10/27/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mayor Anderson suggested that the Council proceed with the balance of the agenda. There were no objections and at the conclusion of other business, discussion turned again to the e Freedom Train issue. II-A-l Councilman Keller thought an effort should be made to reach some sort of agreement and wondered if there was any chance the other agencies would accept the $2000 liabil- ity limit. Manager said if the Council authorized the contract without the limit, that contract would be signed. However, that new direction would have to come in a motion that repealed previous action setting the limit. Councilman Bradley suggested a motion to eliminate the $2000 liability limit, thereby giving staff the flexibility to work out an arrangement with Springfield to include some other liability limit, say $5000, $10,000, $30,000, or whatever could be arranged. Mayor Anderson thought that would be putting a burden on staff that the Council should be carrying. Councilman Haws also thought it would be unfair to staff. He felt there was a sort of moral obligation since Eugene had originally indicated its support. Assistsant Manager explained that Eugene was involved because it appeared a good idea, and since Springfield did not attend the original meeting with the Foundation group, Springfield was assured that Eugene would work with them. Of course, he added, when Southern Pacific chose the trackage in Springfield for location of the train, need of assistance became more evident. In response to Councilman Haws, Assistant Manager said Eugene's involvement came about originally through a meeting with SP and Foundation representatives. Because having the Train exhibit stop in this area appeared to merit consideration, staff time was taken to search out a loca- tion. When the trackage in Springfield was decided upon, the matter was then pursued with the Springfield Council. e Councilman Keller wondered if those concerned would be more comfortable with a $5000 liabili ty 1 imi t. Manager said he personally felt, from information given by Spring- field, that experience of other cities where the train had stopped indicated there would be no problem in covering that amount from receipts. The issue, he said, was whether to sign the Freedom Train Foundation agreement, a very specific document that cannot be changed. Mr. Haws stated his understanding that Council members were being advised to be very cautious about signing that contract. He wondered if liability was incurred whether it would be against Council members individually. Mr. Long didn't think so, based on what he knew about it at this time. It was true that staff doesn't like the contract, he said, but the reason it wasn't signed was because staff was limited to $2000 liability and that could not be done. The Freedom Train people have said they want their specific contract signed in its present form. They appear not to be interested in mone~, as such, he said, only the agreement. Councilman Williams felt the relationship between Eugene and Springfield to be critically important to the health of the urban area. The real issue, he said, was not the $4000 to $5000 involved, but rather the question of whether the urban area was going to work together in a partnership relationship. He felt it should work that way so it seemed Eugene was pretty much obligated to pay its "share of the freight." He wasn't convinced it was a proper expenditure, he said, but he thought the urban area relationship was of overriding importance, that all participants should be carrying their share of urban area responsibilities. e Mayor Anderson hesitated to bring the relationship with regard to social services into this discussion. He didn't think that was an inequitable situation, rather it was a matter of different opinions. And they were not real, he said, other than that Eugene was disappointed that Springfield was not supporting the social services program. 10/27/75 - 5 55"-1