CCMinutes - 06/28/04 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilor Nathanson asked staff to estimate what other organizations would have come before the council with last-minute appeals if they had thought they could have been allocated more funding. She also wondered to what degree the other jurisdictions contributed to CCATV. City Manager Taylor responded that the City of Eugene was the only entity that funded CCATV. He predicted that last-minute changes occurring after all of the rest of the processes that went into the budget had transpired could create a pattern among entities that sought funding from the City. He underscored the challenges burgeoning health care costs alone presented to the City and stressed that the City had been forced to take a stance of austerity. Councilor Nathanson commented that the City Council used to have two different kinds of contingency funds. She thought it important to differentiate between contingency for discretionary services and unanticipated contingencies. She stated that the former had been effectively eliminated. Councilor Bettman suggested that the council should prioritize the contingency funds at the end of the year. Councilor Bettman agreed that amending the budget could bring in other last-minute requests, but said she would support the amendment. She said the CCTV station provided a venue for free speech, noting that, among others, the station had provided coverage of Police Commission forums. She urged the people working in the CCATV to put together a business plan and a financing plan to bring before the Budget Committee earlier in the budget planning process. Councilor Kelly pointed out that there were significant donations of equipment that satisfied the requirement for matching funds. He recalled that Lane County had provided funding prior to FY04. He commented that, when cable was created, there were to be three cornerstones: public access, education, and government television. He said the City was neglecting public access. Councilor Kelly expressed dismay that the City Manager would call into question items brought before the council at this stage. He emphasized that it was a public hearing and, as such, should hold weight. City Manager Taylor responded that his concern was primarily that there were many opportunities to weigh in on the budget process. He was particularly concerned that two people could make some compelling testimony and "walk away with $10,000." He felt it was precedent-setting. Councilor Taylor commented that when the funding was dropped, it had been dropped at the last minute with no notification that it would even be discussed. She felt that CCATV made great contributions to the community and provided learning opportunities for young people. She said this amendment should be supported because it supported free speech. Mayor Torrey stated, by speakerphone, that he intended to vote in opposition should there be a tie. He said the organization had the capacity through television to ask for funds from the people who use the service. He thought this was a benefit that other programs seeking funding did not have. Roll call vote; the amendment failed, 5:3, councilors Bettman, Kelly, and Taylor voting in favor. Councilor Kelly shared his appreciation for the restoration of some of the programs funded by Storm Water Funds. He said the restoration did not go as far as it should, however, and the remaining cuts did not reflect the values of the community. Roll call vote; the main motion passed, 8:0. Council President Bettman called for a five-minute break.