CC Minutes - 06/08/98 Work Session

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measure. He identified the Council Committee on Public Safety public safety measure as his first priority, with the library as his second. He said his next priority would be a modest parks and open space bond-based measure focused on neighborhood parks in the north and west sectors, followed by ball fields. Mr. Meisner thanked the committee for its work and said he preferred a longer-term measure, perhaps taking options on some properties as suggested by Ms. Swanson Gribskov. He said he did not hear that parks were a great priority in central Eugene and the challenge was to find support for parks in the outlying areas where they are needed. Mr. Laue said a $15 million measure on a 10-year capital levy provided the best chance for success at the ballot. Mr. Smith said if that were chosen, it would take three years to do the Amazon Pool. Mr. Laue suggested a general obligation (GO) bond instead. Mr. Fart asked how the City could build a partnership with citizens for parks, suggesting grants to neighborhoods to develop and maintain parks. Mayor Torrey noted support at the $15 million level, adding that that did not preclude the committee from coming up with an enhanced version of Option 3 (the A and A-plus option). Ms. Swanson Gribskov suggested more modest improvement to the Amazon Pool and wondered about the possibility for partnerships for operation with nonprofits. Ms. Taylor suggested that the committee bring back a range of options, including a $40 and $50 million options. She said she opposed placing two measures in one on the ballot, i.e., Option A and Option A Plus. Ms. Nathanson said the committee would address the majority position or the sense of the majority positions expressed, adding that she shared concern with ballot congestion and hopes voters are willing to pass two "Eugene" measures. Mayor Torrey said it will be difficult for voters to turn down any measure for the school district. Mr. Smith said he has learned that the district plans to introduce a $8.4 million "mini-bond," adding the impact on the voter of that is about $17. Ms. Nathanson said the irony of the choices had to do with the issues of urgency and political feasibility; if the urgency was around land acquisition, the council should construct a measure that has the most likelihood of passing, making the dilemma that much harder. Addressing a question from Ms. Swanson Gribskov, Mr. Smith said the next discussion was scheduled for July 8, followed by a public hearing the following week. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. James R. Johnson City Manager Pro Tem (Recorded by Yolanda Paule) R:~1998~Admin Services~CIS~Council~Cc980608ml. wpd Minutes-Eugene City Council June 8, 1998 Page 6 5:30 p.m.