Item 2F: Ratification of IGR Committee Actions

Home Browse Search

better able to assist the Council in making the most informed decisions possible. Ms. Ortiz noted that there would be a meeting of the United Front partner agency groups on March 6, 2009 at the Lane Transit District board meeting room. Ms. Wilson noted that there had been a great deal of discussions at the federal level regarding government spending and that she had received recommendations from the City’s federal lobbying agencies that it might be advisable in the current economic climate to not accompany Mayor Piercy on any lobbying trips to Washington D.C. Ms. Taylor asked how much longer the CCIGR would need to meet weekly to discuss the bills in the current legislative session. Ms. Wilson noted that while the current year had been unusually busy with regard to the number of bills involved in legislative discussions she expected the coming legislative deadlines on June 30 to significantly decrease the number of bills that would need to be brought to the CCIGR for review and discussion. Ms. Piercy asked Ms. Wilson about the City’s preparations to request and disburse federal stimulus funding. Ms. Wilson noted that City staff was currently summarizing the entire federal stimulus bill materials for the City Council and City divisions. She further noted that the federal stimulus funds would be distributed in three different ways (formula based, discretionary based, and competitive based) and that the City manager was in the process of forming internal and external advisory groups to determine the federal stimulus criteria and recommend a course of action. Ms. Wilson informed the committee members that a large portion of the federal stimulus package would be devoted toward the development of high speed rail transportation systems. Ms. Wilson maintained that aside from the City of Portland there was no other local government agency better prepared to take advantage of the federal stimulus than the City of Eugene. Ms. Wilson, responding to a comment from Ms. Piercy, noted that City staff was currently investigating the best ways in which to locally address federal stimulus priorities such as energy efficiency and transportation initiatives. Ms. Wilson noted that Governor Kulongoski had created a new committee called The Oregon Way which was designed to help the state and local governments utilize the federal stimulus funds in an environmentally conscious manner. Ms. Piercy thanked Ms. Wilson for her efforts in ensuring that the City would be prepared to take advantage of the federal stimulus funds. Mr. Ortiz, seconded by Mr. Poling , moved to adopt the staff recommendation for priorities and recommendations for all bills that were not pulled for discussion for the February 25, 2009 CCIGR meeting and all bills that were discussed and acted upon at that meeting. The motion passed unanimously, 3:0. Ms. Taylor adjourned the meeting at 2:27 p.m. (Recorded by Wade Hicks) MINUTES—Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations February 25, 2009 Page 6