CC Minutes - 02/13/02 Work Session

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Mr. Fart commented that supporting the community read was an opportunity for the City to be in on the start of a good community program. Mr. Pap~ suggested putting the request through the normal budget process. He said the request did not come to the level of an emergency and noted that there were lots of worthy causes in the community that did not receive support from the City. Mr. Rayor supported the motion. He said the community read supported reading and youth recreation, and helped engage the community for the public good. Ms. Taylor supported the motion. She commented that the program would be a great community builder and added that it was timely with the opening of the new downtown library. Mr. Meisner reiterated Mr. Papa's suggestion that the request go through the regular budget process. Ms. Nathanson reiterated that she liked the idea of a community read but stressed her previous commitment to supporting social service agencies. The motion passed, 5:3; Mr. Pap~, Ms. Nathanson, and Mr. Meisner voting in opposition. Mr. Kelly, seconded by Mr. Pap~, moved to direct the staff to work with the Intergovernmental Human Services Commission to develop and implement a Iow income energy assistance program for service providers using the balance of the council social services account for Fiscal Year 2002. In response to a question from Ms. Bettman regarding the contingency money being disbursed in less than $5,000 increments, Mary Walston of the City Manager's Office said the original staff proposal was that the money would go to the Human Services Commission, which would develop the specific formula for disbursing the money to service providers. She acknowledged this was outside of the agreed-upon contingency process and there could be amounts larger than $5,000. Ms. Bettman said she was uncomfortable with using all of the contingency money for the year for one item and not having any extra money to address emergencies. She added her hope that the normal budget process could also address some of the social service needs. Mr. Fart reiterated Ms. Bettman's concern over spending all of the contingency fund. In response to a question from Mr. Fart regarding whether the City Manager had ever seen the entire fund spent on one item, City Manager Johnson noted that there were well over $100,000 in expenses due to the recent wind storm damage that would have to be paid for from another reserve fund. Mr. Meisner raised concern over the motion. He questioned whether the City was "the rescuer of last resort for everyone, and everything, in every circumstance." He said the motion made sense and noted that it was one-time funding and not an ongoing expense. He said he would support the motion with certain qualms. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 13, 2002 Page 2 Work Session