CC Minutes - 06/24/02 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Gordy Albee, 555 East 40th Avenue, she said it was a shame that citizens had to come to a council meeting to plead for their living. She stressed the importance of people being the highest priority of the City, and suggested the council scale down capital projects and tax slumlords and luxury cars to pay for services to people. Carolyne Frengle, 2810 Ferry, Food for Lane County, reiterated the testimony of people pleading for social service dollars. She said that 35,386 people received food boxes in the previous year. She noted that this was 20 percent of the population. She said that social services were not looking to expand but needed funding to support direct services to people that needed them. She urged the council to support social service programs. Jessica Chanay, Food for Lane County, noted that Iow-income people were citizens too. She said that the council was withdrawing money at a time when the need was greatest. She noted that the money requested did not amount to much in the total budget. She urged the council to think about who would suffer from their decisions. She noted that the council represented the poor as well. Roxy Cuellar, representing the Lane County Homebuilders Association, urged a return of funding to the Permit and Information Center. She raised concern over the loss of a receptionist at the PIC, and said that there would be a lot of people who would not get permits if they could not get public information. She stressed the importance of keeping the receptionist position at the PIC. Dana Turell, Food for Lane County, stressed the size of the need for food in Lane County. She said that there were people who truly needed the help of the City. She said social services meant a great deal to the citizens who received them, and 20 percent of the population would get food boxes during the year and half of those people were children. She said that the council had the power to help the poor in the community. She stressed that the council represented all of the people of Eugene. Jorge Navarro, 1452 West Broadway, spoke as a representative for Centro LatinoAmericano. He stressed that now was not the time to cut social services to the community. He urged generous funding for human services. Mayor Torrey closed the public hearing. Councilor Bettman thanked those who testified. She said that the least that could be done was to restore the $23,000 ramp down to the Human Services Commission that was implemented during the fiscal year 2002 budget process. She said she would make a motion to do so at the appropriate time. Councilor Kelly thanked those who testified. He said he would support the motion Councilor Bettman intended to offer. Councilor Rayor said Eugene was still providing more funding for the Human Services Commission (HSC) than any other local jurisdiction. He added that Eugene was a full partner with Food for Lane County through the Human Services Network. Councilor Nathanson commented that Eugene had given the greater portion of its contingency account to nonprofit social service agencies to help them pay their utility bills. She added that the MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 24, 2002 Page 5 Regular Meeting