CC Minutes - 02/16/98 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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should be ample for a nonprofit organization to produce a similar event, especially if the City would continue to provide in-kind support. Carole Goddard stated that she was co-chair of the 1996 Eugene Celebration. She said a nonprofit organization could operate less expensively because of lower salaries, contracting of services, and elimination of public contract law requirements. She said approximately $250,000 in start-up funds were needed in advance of each celebration. She said she believed Celebration organizers had fully explored revenue enhancement possibilities. Mr. Fart said that, in addition to the factors identified by Ms. Goddard, non-public businesses were able to operate more efficiently because of the elimination of bureaucratic functions required of government programs. He said he supported investigation of turning over operation of the Celebration to a nonprofit organization. Mr. Meisner said that he believed a nonprofit organization could successfully operate the Celebration. Ms. Nathanson said she did not believe the City should pay for a party when it could not pay for essential services. She said she needed assurance that all possible cost reduction measures had been investigated. In response to a question from Mr. Laue regarding why pin income had not met anticipated levels in 1997, Mr. Johnson said he believed it was likely a factor of the location of pin sales booths and that a great deal of the event could be accessed without a pin. Mr. Laue said he was confused by revenue and expense support material provided for the various options. He said it appeared that transition costs were proposed as a continuing annual City expense. He said that special care should be given to crafting a Request for Proposals for an organization to operate the Celebration to ensure that it retained its unique character. Ms. Taylor said she was concerned that the City could support paying of lower salaries if it transferred management of the Celebration to a nonprofit organization. She determined that all booth sponsors, food vendors, and parade entrants paid participation fees; but that nonprofit organizations paid flat fees, rather than fees based on sales profits. She said she was also concerned that privatization of the event would change its character and that she preferred that the City continue as its sponsor. Mr. Tollenaar asked if it was possible for the City to loan funds to private entities. City Attorney Glenn Klein said the only restriction on such loans were that proceeds from bond sales could not be loaned to private entities. Ms. Swanson Gribskov said that she appreciated the enthusiasm and commitment of those involved in planning the Eugene Celebration. She said she felt the City should trust that its nature would not be changed through privatization. Mr. Lee said he could accept the importance of "doing" the Eugene Celebration differently, but that he was troubled by the shortness of time available to make significant changes. Mr. Minutes--Eugene City Council February 16, 1998 Page 5 7:30 p.m.