Item 3A - Minutes Approval - Laserfiche WebLink

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In response to a question from Councilor Kelly, Mark Schoening, City Engineer, said additional funding projected to be from $250,000 to $300,000 could come from a federal earmark and then it would be part of the overall project cost. Staff had testified before the Lane County Road Advisory Committee requesting the County to amend its capital improvement program (CIP) to include the non-federal match for the improvements. Councilor Kelly noted that the agenda item summary (ALS) said that, should the United Front lobbying effort result in the federal earmark, $350,000 expended by the City would not be eligible to count as part of the 20 percent non-federal matching fund. He questioned why this could not be used as the match. Mr. Schoening explained that it would not be eligible until there was an actual federal appropriation and an amended inter-governmental agreement (IGA) with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). He further clarified that it would not be used for a matching fund if it was spent prior to receiving the federal earmark and amending the IGA, which was certain to happen. Councilor Kelly said that, from a philosophical standpoint, he could not support the supplemental budget. Councilor Pap~ advocated for coordination on what the City would go to the County for in terms of road projects. He asked for a memorandum on how the City would approach the County. Councilor Bettman commented that it appeared the City was already into the courthouse transportation project for $750,000 and had yet to break ground. She asserted the City would ultimately put $2.6 million of local money in the project thus far. She opined that using urban renewal tax increment was a "travesty" against the taxpayers of this City. She alleged that it was money skimmed off from the General Fund and money that could be used for essential City services was being spent on transportation projects, which she felt had other sources of money to mm to. She called it "unforgivable" and said she would not support the supplemental budget. Mayor Torrey expressed hope that the council would support the supplemental budget. He stressed that the GSA was depending on it. Councilor Nathanson remarked that she had been a strong supporter of this project, but she was not happy with the amount of available money that would be left in the urban renewal district to use for the kind of public improvement projects that the council would like to see, whether it was a public plaza or pedestrian amenities. She said that the improved access would generally help the City have the rest of the property be more sellable and developable and to that extent it would be worth it. However, she was uncomfortable with the "sticker shock." Roll call vote; the motion passed, 5:3; Councilors Bettman, Kelly, and Taylor voting in opposition. Mayor Torrey adjourned the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency and reconvened the meeting of the City Council. 5. ACTION: Approval, Of Findings, And Recommendation From The Hearings Official and Adoption of an Ordinance Levying Assessments for Paving, Curbs, Gutters, Sidewalk, MINUTES--Eugene City Council March 8, 2004 Page 9 Regular Session