Item 2F: Ratification of IGR Committee Actions

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Mr. Poling also supported the staff recommendation. Ms. Taylor moved to change the City’s position on the bill to Support. The motion died for lack of a second. Mayor Piercy suggested that the bill could be amended to address any concerns the City might have. She did not think, for example, it was intended to address summer employees. Ms. Wilson observed that the bill applied to temporary employees, seasonal employees, and even limited duration employees hired under grants for special projects. Mayor Piercy said that those categories could be eliminated while the “permanent temporary employees” of concern to Ms. Taylor could be addressed. Ms. Taylor believed student workers were a totally different matter from temporary workers and asked that Ms. Wilson convey that message to Representative Paul Holvey, a sponsor of the bill. SB 626 Ms. Wilson said the bill would increase the fee for screening interviews of a person convicted of driving under the influence of intoxicants. Staff recommended a Position of Priority 2, Support. She reported that currently, an individual found guilty of driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) was required to go through a screening process to determine what type of treatment was in order. The City used to use the Lane County Mental Health Department to do the screening, but it no longer performed that function. Responding to a question from Ms. Taylor, Ms. Wilson said the person found guilty of DUII paid the fee. Ms. Taylor thought that added fee a harsh punishment on top of the other penalties one found guilty of DUII received. Ms. Ortiz expressed concern that the cost of the screening interview was going up as she thought it might make someone less inclined to go through the process. She noted that Lane County Mental Health used its own staff to do the screening, which included a psychological assessment, and she hoped that the City could find someone equally qualified. She acknowledged the expense of the process. Responding to a question from Mr. Poling, Ms. Wilson clarified that the screening interview fee would be increased statewide from $150 to $250 in response to provider concerns that the fee was inadequate. The committee made no change to the staff position. . SB 532 Ms. Wilson said the bill would direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to distribute funding to local governments for methamphetamine and property crime prevention. Captain Tilby recommended a position of Priority 2, Support, and the Mr. Hill recommended a position of Monitor due to the financial impact of the proposed legislation. Captain Tilby explained his recommendation to support the bill, saying that property crime was Eugene’s major crime problem. He anticipated that any allocations would be broadly disseminated for necessary prevention, enforcement, and treatment options. He commended the concept behind the bill and added that it provided money the City would not find locally, and a lack of such funding hampered the City’s ability to fight property crimes. Mr. Hill explained his position, saying he considered that the bill was extremely ambitious because it requested $36 million in new spending from a State budget under considerable pressure and was sponsored MINUTES—Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations March 11, 2009 Page 3