Agenda Packet 3-11-19 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES – Eugene City Council February 13, 2019 Page 2 Work Session •Councilor Syrett – asked for information about the proposed plan as it relates to cuts made topublic safety services during the last recession, noting that revenues have risen since thenbut not enough to meet current needs; acknowledged that business owners served on thecommittee and were supportive of the proposal; favored a payroll tax over a property tax. •Councilor Evans – complimented the report and supported the direction and proposedmechanism for revenue generation; asked about the effect on County partners, such asHealth and Human Services, if growth in capacity also increases the need for social services;asked about intended visual and other real, tangible outcomes to change the perceptions ofthose who are now afraid to come downtown. •Councilor Taylor – asked about and supported plans to increase public safety presence inneighborhoods that are not considered to be in crisis; supported the implementation of callprioritization; inquired about exempting lower-income earners from the proposed payroll tax. •Councilor Syrett – agreed that there would be value in council discussing the other options;supported strategy that funds detectives dedicated to non-immediate crimes such asprostitution and drug dealing noting that the proposed plan calls out this need. •Councilor Zelenka – encouraged council to follow a transparent process with definedmetrics for success and a solid accountability mechanism; show benefits of the proposedtax, how it will be shared by the community and how the funds will be allocated. •Councilor Yeh – noted that the committee did discuss the possibility of exemptions butagree that everyone should contribute at some level because everyone benefits from aneffective public safety system. •Councilor Semple – said the parks bond and levy is a good example of the value of a smallcommittee doing the analysis and making a recommendation; the condition of Eugene’s publicsafety system is an ongoing crisis needing immediate attention and robust public input. •Councilor Pryor – agreed that the work of the committee will help expedite the councildecision-making process. •Mayor Vinis – acknowledged the size and detail of the report, its holistic approach and itsnexus with many other services and programs; the council will have the opportunity todiscuss the issue further in its upcoming workshop; encouraged staying on track to meetthe 18-month timeline for implementation.The meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Beth Forrest City Recorder Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting: here. March 11, 2019, Meeting - Item 3A