02/24/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e - from outlying jurisdictions or from the Federal government. Councilman Murray said if the motion passed it would not automatically ensure financing, the issue would have to go through normal budgeting process. He added that perhaps because of present economic conditions now would be the appropriate time for such a study because a great many people felt that growth was one of the things that contributed most heavily to current economic dilemmas. He felt the costs of growing at the rate Eugene was growing would go far beyond the projected cost of this study. Councilwoman Beal said her concern all along had been the obligation to determine the effect of growth on the taxpayers. The purpose of the study was to be able to know the costs ahead of time, as any business or corporation would do, in order to have a basis for making decisions as growth occurred. Councilman Keller appreciated that viewoint, but felt that type of information would be obtained from people qualified to develop it and he saw no relationship between that and a citizens committee. A citizens committee, he said, could make a decision on a professional opinion of what it costs the city to grow but in this case it was giving cause for a report and then making it a political issue. Mrs. Beal answered that she realized expert help was needed for compilation of data, a lot of which was now available, but community representation was needed on the steering committee. She said there was no intent on her part to inject any political or any particular social interests. Manager raised the question of possible hazard if a majority of those making the study were not elected or appointed officials and therefore not generally representa- tive of the total community and were in disagreement with the elected officials who with advice of appointed officials would have to make decisions on steps to implement the study. In that event, a set of guidelines might be adopted by the steering com- mittee which could really be a hurdle to implementation or progress toward whatever direction the elected officials wished to take. There was also the question whether LCOG was to have administrative responsibility for the project. If so, it would seem LCOG should have responSibility for final selection of the project director. Councilman Murray didn't share Manager's concern about the heazards of citizen involvement even though procedure for appointing citizens was not spelled out in the motion. He assumed they would be appointed by the jurisdictions involved and to some degree that would reflect viewpoints of the elective bodies. With regard to LCOG's role, he said he made no assumption one way or another in that regard. Mayor Anderson had serious concerns about the format which appeared to be developing. He noted countless studies inVOlving greenway belts, urban service boundaries, etc., which developed tools and techniques from which elected officials could reach con- clusions regarding their communities. He thought this proposed study should produce those tolls and techniques, also perhaps techniques whereby agreements could bring adjacent jurisdictions into the picture. But it appeared to him, he said, to be developing into a large political exercise if it proceeded along the lines it seemed to be heading. He saw it as a long tedious task in any event. The Mayor also ex- pressed concern about LCOG's role, saying it seemed to him that this was being pulled away from LCOG by setting up a new organization concerned only with growth and leav- ing LCOG with only the "nuts and bolts" of comprehensive planning in the community. Cost was also a concern to him. To accomplish the study would take the co-opersation of Lane County and Springfield, he said, and to do that the cost would have to be reasonable. He agreed with Councilman Murray that the study could save many dollars in the future, but at this time a program would have to be developed that was more appealing and more sound administratively. Referring to questions raised about appointment of a project director, Mayor Anderson said it seemed an entirely new organization of governments was being created which could go in any direction it wished. If that was the case, it appeared LCOG would be.relieved of its respondibility and he felt their role too important not to be involved. He suggested that the Council attempt to develop this proposal some more, perhaps turning it back to the task force asking for a "cheaper model," or perhaps having comment from the planning staff. 97 2/24/75 - 29