CC Minutes - 02/26/99 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

regulations; 2) taxpayers will pay for results, not efforts; and 3) government must better communicate progress toward goals and objectives. Following a brief review of the weaknesses of the outcome-oriented approach, Mr. Simonsen solicited questions and comments from councilors. Mr. Kelly inquired as to whether the City's service profile approach is a step toward outcomes measurement. Mr. Simonsen responded that the City must decide where it wants to be on the continuum. The City can elect to loosely or tightly link reported performance to the resource allocation process, or to simply report the measured performance. Mr. Johnson inquired as to whether studies have been conducted that demonstrate the success of this approach in terms of increasing trust in government. Mr. Simonsen said he is not aware of any systematic research that has been conducted. Mr. Lee commented that the City engages very little in outcome-based performance measurement. He said he would like someone to prove that the downtown mall ordinance has been effective. Mr. Lee stated that because there is no data, political issues are argued based simply on belief systems rather than quantifiable facts. Mr. Kelly expressed support for City Council exploring the issue of data in relation to land use and transportation. He suggested that the Council look at the difference between the "lofty" growth management goals and the "nitty-gritty" of Trans Plan. Mr. Lee reported that prior to leaving the meeting, Mr. Forbes had commented to him that economic growth and stability are essential to assisting the youth population. He said violence against children and juvenile drug abuse increased dramatically during the recession of the 1980's. IV. URBAN WATERSHEDS AND THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT Mr. Johnson introduced Angela Wilson, Officer of Commissioner Eric Sten, of the Bureau of Environmental Services. Ms. Wilson stated that when the National Marine Fisheries Board listed the steelhead as an endangered species, Portland Mayor Vera Katz requested that Commissioner Sten oversee the city's response to the listing. She said Commissioner Sten believed that the listing provided Portland with an opportunity to better align its practices with its image of being a "green" city. She said Commissioner Sten believes that Portland must commit not only to stop killing steelhead, as mandated by the listing, but to restore the species as well. Ms. Wilson stated that Portland established a city-wide committee consisting of bureau representatives to assess the impacts of current city practices on steelhead. She stated that in addition to establishing a city- wide committee, Portland hired a consultant to evaluate the city's environmental practices. Ms. Wilson distributed to City Council copies of the briefing packet that was submitted to Portland's City Council. She said the report revealed that some of the changes that were deemed necessary would require an expenditure of funds and some would require only modifications to current practices. Ms. Wilson said Portland will complete and submit its proposed response to the listing in approximately three years, and will then await a Minutes--Eugene City Council February 26, 1999 Page 4 Goals Process Session