Item 2C: Ratification of IGR Minutes

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In response to a question from Ms. Ortiz, Ms. Wilson related that staff believed that it would discourage development within the Enterprise Zone. Ms. Ortiz ascertained from staff that it would make the City of Eugene accountable for tracking whether prevailing wages were being paid. Ms. Wilson added that it would increase the cost of development. Ms. Ortiz asked if Ms. Wilson would consider this legislation to be “anti-Enterprise Zone.” Ms. Wilson responded that she would characterize some of the legislators supporting the bill to be “anti-Enterprise Zone.” Ms. Ortiz preferred to remain with the staff recommendation. Ms. Taylor called for a vote. The CCIGR voted 2:1 to support the staff recommendation of a Priority 2 Oppose position on HB 2699A; Ms. Taylor voting in opposition. SB 879 Ms. Wilson thought this bill was dead, but the bill was in a revenue committee and revenue committees did not shut down at the end of the week like the other committees would. She said the bill had identical wording to a previous bill that the CCIGR had adopted a Priority 2 Oppose position on. Ms. Taylor wanted to support the bill. Sue Cutsogeorge, Financial Analysis Manager for the Finance Division, stated that the bill did contain the same wording as HB 3056, which the CCIGR had reviewed earlier in the year. She explained that the reason staff had recommended opposition to the bill was that it would reduce the amount of tax increment in the urban renewal district. She stated that the City had a legislative policy that opposed this. Ms. Taylor recalled that the last bill had been referred to the council because of a non-unanimous vote at the CCIGR. Ms. Wilson said the full City Council had upheld the Priority 2 Oppose staff recommendation. She believed that the bill was likely dead. She stated that because HB 3056 had been significantly amended, the proponents of this particular provision may want to revive the bill. She noted that it had not been in a hearing and the dead bill deadline was on the following day, May 28. Ms. Taylor moved to change the position on the bill to a Support position. The motion died for lack of a second. SB 101A Ms. Wilson explained that the bill would address greenhouse gases and climate change. She said Mr. Poling had pulled the bill and wanted to know how the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) felt about it. She related that EWEB supported the bill. Mr. Poling asked if staff had checked with other utilities. Sustainability Manager, Felicity Fahy, responded that she had not done so. She said EWEB supported the bill and recommended that other utilities do so. She explained that the bill sought to create emission performance standards to help wean utilities off coal generation. Mr. Poling indicated that he would not seek to change the staff recommendation to adopt a Priority 3 MINUTES—Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations May 27, 2009 Page 3