt must be included within the Ballot Measure 5 property tax limitation. He called attention to a memo from the City Attorney's Office concerning storm water drainage assessments, which he said, according to the Oregon Tax Court, would be a tax and, therefore, must be included within the mandated property tax limitation. He questioned whether the City intends to appeal every tax court decision it loses to the Oregon Supreme Court for the purpose of increasing taxes. He requested a response. . MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 7, 1992 Page 1 7:30 p.m.