CC Minutes - 01/14/98 Work Session

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be considered. She was concerned about what the State might do, and the timing of that process and its relationship to the City's decisions. Ms. Swanson Gribskov noted that the PSCC was discussing a five-year serial levy for the November 1998 ballot and she was concerned about the integration between the services proposed to be supported by the levy and the measure the City placed on the ballot. She agreed that it was premature to request funding for community policing at this time because the City's interjurisdictional partners at Lane County and the District Attorney's Office were not prepared for the increased service demand. Ms. Swanson Gribskov indicated she had not decided about her position about the proposed committee. She agreed that education was necessary but worried about proceeding with a cumbersome process. She suggested that there was a parallel between the proposed committee and Lane County's Future Focus Committee, and the council might wish to give that subject more thought. She wanted to ensure any process agreed to did not duplicate the City's budget process. Mr. Lee agreed that core services were inadequately funded at a time of increasing service demand, demand that could be partly attributed to an aging population. He believed changing demographics required different services that the City was unprepared to delivery. Mr. Lee said that the council must be honest about that. He was not prepared to put a measure on the May ballot. However, he said that the council must continue to tell the public about the effect of Ballot Measure 50. Mr. Lee said that Eugene needed a new community vision, and he hoped that discussion could occur. Mr. Torrey recommended that the council shelve the concept of the proposed committee. He said that the council needed to do something similar to ensure that citizens understand what would occur in the next fiscal year, when current service levels could no longer be supported by anticipated revenues. Mr. Torrey said that if the council wanted to reinstate services, it could prioritize them for inclusion in the next year's budget. Ms. Taylor believed that the public was better informed about the impacts of Ballot Measure 50 than councilors knew. The media could help inform the public about a new tax measure. She said that restoration of recreation services did not represent a step backwards as their reduction was not planned by the community. Ms. Taylor moved, seconded by Mr. Laue, to place a net business income tax on the May 1998 ballot. Mr. Meisner indicated he would be unable to support the motion if it included a single tax source. He believed such a tax was inadequate and would harm the council's chance of passing a personal income tax. He agreed that a revenue measure would not pass if it was not supported by the entire council. Roll call vote; the motion failed, 6:2; Ms. Taylor and Mr. Laue voting yes. Mr. Torrey said that absent a motion to the contrary, he assumed there would be no City revenue measure on the May 1998 ballot. Given the lack of consensus regarding the proposed committee, Mr. Fart suggested that the council return to the topic later. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 14, 1998 Page 9 11:30 a.m.