CC Minutes - 02/16/98 Work Session

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could be conducted as it had been conducted in the past. Mr. Meisner asked if the City could do the Celebration for less cost. He asked if the event had grown too much, and if the City had been sufficiently cautious about expenses and worked hard enough to generate revenues. Responding to a question from Ms. Taylor, Ms. Brewster said that entertainment was the Celebration's main attraction and consumed a significant amount of the budget. She said that the amount budgeted was comparatively Iow when compared with other events. Ms. Taylor asked if the Celebration could employ local talent at a lower cost. She also asked if raising the pin sales had reduced revenues. Responding to the latter question, Mr. Johnson said yes, but pointed out the increase was part of the strategy approved by the council. Ms. Brewster added that most entertainment was local and some entertainers did not get paid at all. She did not think the Celebration had much room to move in that category. Ms. Taylor asked what the City realized from the food booths. Mr. Johnson said that the City collected 18 percent of revenues. Ms. Taylor said she liked the Celebration and thought it was worth the money. She thought the City should continue to operate the event. Ms. Nathanson said she was not willing to discontinue the Celebration. She was uncomfortable with some of staff's responses to Mr. Meisner's questions and some of the choices available to the council. She said that the Celebration continued to get bigger and more complex. She asked if the City had been using the Steering Committee appropriately. Mr. Johnson said he believed the committee would have liked more oversight and policy control. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Warren Wong Acting City Manager Pro Tem (Recorded by Kimberly Young) MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 16, 1998 Page 6 5:30 p.m.