CC Minutes - 04/28/99 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Kelly liked the staff recommendation and did not want the issues raised at the meeting to stop staff progress. Regarding the anticipated budget shortfall, he noted that several Budget Committee members had raised the possibility of reallocating some General Fund money and that could result in "plugging the gap." Mr. Kelly suggested that staff solicit ideas from the Neighborhood Leaders Council regarding the boundary redesign issue. Mr. Kelly said he was not supportive of the concept of hand delivery. He said that such communication was a good idea but the reality was that with two-parent households working a variety of shifts, hand delivery of newsletters does not result in neighbors meeting neighbors, but rather neighbors seeing porches and doorsteps. He said that the limited volunteer energy should be put to more useful purposes. Mr. Kelly noted that the staff notes included an opinion from the City Attorney that the City must accept all advertising if it was to publish any advertising. He said that The New York Times will no longer accepting cigarette advertising, and asked if the fact the newspaper was a private company made a difference. City Attorney Glenn Klein said yes, adding that as a public entity the City was subject to the First Amendment. Mr. Meisner reiterated his interest in volunteer hand delivery of newsletters. He said that perhaps it would not be feasible for now-dormant neighborhoods but could be in the future. He said although the City provides an opportunity for neighborhood chairs to meet at the Neighborhood Leaders Council, it did not provide similar opportunities for neighborhoods to meet and work together. Some neighborhoods do a good job of using volunteers to deliver newsletters now, and he suggested that mentoring, joint meetings, and trainings would be a way for neighborhoods to cooperate and not just leaders to meet. Regarding the River Road/Santa Clara areas, Mr. Meisner agreed with Mr. Johnson with the caution that the County currently told residents in those areas to look to the City for services even when they were not annexed, and he did not want the nonannexed residents to believe that the City was going to deliver all the other services they wanted to have. Regarding the budget, Mr. Meisner requested more information of the money estimated for a one-time funding of $40,000 for neighborhood redesign, which was included under citywide newsletter, which had an expense of only $9,000. He also wanted more information about the one-time City Manager's Office publication. Mr. Meisner wanted outcomes from Neighborhood Program. He said that given the amount of money being added to the program, he wanted to know what the council expected to have happen. Ms. Taylor reiterated her desire to have a public hearing after the council had determined the details of the program redesign. Regarding hand delivery, Ms. Taylor agreed with Ms. Nathanson that it was good to bring residents together but she was hoping that occurred at meetings after residents received mailed notice. She said that apartments were difficult to deliver to, weather was a factor, and volunteers wear out. Mr. Rayor asked if staffhad defined eligible projects for the matching grant. Mr. Johnson said that staff would return to the council for more direction on the topic. Mr. Rayor said that many of the projects envisioned by neighbors have other City funding source, and if such projects were brought to the City there may not be as much funding needed as envisioned now. At the request of Mr. Lee, Chief Hill explained the elements of the Police volunteer coordinator position. MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 28, 1999 Page 10 5:30 p.m.