Item 3: Ratification of Intergovernmental Relations Committee Actions

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Mr. Hill stated that his recommendation to adopt a Priority 3 Neutral stance on the bill was based on the financial impact of the bill. He deferred to Mr. Cushman in regard to the beneficial impact of financing drug, alcohol, and mental health treatment services provided as part of the drug court program. Mr. Cushman had recommended adopting a Priority 3 Support position. He stated that the City would be held harmless. Ms. Bettman ascertained that there was no support to change the recommendation to something other than Priority 3 Support and the recommendation stood. HB 2471 Ms. Bettman asked why the bill had been given a Priority 2. Ms. Young replied that the bill would relieve the City from having to license tobacco vendors and it would also increase the enforcement piece. Mayor Piercy thought it was worthy. The committee maintained staff’s recommendation. HB 3082 Ms. Bettman noted with concern that at present an ordinance establishing county registration fees had to be voted on by the electors and HB 3082 would change this requirement. She thought it was good for electors to have to vote on such fees because the County had to make a case for what the money would be spent on and the community would weigh in. Mr. Jones pointed out that there was no requirement that prevented the County from holding a vote. Mayor Piercy liked the amendment to the bill. Mr. Jones agreed, noting that there was a previous bill that the City had supported. He hoped that if any county vehicle registration piece moved, the part around clarifying the distribution to the cities would be cleaned up. In response to a question from Ms. Bettman, Mr. Jones said the County could follow the state law and give the city share of money from a county vehicle registration fee to the City of Springfield as it would satisfy the legal requirement to give 40 percent of the money to cities. He did not believe that was the intent of the law, however. Ms. Bettman wondered why the CCIGR did not wish to indicate that it supported the bill with the amendment that the City would receive a proportional share of the revenue that would be raised by the increase in registration fees. Ms. Bettman moved to adopt a Priority 2 Oppose position on this bill unless it had an amendment that would distribute the revenue proportionately based on population. Ms. Bettman asserted that at present the City of Eugene received some of the County Road Fund but it was constrained and dedicated to a project “ that had nothing to do with what the City’s priorities” were. Mayor Piercy remarked that she would support it as written. Ms. Taylor provided a second to the motion. The motion passed, 2:1; Mayor Piercy dis- senting. MINUTES—Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations April 5, 2007 Page 12