Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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Mr. Zelenka asked if there was any way for City staff to provide, perhaps in the form of a resolution, more detailed information on what projects gas tax revenues would be dedicated towards. City Attorney Glen Klein responded that the City Code already contained language describing how gas tax revenues could be used. Mr. Corey could not refer to the specific code language but added that the code generally mirrored State constitutional limitations on the use of such revenues. Mr. Zelenka requested that Mr. Klein return to the council with further information regarding the various overhead costs that might be applied in relation to the proposed ordinance. Mr. Zelenka, seconded by Mr. Clark, moved to send Option 2, “The council could approve the proposed code amendment as shown in Attachment A to repeal the sunset provision enacted in 2005 and extended in 2008, effectively leaving the fuel tax rate at five cents per gallon for an indefinite period,” to a public hearing. Mr. Clark noted that as a council member he received frequent questions regarding the local gas taxes and their uses but often did not feel as if he had sufficient information with which to respond to such questions. He hoped that Mr. Corey and staff would be able to provide a complete list of all projects that might be eligible for funding with local gas tax revenues. Mr. Klein, responding to a question from Mr. Zelenka, suggested that the council take action regarding the proposed ordinance before their next break so as to minimize any potential implementation difficulties with respect to HB 2001. Mr. Klein further noted that a referral of HB 2001 would delay the effective date of the bill until after the subsequent election regarding it. Ms. Taylor agreed with earlier comments that the proposed ordinance did not constitute a new tax on the public. Mr. Klein, responding to a request for clarification from Ms. Solomon, confirmed that a successful referral of HB 2001 would not jeopardize the City’s current five-cent gas tax. Ms. Piercy called for a vote on Mr. Zelenka’s previously stated motion. The mo- tion passed unanimously, 8:0. B. WORK SESSION – Comprehensive Transportation Funding Solutions and a Street Utility Fee Mr. Corey provided a brief history and overview of the street utility fee as well as an overview of the other four comprehensive transportation funding solutions that had been reviewed by the council. Mr. Corey noted there had been some consensus from the council regarding their desire for further information and investigation into the concept of a street utility fee. Mr. Corey directed the council members to their copies of his November 15, 2007 memorandum to them and noted that the information contained therein remained current. Mr. Corey briefly described how a street utility fee would operate whereby the City would take a transportation system and put it in the context of any other utility system such as water or electricity. He noted that a transportation utility fee would be intended to develop a model to assess user fees to transpor- tation systems based upon the level of use by various classes of users. MINUTES—Eugene City Council July 15, 2009 Page 3 Work Session