CC Minutes - 03/09/09 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Reynolds, who he felt was the best candidate for the permanent position. He said he had well-founded problems with the Eugene Police Department and the agency needed to be reformed. Marion Eddie , Crest Drive, Ward 2, Eugene, thanked the council for its willingness to consider revising the street assessment policy and look for an equitable and fair solution. Steve Hirons , Crest Drive, Ward 2, Eugene, described growing up just outside Eugene and traveling along Crest Drive regularly. He said that many others who did not live along the street also used it on a daily basis and the cost of street improvements should not be imposed solely on the owners of properties along those streets. He encouraged the council to postpone the street improvement project while other more equitable approaches to assessment of costs could be considered. Toby Gamberoni , Crest Drive, Ward 2, Eugene, thanked the council for being receptive to new approaches to assessment and concurred with the comments of other Crest Drive area residents. He commented on the surcharge associated with his Sanipac bill, which would be used to keep streets in good operating conditions. He noted that Crest Drive was used by many parents who were taking children to and from Crest Elementa- ry and thought they should also be assessed for street improvements. He said the bank owned 75 percent of his home, but he paid the property taxes, and suggested that perhaps banks could assist with the cost of street improvements. He observed that potholes tended to slow traffic. Mayor Piercy closed the public forum and called for comments from the council. She pointed out that the City Manager was responsible for hiring the police chief. She assured Crest Drive area residents that the council did not want to see anyone lose their home because of assessments and was willing to work on ideas. She pointed out that the federal stimulus dollars could be used for repairs only on streets classified as collectors and above. Councilor Zelenka stated that the reason the City had a $170 million backlog of street repair projects was because over the years funding from the federal, state and County levels had vanished and the gas tax had not been increased since 1993, leaving local jurisdictions to pay for roads. He asked how many jurisdictions used an assessment methodology similar to Eugene’s. City Engineer Mark Schoening replied that most cities had a similar approach, but it was not used frequently; only affected properties were assessed. Councilor Zelenka clarified that all residents paid for maintaining improved streets. He said there would be $6.5 million in stimulus funds for all of Lane County and Eugene’s share would pay for four projects out of a very large backlog. He was willing to consider changes to the assessment policy, but felt that whatever method was selected would be perceived by some as unfair. Councilor Clark encouraged those who were affected by street projects to participate and provide their input. He agreed with the need to slow the process and assure that no one lost their home. He agreed with Councilor Zelenka about the funds that had historically been available for repairing roads, but no significant amount of local property taxes was spent on fixing roads; those tax revenues were spent on other City services, although he felt that a larger portion of that money should be used for roads. He said most of the local funding came from gas tax revenue and the council was currently discussing other funding sources. Councilor Ortiz announced that Lane County was making the armory across from Autzen Stadium available for emergency shelter during severe weather. She thanked Ellen Teninty for facilitating the work of the Police Auditor Ordinance Review Committee. She encouraged people to take advantage of the opportunity to vote on whether a street improvement project should move forward. MINUTES—Eugene City Council March 9, 2009 Page 3