Item 3: Ratification of Intergovernmental Relations Committee Actions

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Ms. Bettman, seconded by Mr. Pryor, moved to take a position of Oppose with an amend- ment to exempt two-way radio communication from the bill. The motion passed unani- mously, 3:0. HB 2841 Ms. Bettman, seconded by Mayor Piercy, moved to change the status of the bill to Priority 2. The motion passed unanimously, 3:0. HB 2922 Ms. Bettman asked why the City did not support the bill if it had the potential to increase State revenues. Mr. Hill said it would repeal nine existing tax exemptions and would take the State’s taxable income definition out of compliance with the federal definition. He had not recommended a position of support or oppose because the City lacked a clear legislative policy to support a broad range of legislative approaches to increase State revenues generally as there were many ways it could be increased, but some of those approaches may not be consistent with City policy. He did not feel he had sufficient direction to recommend a position. Mr. Pryor did not know the impact of repealing all the exemptions. He would have to know more about the exemptions in question. Mayor Piercy supported the concept of repealing some tax exemptions but preferred to monitor the bill at this time. Mayor Piercy, seconded by Mr. Pryor, moved to change the status of the bill to Monitor. The motion passed unanimously, 3:0. HB 2945 Mr. Hill reviewed the elements of the bill. He confirmed, in response to a question from Ms. Bettman, that the bill would not impact City revenues coming from the Eugene Water & Electric Board. Ms. Bettman had no objections to the staff recommendation. SJR 27 Ms. Bettman moved to change the status of the bill to Oppose. The motion died for lack of a second. HB 2901 Ms. Cutsogeorge reviewed the elements of the bill, which would change collateralization procedures and requirements for the deposits of public funds. Staff recommended support because it appeared to be a safer approach for local governments. Ms. Bettman deferred to staff but said she did not like the bill because the bank now must have the collateral to back up a transaction. Ms. Cutsogeorge said banks must have 20 percent of the value of the collateral. Nothing was fully collateralized in the current or proposed system. Responding to a question from Ms. Bettman about the source of the bill, Ms. Cutsogeorge said the bill was long in the works and was the product of local government working with the Oregon Banking Association. MINUTES—Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations March 22, 2007 Page 3