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charges to other local utilities-related businesses. He further noted that there already existed a billing/collection <br />mechanism which would allow a surcharge to be implemented with very little administrative overhead. He <br />summarized that the 5% solid waste hauler surcharge would ultimately result in an increase of approximately 98 <br />cents per month to the average user and directed council members to the data regarding the garbage surcharge <br />included as Attachment A in the agenda item summary materials. <br /> <br />Ms. Solomon joined the meeting at 12:09 p.m. <br /> <br />Mr. Corey briefly restated the rationales behind the recommended use of transferred funds from wastewa- <br />ter/stormwater utility reserves as described in Attachment C of the agenda item summary materials. He noted that <br />previous subcommittees had again determined that there existed a clear nexus between the City’s transportation <br />systems and the City’s ability to provide effective wastewater/stormwater services. He noted that such transfers <br />would be consistent with the O&M funding strategies of at least fifteen other Oregon cities. He again noted that the <br />fund transfers would make use of existing billing systems, thereby minimizing administrative overhead costs, and that <br />the one-time fund transfers would not result in wastewater/stormwater service fees. <br /> <br />Mr. Corey noted that the next steps regarding the proposed strategies would include a public hearing regarding the <br />draft ordinance language included as Attachments B and C in the agenda item summary materials. Mr. Corey <br />describe d the elements of the draft ordinance for the benefit of the council. <br />Mr. Corey expressed that while he had not ordinarily been in favor of using transfers of gas tax revenues to address <br />the O&M budget gaps, he was now in favor of a one-time transfer of gas tax revenues in light of recent federal <br />stimulus funding that had been made available to offset the transfer. <br /> <br />Mr. Clark said that while it would be unwise to consider cutting back any City services in order to address the Road <br />Fund’s O&M budget gap, he was not in favor of a solid waste hauler surcharge that would ultimately raise the <br />public’s garbage bills. He further stated that while he supported the one-time transfer of gas tax revenue funds, the <br />City should investigate a swap of reserve funds with Lane County similar to previous funding processes rather than <br />instigating a transfer of wastewater/stormwater funds. <br />Mr. Ruiz, responding to Mr. Clark’s comments, noted that while it might be possible to swap reserve funds with <br />Lane County, it would be prohibitively difficult to do so as there were currently no funds that were not already <br />committed in some way. <br /> <br />Mr. Ruiz noted that in the council’s upcoming goal setting he would be recommending a series of community <br />discussions regarding the budget prioritizations and the corresponding outcomes that the council specifically wanted <br />to pursue. <br /> <br />Mr. Clark felt that specific budget prioritizations would be a necessary first step in addressing the O&M Road Fund <br />and any other budget gaps faced by the City of Eugene. He further suggested that the City discuss the possible use of <br />the City’s real property assets to address budget gaps. <br />Mr. Corey, responding to a question from Mr. Poling, noted that any negative effects from the potential transfer of <br />gas tax revenue funds would be offset by federal stimulus funding that was expected to be received. <br /> <br />Mr. Poling opposed the solid waste hauler surcharge and noted that he might be willing to support such a measure <br />only if it were opened up to include other types of large vehicles or if the revenues generated could be specifically <br />directed to maintaining and improving only residential streets. <br />Mr. Corey, responding to a question from Ms. Ortiz, noted that the transfer of wastewater/stormwater reserve funds <br />would not adversely affect or displace any element of wastewater/stormwater services since only reserve funds would <br />be transferred. <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 8, 2009 Page 2 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br />