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indicated they provide a full range of rehabilitative and reformative services. She said the current system has such serious reductions that their mission is at peril. She noted since 2001, state-closed custody beds through the Oregon Youth Authority have been reduced from 75 to 31 due to the state's own fiscal crisis. She said they have 31 of their most dangerous offenders that could go into the Oregon Youth Authority, but after that those youth remain in the community. She added they also have 32 beds of detention that is one third of their capacity. She indicated with reduction of other services, in dealing with youth and certain criteria that they have to meet, when they don't, there are no other options to deal with them. She commented that due to some of the reductions, they have become less effective with their case planning. She noted they have lost 11 staff members including a volunteer coordinator. Rob Rockstroh, Health and Human Services, said when they are discussing public safety, they are talking about it broadly. He reported that on December 31, 1996, the state gave Parole and Probation Department to the County. He said he could only send it back to the state if they cut funding. He added they are mandated to do Mental Health and Alcohol and Drug treatment. He said the Commissioners are the Mental Health authority. He noted Health and Human Services is the prime funder of Mental Health and Alcohol and Drug Services in Lane County. He indicated they contract out about $60 million per year. He said they have lost about $6 million in the last two bienniums. He noted most of the clients they serve are in the metro area. He said the systems are collapsing because of state and federal cuts. He stated the systems are interconnected and they need each other and if they don't work together they would be in trouble. Doug Harcleroad, District Attorney, emphasized what the cities were hearing was a group of people who want to build a balanced public safety system with benefits for all citizens in Lane County. He said they want a mix of services and prevention that works and is balanced. He noted there are nine police agencies in Lane County with 400 sworn officers. He said they bring all of their felonies to the District Attorney's office. He said they have to decide on the amount of the levy together. He wanted the jurisdictions to make a decision on the land use issue and have the discussion about the mix of services and how they are going to make it happen. Fred Simmons_, Springfield, asked if they should use compression and then violate the trust of local voters. He thought they needed to carefully review this before they amend the Metro Plan. He said there are potential financial flaws that would reflect against the cities of Springfield and Eugene, but Willamalane Parks and Recreation will run into compression. He thought on its face it has not been thought out well enough. He said before they go to the Boundary Commission and the people, that they have a clear plan. David Hinkley, Eugene, commented that the proposed Public Safety District is a disastrous proposal for a non-existing problem. He said in the long run, this would undermine public support for city and county governments. He asked if the special district provided all of the services, why would general government be needed. He commented that public safety is the single largest impediment to local tax reduction measures. He indicated the public doesn't see all the services that government provides. Page 7 - Joint Elected Officials Meeting - 7:00 p.m. - April 19, 2005 WD bc/m/05043/m