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Mr. Laue said the political reality was that the Governor was unlikely to raise the issue of tax <br />reform before the next legislative session. He urged the council to place a measure on the <br />September ballot. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey reminded the council of its impending budgeting process, saying councilors may <br />wish to lobby the budget committee to restore services. He said he favored the following ballot <br />schedule: September--urban renewal issue, community policing; November--the park proposal; <br />next year--library proposal. Mayor Torrey pointed out a key election in May regarding the "double <br />majority," noting he suggests the park proposal in November because it is the only one that may <br />be jeopardized by the double majority rule. <br /> <br />Ms. Elmer said both she and the Police Chief held as their highest priority the (PSCC levy) <br />criminal justice system, which will be placed on either the September or November ballot. The <br />second priority for them is to maintain level staffing, i.e., managed "overhires." She explained <br />that the high number of retirees in the next few years will greatly impact the budget. The third <br />priority is community policing, particularly prevention strategies. Ms. Elmer reminded the council <br />of its previous decision to conduct an external analysis of staffing needs in the Police <br />Department. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey said the managed overhires issue was an ongoing problem that should not be <br />addressed with one-time money. He said he strongly supported public safety prevention and <br />intervention programs but questioned the PSCC's ability to address the community's needs in <br />this area. Nonetheless, he added, he would support the County's public safety levy. <br /> <br />Ms. Elmer said she was not suggesting that the PSCC be left to determine what the City's <br />prevention and community policing programs should be, but was identifying pertinent issues and <br />constraints <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson said the Parks Committee has not yet met and discussed a funding proposal and <br />nothing has been predetermined. She explained her position that the City needed to understand <br />what the State is likely to propose on tax reform as that may influence the council's decision. Ms. <br />Nathanson said that she was pleased with the analysis of managed police over-hires, but that <br />she was frustrated that the issue had first been raised at a Budget Committee meeting four years <br />and ten months previously. She pointed out the risks in having the problem persist. On the issue <br />of the criminal justice system, she said she saw no reason why those as well as the needs of <br />community policing could not move forward on parallel tracks without giving up one in favor of <br />the other. <br /> <br />Mr. Tollenaar said prevention and intervention was included in the PSCC proposal, but funding <br />may be reduced during the County's budgeting process. In response to his question on <br />managed overhires, Ms. Elmer confirmed that it was included on the budget for the next fiscal <br />year as a base line item. <br />Addressing a question from Mayor Torrey, Acting Police Chief Jim Hill said a request for <br />proposals (RFP) for a staffing needs study in the department would be issued in about 60 days, <br />including funding needs. <br /> <br />Mr. Lee said it was important to track and measure performance on goals to instill a sense of <br />ownership in the public of progress made on those, and possibly increase the chance of positive <br />outcomes at the ballot. <br /> <br />Minutes--Eugene City Council February 25, 1998 Page 4 <br /> 11:30 a.m. <br /> <br /> <br />