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determined the rating although changing it could have an affect and any change should be <br />carefully considered. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson remarked that changing the bond rating even slightly could cost several hundred <br />thousand dollars. She contrasted options A+ and D by noting that the issues were what the City <br />organization could afford and what the voters perceived they could afford. She said the City's <br />uncertain revenue picture could send a mixed message if the voters were asked to fund a very <br />large project and the City lost revenue for operations and was forced to lay off more staff. She <br />expressed concern that Option D would expend voter goodwill and capacity to pay on one <br />project. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor said she did not agree with the suggestion to combine the police facility with City <br />Hall, but did agree that the initial pressure to move police personnel no longer existed. She also <br />agreed with Mr. Kelly's comments about public perception regarding the Police Department and <br />expressed confidence in Chief Lehner's ability to change that perception. She agreed that the <br />parks measure should not be on the ballot at the same time as replacement of City Hall and <br />suggested that the parks measure could pass in 2004, which would address improvements to the <br />Park Blocks. She expressed the opinion that nothing related to a police facility should be placed <br />on the ballot in 2004. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner remarked that measures should be placed on the ballot based on priorities, rather <br />than opportunism and Option A+ represented opportunism. He said he also could not support <br />Option D for the reasons he stated previously, but acknowledged current police needs and did not <br />want to postpone addressing them indefinitely. He stated that whatever his vote was and <br />whatever the council decided to place on the ballot he would campaign for and personally <br />support. He expressed concern that Option A+ would not have the full support of the council and <br />that in addition to the cost of a campaign there was the need for people to conduct it and he had <br />not seen evidence of volunteers. He asked staff to investigate the lease-to-own strategy, although <br />not for a 25-year building or the quality of building the City would construct. <br /> <br /> Mayor Torrey encouraged council members to support the motion. He stated he would support <br /> Option D, campaign for it, and raise funds if that was what the council decided, but cautioned that <br /> a campaign would require the active involvement of the council to be successful as there was not <br /> currently community support for a new City Hall. The community was aware that a new police <br /> facility had been the City's first priority for several years and it was time for the council move <br /> forward. <br /> <br /> Mr. Kelly complimented the council on the substantive discussion of the issues. He said he could <br /> not support the motion because of the reasons stated by Ms. Bettman and based on the City's <br /> polling and constituent feedback, which indicated the measure would fail. <br /> <br /> Mr. Kelly offered a substitute motion to direct the City Manager <br /> to create a work plan that would lead to a full City Hall <br /> replacement measure in 2006. Ms. Bettman provided the <br /> second. <br /> <br /> Mr. Kelly clarified that he was speaking at the concept level to avoid trying to identify specific <br /> details of Option D to be included and fine tune the steps to be taken. <br /> <br /> Mayor Torrey clarified that if the substitute motion passed Option A+ was no longer on the table. <br /> <br /> MiNUTES--Eugene City Council July 21, 2004 Page 7 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />