CC Minutes - 05/14/01 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

as agenda item E in paragraphs 2 and 5 on page 6 of the minutes of the regular meeting of April 9, 2001. Mayor Torrey determined there was no objection to the proposed changes to the minutes. Councilor Bettman had a minutes correction (Item A). She referred to page 4 of the April 9, 2001, work session minutes and asked that the second sentence in paragraph 4 be changed to read (italicized text added; struck text deleted): "She had a reservation about the recommendation for * ........... *-~'~'*o '-"'~ angled parking." Mayor Torrey determined there was no objection to the proposed change to the minutes. Roll call vote; the motion to approve items A, B, D, and F passed unanimously, 6:0. The council considered Item C. Councilor Kelly noted concerns about the City's position on House Bill (HB) 2523. The bill would raise the threshold for contracts subject to prevailing wage rates from $25,000 to $250,000. He objected to the position because while there may be cost savings to the City, there would be wages lost if the minimum threshold was raised, and the threshold was being raised by an order of magnitude rather than an inflation factor or step increase. He noted the Oregon AFL-CI©'s opposition to the bill. Councilor Kelly, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to amend Item C by changing the City's position for HB 2523 to Priority 2, Oppose. Councilor Bettman supported the motion because the council's goals included one of supporting family-wage jobs. Responding to a question from Councilor Nathanson about when the threshold was initially set, City Manager Jim Johnson estimated approximately 15 years ago. Roll call vote; the motion to amend Item C passed unanimously, 6:0. Councilor Taylor referred to HB 3784, which prohibited a licensed ambulance service from allowing an employee impaired by fatigue or other factors from working in an ambulance, and asked the reason for the City's opposition. She referred to HB 3466, which defines growth-related action and required cities and counties to give notice of proposed growth-related actions and their effect, and asked the same question. Responding to the first question, City Manager Jim Johnson said that the City followed the rule now, and did not allow employees impaired by fatigue to work on an ambulance. He said that the City preferred the decision be made at the local level rather than by the State legislature. Regarding HB 3466, Councilor Rayor said that the bill was an unfunded mandate that imposed additional requirements on the City; he added that there was a series of similar bills regarding land use currently in the legislature that would have the practical effect of hamstringing land use planning. Planning Director Jan Childs concurred with Councilor Rayor's statement. Councilor Taylor preferred to be neutral on HB 3466. She thought it was simply a matter of keeping people informed, and said the City should not be opposing the legislation. MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 14, 2001 Page 5 Regular Meeting