CCMinutes - 03/31/04 Hearing - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilor Taylor averred that the word ;;diversion" was appropriate. She felt the language was not neutral and that it gave the impression that the City was creating money. She said she would support the motion. Councilor Kelly expressed discomfort at the statement in the second version. Councilor Kelly, seconded by Councilor Bettman, moved to vote on the question and the statement in the ballot title separately. The motion passed, 6:1; Mr. Poling voting no. Councilor Kelly offered a friendly amendment to change the wording of the question, as fol- lows: .. increasing time property taxes used to pay ~or p,an projects. Councilor Bettman accepted the friendly amendment. Councilor Pap6 asked legal counsel if the proposed version was a radical change from the version crafted by the City Attorney's Office. Mr. Lidz said the question to the council was whether it considered it more important to call out the maximum indebtedness or the increase in time that property tax dollars would be used in the ballot title question, given that it had a 20-word limit. Councilor Pap~, seconded by Councilor Poling, moved to substitute the version produced by staff and the legal counsel. Mayor Torrey read the question from the substitute motion, as follows: %hould Riverfront Urban Renewal Plan be amended to expand renewal area, establish maximum indebtedness amount, and increase time for projects. Councilor Kelly opined it was disingenuous not to include the phrase ~property taxes" in the question on a measure that did affect it. He opposed the motion on this basis, adding that with only 20 words it was paramount to choose the most important parts. Councilor Bettman could not support the motion. She asserted it was not clear what the voters were getting. She said the fact that property taxes were being used to pay for the projects in the plan and that the timeline for repayment was being expanded should be highlighted. Councilor Solomon commented that the words ~property taxes" appeared in the statement. She agreed with legal counsel that it came down to what should be called out within the 20-word limit. She supported the motion. Councilor Taylor felt, with limited words, the focus should be on what was most important. She opined that the most important were the time for repayment and the use of property taxes. She conveyed her opposition to the motion as it stood. Councilor Pap~ offered the following as a friendly amendment: %hould Riverfront Urban Renewal Plan r, ..... ~ ,^ .............. expand renewal area, establish maximum indebtedness,,,,,,,,,,,,,* and increase time property taxes are used for pro- jects.'' MINUTES--Eugene City Council March 31, 2004 Page 3 Special Meeting