CC Minutes - 05/08/00 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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A. Approval of Minutes: April 10, 2000 Work Session and Regular Session, April 12, 2000 Joint Meeting with Lane County Commission Councilor Lee, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to approve the items on the consent calendar. The motion was approved unanimously. IV. CONTINGENCY FUND REQUESTS A. Consideration of Contingency Account Funding Requests Councilor Lee, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to authorize the expenditure of $500 for the assessment of health and human services needs in Lane County. The motion passed unanimously. Councilor Lee, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to authorize the expenditure of $8,000 to provide access to medical care for children ages 0 to 20 who have no or limited health insurance. In response to a question from Councilor Meisner regarding the previous requirement to refer eligible children to the Oregon Health Plan, Barbara Arnold of the 4J Health Clinic said that referrals to the Oregon Health Plan were made during visits. Councilor Pap8 expressed his pride to be on the School-Based Health Center Board and to be associated with Ms. Arnold. He stressed the importance of the service provided through the summer for children who were not eligible for the Oregon Health Plan. Councilor Kelly stressed his support for the program but raised concern that contingency funding criteria were not being consistently applied. He noted that other groups, just as deserving, had been limited to $5,000 and said that it was unfair for the council to now grant an $8,000 request. He also raised concern that a rule was being broken in funding a program for two years in a row. Mary Walston of the City Manager's Office explained the distinction between the previous funding and the current request. She said that the previous year's funding was not from the council Contingency Fund and therefore the two-year limit did not apply. Councilor Lee stressed his support for the proposal. He added that there were certain times when things had to be done because they were the right thing to do. He said that the ultimate goal of the council was to help the community and that was more important than a rule that the council had set for itself. He expressed his thanks for the people who had called in support of the program. He reiterated his support for the program. Councilor Farr said that he felt a personal responsibility for the program since the Council Committee on Homelessness and Youth had originally recommended that money be put into the program to continue service during the summer. Mayor Torrey said that there was an opportunity for the Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations to go to the legislature and demand funding for projects of this nature. He stressed the MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 8, 2000 Page 4 Regular Meeting