CC Minutes - 06/21/99 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilor Meisner, seconded by Councilor Nathanson, moved to amend the motion adopting the FY2000 budget by decreasing the City Manager's Office General Fund appropriation for the Sister Cities program by $29,000, increasing General Fund reserve by a like amount and characterizing the remaining $14,000 allocation for the Sister Cities Program as a one-time allocation (that is, continued funding would have to be submitted as part of the FY2001 budget process). Speaking to the motion, Councilor Meisner stated that the City was actively involved in observing its part of the protocols on the Sister City Program. He said that there were many hidden costs paid by the City that were not included in the appropriation. He added that the City did not provide staff for nonprofit organizations. He also said that even at $14,000 the appropriation was 2-1/2 times the amount of the last appropriation. He noted that if the amendment failed, the amount would be eight times larger than the previous year's appropriation. He had concerns about the justification for giving a program that large a funding increase. Councilor Nathanson wanted the funding characterized as continuous. Councilor Kelly remarked that it was a policy decision whether to have a thriving Sister City program. He added that there needed to be a way to judge the performance of the program. Councilor Taylor spoke against the amendment. She stated that the City had made an obligation to the program and needed to live up to it. Councilor Lee supported Councilor Kelly's comments and added that the original allocation of $43,000 was not enough. He said that no one could put numbers on international relationships. In response to a question by Councilor Nathanson, Mr. Johnson replied that $43,000 was more than what the minimum needs of the program called for. Councilor Fart spoke against the amendment saying that it was a relatively small budget item. The motion to amend failed, 4:3; with Councilors Rayor, Meisner, and Nathanson voting in support. Councilor Kelly, seconded by Councilor Nathanson, moved to amend the motion to reduce the Sister City funding from $43,000 to $30,000 and retaining that amount as an ongoing budget item. Councilor Rayor spoke in favor of the motion. He had concerns for funding four sister cities when there was no funding for toddler programs. Councilor Taylor said that both toddler programs and the Sister City Program were important. She said that it was not an "either/or situation. She stressed the international importance of the Sister City Program. Councilor Lee spoke against the motion. He reiterated his earlier comments on Councilor Meisner's motion. Councilor Meisner spoke in support of the motion. MINUTES-Eugene City Council June 21, 1999 Page 6 7:30 p.m.