11/22/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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However, if the ordinance contained an emergency clause, then the . only recourse for a citizen is an initiative petition with a repealer ordinance. That would wait for the general election under the proposal now before the Council. It therefore would eliminate the number of times an initiative or referendum could be voted on unless the Council sets a time. It limits the right of the electorate to use an initiative and referendum, and Assistant Manager reminded the Council that they had given staff that kind of direction earlier. Mayor Keller added that Council felt at that time that, to have a better turnout, it would be best to refer to a general election to resolve arguments about a special election supported by a small number of people. Mr. Williams said he was concerned about people acting at a general election and reversing it at a special election. He wondered if staff could draft it in such a way that reversals of action voted at one general election would occur only at another general election. It was understood that legal staff would look at it. Regarding Item I(1)(c), it was Council's consensus that 100 days should be substituted for six months. It was understood that Council would consider the ordinance for another two weeks and that, in the meantime, the legal staff would work on another draft. IV. CONSIDERATION OF SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT TAX AMENDMENTS--Memos have been distributed to Council members. It had been requested that a review be conducted about six months following the systems development tax amendment. Staff's November 17, - 1978, report relates the experience to date. It appears the City is getting more in the neighborhood of $800,000 a year than $600,000 as originally estimated. The figures indicate that the systems develop- ment tax has not had a significant impact on building construction in Eugene. According to the report, the types of development that need to be considered for exemption or reduction include the following: 1. Other governmental agencies--The recommendation is that it seems logical that those agencies such as EWEB and School Districts 4-J and 52 should be exempt. Also, Lane County and Lane Community College receive a large part of their revenue from Eugene and should be considered for exemption, or at least a reduction of the tax. Other agencies should generally pay the tax or an equiva- lent user charge. The staff recommends that the ordinance should be amended to include a provision to consider exemption or reduction for developments by other governmental agencies as follows: No taxes due under Section 7.277 of the Code for a development by any municipal, quasi-municipal, or public corporation. Developments by other government agencies may be granted a reduction in or exemption from the tax, when determined by the Council to be in the best interest of the City. 11/22/78--4 e l~O