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Ms. Nathanson noted the origin of the subcommittee's first work assignment in a suggestion she <br />had made. She thanked the subcommittee for its work and said it appeared that the process <br />was working well. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson said that, in her role as chair of the Council Committee on Intergovernmental <br />Relations, she contacted staff to ask whether the proposed request for the federal Community <br />Oriented Policing Support (COPS) grant would be a Eugene-only grant request or a United Front <br />grant request. Staff indicated that the grant was envisioned to be a Eugene-only request. Ms. <br />Nathanson asked staff to ensure it had "covered all the bases" in terms of the pros and cons of <br />submitting the grant as a collaborative, three-party request. She suggested there was the <br />potential a unilateral grant request could become a "wedge" between the partners in AIRS. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly thanked the members of the subcommittee for their work on the issue. He asked if the <br />proposed diversion of dollars from the assessment funds would prevent money from being <br />available for the"jump start" approach contemplated for the deferred street assessment policy <br />under consideration by Eugene and Lane County. Administrative Services Department Director <br />Warren Wong responded that it was his understanding that funds would be available to capitalize <br />the revolving fund at the level of approximately $200,000. City Engineer Les Lyle concurred, <br />adding that a combination of funds would be used to pay for collectors and arterials. He believed <br />that the number of local streets would be Iow in volume, and would not necessitate additional <br />funds. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner asked about the likelihood the grants sought would be received and, if received, how <br />would other funds be reprioritized? Mr. Johnson responded that he was not hopeful the City <br />would receive the federal grant, which was highly competitive and there were many communities <br />that could argue they were more in need. In addition, few dollars were available when compared <br />to the need. Mr. Wong noted that if the grant was received, the additional funding might be <br />needed to supplement the project budget if current project estimates did not hold firm. <br />Conversely, if the estimates proved firm, the grant moneys could be used to supplant the <br />resources identified in the staff recommendation. Responding to a question from about how <br />those resources would be prioritized, Mr. Wong recommended that the subcommittee be <br />reconvened to make that decision. <br /> <br />Responding to a question from Mr. Meisner about the basis of the City's share of the system <br />costs, Mr. Wong said that the City's share was based on the City's use of AIRS. <br /> <br />Mr. Rayor suggested that the issue of who submitted the grant request should be discussed with <br />the other chief executive officers. He said it would be great if a collaborative effort improved the <br />area's chances of receiving the grant. <br /> <br />Mr. Rayor asked if Mr. Johnson would characterize the staff recommendations to hold vacant <br />positions open as the beginning of the City's modified hiring freeze. Mr. Johnson said yes. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey agreed with Ms. Nathanson and Mr. Rayor about the nature of the grant request. <br />He thought federal dollars were available for technology improvements. He endorsed the <br />subcommittee's recommendations. Mayor Torrey asked staff if the City could retroactively apply <br />grant funds to the program. Mr. Johnson said that in part the answer depended on the grant <br />source. He pointed out that given that the project was a multi-year project, it was likely the City <br />could determine how the grant funds could be used appropriately. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 26, 2000 Page 3 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />