CC Minutes - 10/21/98 Work Session

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In response to a comment from Ms. Swanson Gribskov about the level of collaboration in community services, Mr. Weinman said there already exists much collaboration among the community groups providing social services, citing the United Way and HSC collaboration on the community needs assessments as an example. Ms. Swanson Gribskov moved, seconded by Mr. Meisner, to direct the City Manager to work with Lane County, Springfield, and United Way to explore ways to further improve coordination and collaboration in the provision of human services and report back to the council by April 1, 1999. Mayor Torrey recommended that the council maintain the one percent level and identify a pool above that one percent for community social service requests. Mr. Johnson clarified that the intention with the budget was to provide what was provided last year and not reduce it to the one percent. The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Mr. Fart moved, seconded by Mr. Tollenaar, to direct the Budget Committee to review the current policy which dedicates one percent of budgeted General Fund revenue (as of July 1 of a fiscal year) to the intergovernmental Human Services Commission contract. Mr. Laue recalled that the council had established the one percent level as a "floor" to ensure stable funding for human service needs. He cautioned against reducing that amount, saying that human services are over-subscribed and under staffed as it is. Ms. Nathanson wondered what the motion's intent was and asked that it be reworded. Hillary Kittleson, Administrative Services, explained some situations that can reduce the amount of the one percent base so staff was asking for a different kind of direction--one that would assure a stable floor. Ms. Nathanson asked for information on how the City's computation of the one percent compares with the other jurisdictions. Mr. Green asked the council to consider outcomes in deciding on a percentage, and reflect on the accomplishments made through the fund. The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. III. WORK SESSION: GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCY ACCOUNT GUIDELINES Kitty Murdoch, Administrative Services, provided the staff report and referred the council to information in the meeting packet that addresses the question, What types of request should be funded from the contingency account? She indicated that many of the requests have to do with relief from fees that are charged by the City--something against policy. She noted that no other community waives fees either. She said the contingency account appropriation has been as high as $1.5 million and as Iow as $627,000, and there has always been a remaining balance at the end of the fiscal year. Ms. Murdoch said the fund has primarily been used for one-time extraordinary needs of the City. She called attention to Attachment 3 of the packet, which identified how the fund has been spent over the last six years and noted that the amount MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 21, 1998 Page 5 11:30 a.m.