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Mr. Meisner asked staff to provide the council with information about jurisdictions using a value- <br />added tax. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly clarified that the council was merely requesting research about the sales tax. He agreed <br />with Mr. Meisner that there were ways to reduce the regressivity of the sales tax. Responding to <br />Mr. Farr's comments, he agreed that a regional cooperation was vital to the success of a sales tax. <br /> <br /> The motion passed, 5:2; Mr. Rayor and Mr. Farr voting no. <br /> <br />C.Work Session: Ordinance Concerning Forfeiture <br /> <br />The council was joined for the item by Mr. Carlson and Police Chief Jim Hill. Patty Furlough, the <br />District Attorney handling local forfeiture cases, and City Attorney Glenn Klein were also present <br />for the item. Mr. Carlson provided brief background on the item, noting the changes resulting to <br />forfeiture law as a result of the passage of Ballot Measure 3. The measure's passage had an impact <br />on the City's funding of its Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (1NET) because the ballot <br />measure specifically precluded the expenditure of forfeited dollars on law enforcement. The State <br />legislature had developed implementing legislation for the measure; that legislation took effect in <br />July. <br /> <br />Mr. Carlson called attention to information included in the meeting packet regarding how INET <br />would be funded as of fiscal year 2003. <br /> <br />Mr. Carlson invited council input on the a draft ordinance designed to bring the relevant City <br />ordinances into compliance with State law, and requested direction on whether moneys from <br />forfeitures were to be used for purposes other than drug treatment. <br /> <br />Responding to a question from Ms. Bettman, Ms. Furlough clarified that the reference to an "in <br />rem" proceeding on page 35 of the ordinance regarded an action taken against a property rather <br />than a person. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman asked if administrative costs incurred by the City of Eugene were reflected in the <br />forfeiture redistribution formula. Mr. Johnson said a central services allocation was included in the <br />formula to cover those costs. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman said that it appeared the City had the option to use the funds for drug treatment, but <br />did not have to. She asked if the council had the choice of directing those funds to drug treatment <br />or to other General Fund purposes, not including law enforcement. Mr. Johnson said yes. Ms. <br />Bettman determined from staff the forfeiture dollars would show up as revenue the council would <br />need to allocate to General Fund purposes or to drug treatment. Mr. Johnson pointed out that if <br /> <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 8, 2001 Page 8 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />