CC Minutes - 04/27/11 Work Session

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might have good intentions, but it could do something that harmed the schools by continuing the existing governance and funding structure. Mr. Pryor did not think anyone was comfortable with the proposed tax. He said it would be great if the school funding problem could be fixed in a different way, but that was not going to happen. The legislature had failed to act for 20 years. He did not necessarily like the proposed tax but supported it because he did not want to harm kids. He said the school districts needed to reinvent themselves in significant ways. The tax was a way to buy time for that process. He would have preferred to wait for the November ballot, but the proponents wanted the measure on the May ballot and he was willing to accommodate them. Mr. Pryor supported the motion but did not see the tax as the ultimate fix. Ms. Taylor said the temporary tax was all the community had. She said teachers could not do their jobs in the conditions they faced. She also emphasized the importance of a healthy, well- funded education system to the economy. She believed the community was facing an emergency and while it was not ideal, the tax was a partial temporary solution. Mayor Piercy said the tax was designed to preclude some of the damage from proposed reductions. She pointed out that there an oversight committee to ensure that the funds were spent appropriately. There was transparency and accountability built into the tax. The motion passed, 5:3; Mr. Poling, Mr. Clark, and Mr. Farr voting no. B. WORK SESSION: Adoption of Resolution 5029 Amending Resolution 4281 Providing an Additional Way for Property Owners Subject to a Crest Drive Area Street Improvement Project Assessment to Qualify for the Street Subsidy Program Ms. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Brown, moved to adopt Resolution 5029 amending Resolution 4281 providing an additional way for property owners subject to the Crest Drive Area street improvement project assessment to qualify for the Street Subsidy Program. Responding to a question from Ms. Ortiz, Mr. Klein explained that resolution allowed those affected by the Crest Drive Area street improvement project and who had experienced a change in economic status to apply for the program. The council would be changing the rules of the program for residents subject to the Crest Drive assessment. Ms. Ortiz indicated her opposition to the motion because it changed the program rules for a targeted group and the benefits had not been available to residents of her ward similarly impacted by road improvement projects. Responding to a question from Mr. Poling, City Engineer Mark Schoening explained that the resolution would not change the allocation of project costs but would reduce the assessment for those who qualified, which increased the City's share. The funding to reduce the assessment came from the Low - Income Subsidy Fund. Mr. Poling asked if the money in that fund could be directed to other projects. Mr. Schoening did not know. He noted that the fund was established in 1991 for the purpose of subsidizing assessment projects and now contained about $35,000. Responding to a follow -up question from Mr. Poling, Mr. Schoening did not recall that any money being added to the fund since its establishment. Mr. Poling asked if the amount of money in the fund would be increased after the Crest Drive project was MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 27, 2011 Page 4 Work Session