CC Minutes - 04/28/03 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilor Nathanson expressed concern that the motion would defer a needed parks SDC increase. She was unsure she was prepared to delay a increase until the comprehensive plan was completed. Responding to a question from Mayor Torrey, Mr. McVey said that incorporating commercial and industrial users in the calculation would be a more lengthy process. He said that the interim adjustment was intended to minimize the number of needed changes. There were no changes made to the methodology; only rate factors were updated. The inclusion of commercial and industrial users would require a change in the methodology, which he preferred to process with the Public Works Rates Advisory Committee. Responding to a question from Councilor Kelly, Councilor Bettman said she did not think the methodology needed to be reviewed by the Public Works Rates Advisory Committee. The council had the ultimate authority to make the needed policy decision now. Responding to a question from Councilor Kelly, City Manager Dennis Taylor recommended that the issue of including commercial and industrial properties in the parks SDC be processed by the Public Works Rates Advisory Committee (RAC). Speaking to comments about the comprehensive parks and open space update, Mr. Taylor believed that the council would receive recommendations from that longer term process about the efficacy of including those uses in the SDC as well. Councilor Bettman did not think the recommendation needed to go through the RAC and feared the result of adopting the motion would be to delay any increase in the parks SDC. She withdrew her motion with the assent of her second, Councilor Taylor. Councilor Taylor supported an interim parks SDC on commercial and industrial properties and wanted to know why that could not occur. Mr. McVey said that it could be done, but considerable analysis occurred through the RAC, and it took time. He confirmed that the parks SDC was still in the process of being reviewed by the Public Works Rates Advisory Committee. Councilor Meisner was concerned that in the absence of clear policy direction, the City would see no analysis of spreading the costs of new parks to other users. He appreciated what Councilor Bettman's motion attempted to do. Councilor Meisner asserted that the issue was being ignored by staff, the RAC, and the Parks and Open Space Committee. He said that in the absence of the motion, staff would consider it "permission to ignore" the issue. Councilor Meisner said he needed costs that could better persuade him. He perceived a need for an increase in the parks SDC, and found it regrettable that the council had "now effectively decided not even to consider" the issue of spreading the parks SDC to a larger user group. While he acknowledged Councilor Meisner's frustration, Councilor Kelly said it was his understanding that the issue of spreading the costs of parks to a larger group of users was already on the RAC's work plan. He suggested that the council could provide further policy direction to the committee with a motion directing it to include commercial and industrial users in the new SDC. He said would support such a motion. Councilor Pap8 endorsed Councilor Kelly's suggestion. Responding for a request for clarification regarding the motion from Mr. Carlson, Councilor Pap8 said that it was his preference to leave the parks SDC as it was, have it come back to the council MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 28, 2003 Page 16 Regular Meeting