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added that the interfund loan would take from the Road Capital Fund and the Stormwater Fund, which were <br />both in need of funding. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap6 remarked that the council should have been "brought into the loop earlier" due to the amount of <br />money involved. <br /> <br />In response to a question from Mr. Pap6, Mr. Taylor assured him that the approval of the financing plan and <br />the adoption of the supplemental budget would guarantee the way the interfund loans would be made and <br />that they would be repaid from the $160,000 in annualized revenues. He stressed this was one-time money <br />used as an investment to complete the land assemblage for the Roosevelt Master Plan. Mr. Pap6 said he <br />would support the motion because, should the property prove to be unneeded, it could be turned over at a <br />profit. <br /> <br />Mr. Poling agreed that staff should have brought the council into this property purchase earlier. He echoed <br />Mr. Meisner's comment that the property should remain rented until the City was "ready to turn dirt." <br /> <br />Mr. Poling felt the County was not likely to share the property as it seemed to be moving out more toward <br />the periphery of the City. He supported the motion. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman inquired as to whether the property was contaminated. She felt she could not support the <br />financing or the acquisition. She remarked that this was a demonstration of fiscal discipline and that, as the <br />purchase was not a city-wide priority, she would do as staff often urged the council to do and exercise this <br />discipline. She repeated her concern regarding the size of the property and her assertion that data projecting <br />a staff increase of 40 people was highly unlikely to due to fiscal constraints and the commitment by the <br />manager to no service additions. <br /> <br />Ms. Solomon informed the council that an environmental report had been published on the site and it was <br />determined to be clean. Mr. Taylor corroborated this. <br /> <br />Ms. Solomon supported the motion. She opined the City should not own too much property, however. She <br />asked how much property the City currently owned and if excess property was being sold. <br /> <br />Mr. Carlson responded, stating the City had been successful in selling such properties, having recently sold <br />three fire stations, the parking lot across from the library, and a large portion of City-owned land in the <br />Danebo area. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor called it "misplaced priorities and land speculation." She opined there was too much money at <br />stake and continued rent income was not a certainty. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner reiterated that he regarded it as an investment. He expected the City to make the property a <br />revenue-producer. He concurred with Ms. Bettman that it was more land than needed and suggested the <br />City sell a portion of it. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson said it was an investment and "an important way of avoiding potential cost in the future." <br /> <br /> Mayor Torrey called for the vote. The motion passed, 5:3 (Mr. Kelly, Ms. Bettman, <br /> and Ms. Taylor voting in opposition). <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 11, 2004 Page 8 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />