CC Minutes - 08/13/03 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Kelly indicated support for participating in a regional discussion. However, he did not think the motion was the correct vehicle to get where the council wanted to go. He did not see any changed circumstances that argued the outcome of a regional discussion would be different. Mr. Kelly pointed out to Ms. Nathanson that the council did not have to repeal the ordinance to change the formula of the TSMF. Mr. Kelly thanked the mayor for the extensive work he had done to get a coordinated solution. He asked why a TSMF would fail at the ballot box but a vehicle registration surcharge or gas tax would be successful. They could fail as well, leaving the City in the same position as it was now. City Manager Dennis Taylor asked the council to stay focused on the magnitude of the local problem. It required sustainable levels of revenue far above what was already committed. If pavement management was not addressed in a substantial way, the problem would grow exponentially. He said that the fee was similar to fees in other jurisdictions he had worked with during the course of his career. He said that Eugene's pavement management system was inferior to other services provided by Eugene. The City was losing ground and must do something significant to correct the problem. He expressed support for a regional discussion. Mr. Pap8 agreed with Mr. Kelly's remarks about his support for a regional effort. However, he also questioned what had changed. Mr. Pap8 credited Public Works Department Director Kurt Corey with the City's current emphasis on maintenance funding. He indicated he would ask the manager to find $7 million in the next fiscal year's budget if the motion passed to underwrite maintenance funding. Ms. Bettman thanked Mr. Green for participating in the discussion. Regarding the suggestion that the TSMF or gas tax would fail at the ballot, Ms. Bettman believed that its failure would indicate that the voters wanted existing transportation funding used wisely to protect their investment in the system first. She did not think the council should be afraid to put things on the ballot in anticipation they would lose. Ms. Bettman believed that voters were aware of the deteriorating street system and would very possibly vote in support of road maintenance funding. Ms. Bettman noted that the council had recently acted on two occasions to dedicate funds to maintenance and preservation that had historically been diverted to new projects: 1) the reimbursement element of the systems development charge; and 2) federal Surface Transportation Program dollars received through the local metropolitan planning organization. Mayor Torrey said that if the motion passed it would present a test for other elected officials to come forward. If the motion failed, the need would continue to exist. No matter what, he intended to contact Commissioner Bill Dwyer and ask him to sit down and talk. Mayor Torrey said that the City was continually pushed by its residents to expend money for many things, but it did not always have the money to accomplish what was desired. He said that the least "sexy" of all the things the City was asked to fund was road maintenance. Until there was a hole in the road, residents did not demand action. He appreciated Mr. PapS's suggestion that the City identify $7 million in reductions as a test of the community's support. Mayor Torrey solicited a third round of council comments. MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 13, 2003 Page 4 Work Session