CC Minutes - 12/01/03 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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policy question in that the City was prioritizing this public works acquisition seemingly because the City could afford the land and had a willing seller, though it could not afford to develop it at this time as there were so many other needs. In response to a question from Councilor Bettman, City Manager Taylor stated that the acquisition was in the master plan for the site, the property had been appraised, and deletion of it would be to forego an opportunity to acquire the land for a favorable price. Councilor Solomon disagreed with the characterization of the price as "reasonable." She stressed that the price per acre was $340,000 for land that abutted the railroad tracks. She questioned the desirability of the area, calling the price for the property "astonishing." Councilor Nathanson asked staff to delineate the implications of delaying action. Public Works Director Kurt Corey recognized the concern with property values, noting the City recently purchased property around the Eugene depot that on an acreage basis would have been three to four times more than the amount of the appraised price of the property in question. He stated that the appraised price was the price the property would cost on the market, adding that any number of appraisers would provide a range which ultimately would boil down to an agreement between a buyer and a seller. He said the property price was due, in part, to income generation from the property. He related that this purchase was the last remaining component of the Roosevelt Boulevard Master Plan and conveyed his willingness to bring any necessary information before the council in order to move the purchase along. Councilor Pap~ called for the question. Roll call vote; the motion passed, 7:1; Coun- cilor Poling voting in opposition. Councilor Nathanson felt the most critical need at the present time was to address the handling of lost cats, stray cats, and cat reproduction. She stated that there were topics that needed to be covered with regard to the various agencies that were currently involved, including animal control, shelter for lost and abandoned animals, and spay and neuter services. She stressed the imminent need for the service, but suggested the council not go beyond the six-month need in order to allow other funding options to be explored. Councilor Nathanson, seconded by Councilor Meisner, moved to allocate $15,078 from the General Fund Contingency Account to fund cattery services at the Lane County Animal Regulation Authority (LCARA) for feral cats only through the fiscal year 2004. Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Kelly, moved to substitute a motion to take $26,000 from the General Fund Contingency Account to fund for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2004 a contract with LCARA to restore cattery services to the level of services purchased by the City prior to the budget reductions for FY04. Councilor Taylor asserted it was not just feral cats that were the problem. She averred that the council should not just provide a temporary fix to the situation. She commented on the fecundity of cats, stating that the population, if left unchecked, would quickly become more than a nuisance. MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 1, 2003 Page 14 Regular Meeting