HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem A: Metro Pln Amend.Pub SftEUGENE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Work Session: Discussion Concerning Metro Plan Amendment for
Public Safety Special District
Meeting Date: May 18, 2005 Agenda Item Number: A
Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Kurt Yeiter
www. cl. eugene, or. us Contact Telephone Number: 682-8379
ISSUE STATEMENT
Lane County proposes a Metro Plan text amendment to allow formation of a countywide special district
limited to public safety activities (i.e., police patrol, enforcement, and corrections). Each Metro agency
(Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County) will act separately. Direction by the Eugene City Council is
requested at this meeting so that an appropriate ordinance can be prepared.
BACKGROUND
The three Metro agencies' elected officials held a joint public hearing on this proposed amendment on
April 19, 2005. Responses to questions asked at that hearing have been prepared by Lane County, and
those responses, as well as draft minutes of the hearing, are attached.
The Eugene Planning Commission recommended approval if the proposed text were amended to limit
the extent of the special district. The commission acknowledged that the relevant Metro Plan policies
were written prior to major changes in Oregon's property tax structure, and that many of the services
covered by the proposed amendment were already provided by the County.
On May 10, 2005, the Lane County Board of Commissioners adopted the ordinance as previously
drafted, without the policy text changes as recommended by the Eugene Planning Commission. The
Board directed the County Administrator to prepare a letter to the cities offering alternate policy
language addressing the loss of funding due to compression. The County ordinance will not go into
effect until the board holds a fifth and final "reading" of the ordinance. Springfield is scheduled to
consider the amendments on Monday, May 16, 2005.
Metro Plan policies regarding service provisions are currently structured to closely follow land use laws.
The two cities are expected to eventually provide all services within their respective Urban Growth
Boundary (UGB) and provide few services outside the UGB. Several circumstances have arisen in
recent years that question whether these policies are too strictly written and enforced; for instance, new
property tax limits (Measures 47 and 50) for which special districts may offer some relief, re-
examination of regional fire services, and attempts to form countywide rural library services. There has
not been a comprehensive evaluation of services in light of Eugene's existing Metro plan policy
structure.
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RELATED CITY POLICIES
The proposed Metro Plan text amendment would change existing policies, which now favor City
provision of all services within its UGB, to allow a special district to provide the County's public safety
services. Other current policies and restrictions on service districts would remain in effect.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
For the amendment to be effective, all three jurisdictions must adopt identical Metro Plan amendments,
so options are limited or must be negotiated with the other jurisdictions. Failure to agree will send the
amendments to the Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC) for conflict resolution. Lane County
suggests that time is of the essence and requests immediate action.
Option 1 Direct the City Manager to prepare an ordinance approving the proposed Metro Plan text
amendment pursuant to the Lane County proposed amended ordinance.
Option 2 Direct the City Manager to prepare an ordinance approving the proposed Metro Plan text
with amended language to reflect the direction of the Eugene Planning Commission.
Option 3 Direct the City Manager to prepare an ordinance denying the proposed Metro Plan text
amendment.
Option 4 Postpone action and request more information.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends Option 1, that the council indicates approval of the Metro Plan text
amendments as proposed by the County. An ordinance containing the County's proposed amendments
will be crafted for future approval on a consent calendar.
The City Manager also recommends, through council direction to the City Manager, that the City of
Eugene take a positive leadership role with the other Metro partners in exploring new methods of
financing and providing services outside the pressures of individual proposals for Metro Plan
amendments.
SUGGESTED MOTIONS
1. Move to direct the City Manager to prepare an ordinance approving the proposed Metro Plan text
amendment pursuant to the Lane County proposed amended ordinance.
2. Move to direct the City Manager to comprehensively explore with the City of Springfield and Lane
County new methods of providing and financing government services.
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ATTACHMENTS
A. Letter from Lane County Board of Commissioners, dated May 10, 2005
B. Responses to the joint elected Officials' questions on the proposed Metro plan amendments for the
proposed public safety district (prepared by Lane County)
C. Draft minutes of the April 19, 2005, joint elected officials' work session
D. Draft minutes of the April 19, 2005, joint elected officials' public hearing
E. Draft County ordinance (previously distributed for public hearing)
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Kurt Yeiter, Principal Planner
Telephone: 682-8379
Staff E-Mail: kurt.m.yeiter~ci.eugene.or.us
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County Board of Commissioners ATTACHMENT A
Lane _
Bill Dwyer
Bobby Green, Sr.
Faye Hills Stewart
Anna Morrison May 10, 2005
Peter Sorenson
Mayor Piercy Mayor Lieken and
Eugene City Councilors Springfield City Councilors
Eugene City Hall Springfield City Hall
Eugene, OR 97401 Springfield, OR 97477
Subject: Proposed Metro Plan Amendment for Lane County Public Safety District
Dear Mayors and Councilors,
Today, the Board of County Commissioners deliberated and took action to modify the proposed
Metro Plan, Growth Management, Policy 15.f. language to address the expressed concerns of
Compression. This change to the proposed Ordinance No. PA 1221 will require the Board of
Commissioners to conduct a 5th Reading before enacting the ordinance with revised language.
We have scheduled our 5th Reading for June 1, 2005, and would be able to take final action at
that time unless further changes are made. We hope this addresses most of the concerns with
compression and Public Safety District formation sufficiently to reach consensus on the Metro
Plan amendment. We hope to be able to continue working with all the cities on all the specific
issues related to district formation.
The revised Exhibit A to Ordinance No. PA 1221 showing language to be added to Metro Plan,
Growth Management, Policy 15.f. would read as follows:
f. Not withstanding the above provisions of this policy and all other related policies and text in
this Plan, a district or zone of benefit may be created and maintained to provide preventive
and reactive public safety services, including but not limited to, adult and youth corrections
services, crime prevention, prosecution, detention, supervision, mental health and alcohol and
drug services, victim services, drug court, interagency narcotics enforcement, patrol,
investigation and arrest. The District shall pay for effects of full compression loss to
taxing districts, not withstanding the loss as the result of urban renewal or enterprise
zones.
The Board made no changes regarding the alternatives addressing the specificity of the district or
thc restrictiveness of thc list of public safety services because we believe the language is adequate
as written to address those issues. If these issues are a concern to your city council, however, the
Board wants you to know that we arc amenable to reasonable changes.
We await further comment and the direction you can provide through your deliberations. Thank
you for your considerations.
rely,
Anna Morrison, Chair
Lane County Board of County Commissioners
H:LPS\Spec District\BCCLtronPSDMay 1 O_final.doc
PUBLIC SERVICE BUILDING / 125 EAST 8TH AVENUE / EUGENE, OR 97401 / (541 ) 682-4203 / FAX (541 ) 682-4616
ATTACHMENT B
Joint Elected Officials Questions on Public Safety District
Proposed Metro Plan Amendment
Work Session/Public Hearing ·
April 19, 2005
Work Session Questions (answers in italics):
1. How do you reconcile that the need is financial, however, the evaluation criteria are
land use?. (Bettman)
Existing Metro Plan policies may limit the formation of any new districts regardless of
the.financial need or services proposed to be provided. The Metro Plan limitation may
affect the ability of Eugene, Springfield and Lane County to use districts as a mechanism
to help finance essential public services.
While there might not be Metro Plan conflicts with the formation of this particular
countywide public safety district, Lane County felt it prudent to address language that
could present the most significant potential for debate. In fact, the services that would be
included in a Public Safety District are already provided almost exclusively by Lane
County and primarily benefit the local cities.
This sort of district formation restriction in a land use plan is unique to the Eugene-
Springfield metropolitan area. Ultimately, the decision to amend the Metro Plan is a
policy choice that can be based on a number of considerations.
2. Does it matter that the need has nothing to do with land use? (Bettman)
The Metro Plan provisions drag us into this discussion because it may limit new district
formation. These policies were developed in a pre-ballot measures 5/47/50 environment.
The need and description of services is relevant to explaining the context for the
amendment, as well as the scope and nature of services contemplated by the text
proposed for addition to the Metro Plan.
3. In the 1st Whereas in the Order: what is the boundary of the proposed service district?
(Bettman)
All of Lane County.
4. Who pays for the public .safety services for someone who lives inside the donut hole
and commits a crime outside the donut hole? (Bettman)
Initially, depending on the location, local police agencies, including the Sheriff, state
police, and parole & probation might be involved and share the cost of investigation.
Then, in most cases offenders and victims would depend on the County for incarceration,
prosecution, supervision, treatment and various other services as ordered by the courts.
Page 1 o f 10
5. The proposed amendment is glaringly inconsistent because if it were consistent, you
wouldn't need to render all the policies that the amendment is inconsistent with,
moot. Policy 15 a, b, c, and d are basically neutralized with the "notwithstanding"
language. How is that internally consistent within the Metro Plan? (Bettman)
Basically, the Metro Plan does not address all public safety services. The fundamental
Metro Plan principle establishing two cities as the logical providers of services
accommodating urban levels of development does not address or preclude the types of
services contemplated in the proposed countywide safety district. The fact that the cities
do not generally provide the contemplated district services is evidence that these services
are not an element of an urban level of development; but rather they are basic, on-going
county services regardless of development levels.
Keep in mind that cities are not the only providers of services inside the city. (i.e.
schools, electricity, water, park & recreation services). The "notwithstanding" language
clarifies that the public safety services described in proposed policy 1500 may be
delivered by a county service district. If the Metro Plan were amended, it would clarify
that the services proposed by the County then would be consistent with the Metro Plan.
The proposed public safety district policy does not affect compact urban growth or other
fundamental principles of the Metro Plan.
6. The services "including but not limited to", lists services that are provided by the
cities. The list of services seems inconsistent with the rationale that the list of
specific services is limited, but yet the services include those on the list but are not
limited to those services. (Bettman)
For the most part the listed services in the proposed policy 1509 are provided by Lane
County pursuant to constitutional or statutory mandates. Further limiting the services to
those listed was offered in order to provide the elected officials the flexibility to
restructure the amendment, if necessary. The purpose of the amendment is to recognize
the public safety services are mainly provided by Lane County and clarify the cities are
not the only appropriate or logical provider of those types of services.
7. Some of the services are provided by an urban entity. If an urban entity funds
services, is it not a provider of the service? (Bettman)
Providing some funding for services is not necessarily the same as providing the service.
Cities provide some funding for some of the described services but the bulk of funding
for, and the delivery of, the contemplated services is provided by the County (District
,'lttorney prosecutorial function, youth and adult incarceration, parole & probation,
alcohol & drug treatment, and other youth and crime prevention services.) Services are
delivered directly through the County workforce or through contracts with some agencies
or non-profits. Under the Metro Plan the term "provider of service" is not clearly
described or very well defined.
Page 2 of 10
8. 70 percent of the County's General Fund represents $35 million. How much will the
new Public Safety District displace of the $35 million and how much from the new
revenue stream will be substituted for the $35 million? (Bettman)
Lane County is still working on the mix of services and the level of services to be
included in the proposed Public Safety District. It is our hope to work out with each of
the cities what the level of service needs to be. Some public safety services may still
need to rely on significant amounts from the County General Fund.
9. It seems that it is a slight-of-hand to use the "notwithstanding" language to make the
proposed amendment not internally inconsistent. Would like legal feedback. (Kelly)
The "not withstanding" language was selected to draft as narrow an amendment as
possible. The purpose is to make it clear what the public safety services are, and who
might be the main funder or provider of those services.
Exception language in the Metro Plan is not that unusual. Other exceptions include water
and wastewater services to the Eugene airport, the Metropolitan Wastewater facility,
water service to the water districts of Hillcrest, Bethel, and Oakway, and the extension of
wastewater and water to areas outside city limits to residents of Santa Clara and River
Road. In addition, Willamalane and River Road Park and Recreation Districts also
provide services inside the urban growth boundary and cities as well. Electrical services
are delivered by a variety of service providers.
10. Does it matter, legally, what the definition is of who provides services? If you
provide funding are you a provider of the service? (Kelly)
In the land use arena, provider of services may have no particular legal meaning except
as the Metro Plan describes the two existing cities as the "logical providers of services
accommodating urban levels of development." The Metro Plan recognizes several
entities as service providers without clearly defining the term. (Please refer to answers to
work session question No. 7 above). The services described and contemplated by the
proposed amendment address public safety service needs regardless of the level of
development.
11. Packet does not provide a description of the tax rate for the district, what services will
be provided, or what services the cities now provide would go away because of
compression? (Kelly)
Detailed information regarding tax rates and compression are issues to be discussed with
the cities in the second step of th.e process. It is not anticipated that city services will be
eliminated because Lane County anticipates working with each city and addressing
concerns to each participant's mutual satisfaction.
Measure 5, which is Article XI, section 1 lb of the Oregon Constitution, limits the amount
of property tax an individual property owner must pay. Taxes billed to an individual
Page 3 of 10
property are first placed into the categories of general government, education, and
unlimited.
The general government category is for taxes imposed by all non-education local
governments. The education category is for taxes imposed by school districts, education
service districts, and community colleges. The unlimited category is usually for taxes
imposed to repay general obligation bonds. If the taxes extended against a property are
more than allowed in any category, then the taxes in that category are reduced to the
limit. This process of reduction is called "Measure 5 compression." Local optiOn taxes
are reduced first. If the taxes in the category are still too high, then permanent rate limit
taxes are reduced proportionately.
The limit for the general government category is SlOper $1,000 of real market value.
The education limit is $5 per $1,000 of real market value.
What makes estimating the compression loss so difficult is that property taxes are first
calculated using the permanent rate limit and assessed value rate from Measure 50,
where Measure 5 limits are based on the rate limit by category and the real market value.
12. What is the specific list of public safety services that are required by statute?
(Bettman)
Prosecution, parole & probation, incarceration, including County jail and SB1145
functions, youth services, mental health crisis response, and while not specifically
described in ORS, most alcohol & drug treatment by court order from a state judge.
13. A) Doesn't it cost more to provide services inthe rural area than in the urban area?
It is not clear that the cost in the rural areas is more. It would depend on the specific
service under discussion. A majority of the crimes and clients served by the listed public
safety services occur or come from inside the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area.
B) Did the Planning Commissions address any of the financial issues?
Financial issues were discussed but no conclusions were reached.
C) The Planning Commission only applied the Metro Plan amendment criteria?
The planning commissions applied the land use criteria, recommended approval based
on compliance with those criteria and the Eugene Planning Commission sent a letter
explaining some of their discussions. All the commissions discussed financial concerns
but each decided those topics were not part of their charge of issues to resolve.
D) Did the Planning Commission compare the services being recommended verses
those required by statute? (Bettman)
Page 4 of 10
Yes, there was a discussion and recognition that some services are necessary and
compelled by statute, while others are not mandated but are appropriate for the district.
It was felt that the non-statutory services are equally important and should not be
excluded from the district.
14. Ifa city opts out of the proposed district, do the citizens of the city get to vote on the
proposed district? (Woodrow)
No. The district boundary would be drawn to exclude the city. Only citizens within the
district would be eligible to vote on the district formation.
15. If there is a countywide vote, but some cities opt out, isn't the County still mandated
by statute to provide the public safety services? (Bettman)
It depends on the service and the resources available. There are mandates in Oregon
law. Few of those mandates define the required level of service. Currently the District
Attorney's office is processing drug crimes as violations, which may be prosecuted as
felonies in other parts of the state. Citizens within the area excluded from the district
would receive some level of services funded by the County.
The public safety district is being proposed because stability is needed in the system that
serves cities and unincorporated areas. If cities opt out the solution is weakened. That is
why Lane County would like to work with cities to find common ground on the ultimate
composition of the proposed district.
16. Why did Lane County decide to do the Metro Plan amendment first, before going to
the 10 small cities to get their support first? (Bettman)
Only the Metro Plan has the potential to preclude any further conversations. The next
step would be to go to the cities.
17. Could there be a defacto shifting of funding if one community got into compression
and the full funding responsibility wasn't able to be put on that community, and would
that responsibility shift to other communities that weren't experiencing compression?
(Pape)
The way compression works is as follows: Ifa property is at compression, no additional
taxes are collected. This would reduce the tax collection. There is no shifting of the
financial responsibility from one jurisdiction to another to make up the difference.
Compression is localized to a geographic tax code area with a specific mix of taxing
districts. Reduction in funding occurs on a proportional basis among all districts in that
area and no shifting occurs within the property tax.
18. What ideas does the County have to address the effect of compression for Eugene that
would mitigate the $6.3 million per year? (Kelly)
Page 5 of 10
A combination of Lane County assuming public safety responsibilities that are currently
paid for by the city (i.e. jail contract, INET, etc), and cash payments equal to the loss
under compression. The amount lost to compression would change each year as the
government property tax billing rate, the real market value and the assessed value
change. Further discussion with each of the cities on this issue will need to take place in
the second step of the process.
Public Hearing Questions (answers in italics):
1. Do the same amendment criteria apply to a fire district, library district or park
district? (Sorenson)
Yes.
2. Is the creation of a public safety district within urban growth boundaries consistent
with the Statewide Planning Goals? (Sorenson)
Yes. Statewide Planning Goal 11 only requires a Public Facility Plan for water,
wastewater and transportation, as the primary growth-inducing services. None of the
goals require any particular resolution of public safety service issues and leave that to
local discretion.
3. Was there any testimony at the planning commissions about growth inducing policies
outside the urban growth boundaries to create a public safety district that would extend
outside the urban growth boundary? (Sorenson)
No, there are no other comprehensive plans in Lane County that address this kind of
district formation. Therefore, outside of the Metro Plan area, public safety services are a
matter of local discretion. Because the proposed Public Safety Service District does not
affect services that are growth-inducing, the amendment is consistent with the
fundamental principles of the Metro Plan.
4. Will ask city staff a question on the effect of compression on future city levies?
(Bettman)
Compression data has been provided and will be part of the ongoing discussions.
5. County sponsored HB3301 would remove the prohibition on overlapping districts and
would eliminate the cities authority to approve or disapprove. The proposed Metro Plan
amendment removes Policy 15(b), which requires the 3 Metro Area general-purpose
governments to concur with the proposal to form the service district. Doesn't the
proposed amendment override this provision and result in the City giving up its
authority? (Bettman)
Page 6 of 10
No, since each city still must concur in the Metro Plan amendment and adopt a resolution
supporting formation to be forwarded to the Boundary Commission. (See ORS 199.462
(2)(a)). One of the criteria for Boundary Commission approval is consistency with the '
applicable comprehensive plans. After that, the voters make the final decision.
6. Could creation of Public Safety District be made contingent on gaining all of the other
city approvals of the proposed Public Safety District? (Sorenson)
Currently, if all the cities are to be part of the district, we need resolutions from each city
to proceed to the Boundary Commission. Lane County has the option to exempt cities that
do not want to participate. To create such a contingency could increase the burden in
getting the district established. The Springfield Planning Commission recommended
adoption of language that would make it clear that not all cities would need to
participate. There might be a point where district formation may not be reasonable if too
many cities opt out.
7. If the cities approve the district formation, would the Board of Commissioners set the
level of taxation and the level of compression, or do the cities have a role? (Sorenson)
Yes, at the time of application to the Boundary Commission the County would initially
propose the tax rate. The cities, however, have a role because consent is required for the
resolutions of support needed to go to the Boundary Commission. The level of
compression is calculated under Measure 5 and is a function of all taxing district rates,
including the public safety district rate. It varies from year to year. The cities have a role
in that changes in billing rates, changes in local option rates, and changes in urban
renewal all affect the level of compression. If the Boundary Commission approves the
formation, then the tax rate is proposed to the voters, along with the question of
formation.
8. What role do the cities have in setting the rate once they agree to the formation of the
district? (Sorenson)
It is anticipated as part of the city resolution process that Lane County and the cities will
have discussed and resolved tax rate issues. (See answers to public hearing question No.
7 above for more).
9. What language in Policy 15 is restrictive? (Bettman)
The current language in Metro Plan, Growth Management, Policy 15, makes it unclear
whether a new district would be consistent with the Metro Plan, which seems to make the
policy restrictive. Note also there are three alternatives that could limit the scope of
services in proposed policy 1509, presented in increasingly restrictive language.
10. Is the $20 million that would be generated for the Public Safety District in addition to
the $35 million already spent for public safety from the County General Fund?
(Bettman)
Page 7 of 10
(See answers to work session questions No. 8 & No. 12)
11. Is there anything that the cities have that could pre-empt the effects of compression if
the Public Safety District levy is approved? (Pape)
It is anticipated that when we work with the cities to obtain resolutions of support, and
any necessary intergovernmental agreements, the County and cities would address the
impact of compression.
12. Is compression based on market value? (Ballew)
Yes, compression is based on the real market value and the Measure 5 limits. Property
tax is first computed using assessed value and the billing rates and then compressed
using real market value and the $10. O0 government limit.
13. As market value fluctuates, doesn't it affect the amount of compression? (Ballew)
Yes, changes in real market value affect the amount of compression. Each year, an
increase in real market value beyond 3 percent will decrease compression for most
properties. Increases in real market value of less than 3 percent will increase
compression.,
14. What is the tax rate that would generate $20 million for the Public Safety District?
(Ralston)
$1. OO per thousand, based on 2004 values.
15. Can the County, independent of the Public Safety District, soften the problem of
compression for fire protection districts, Willamalane, etc.? (Sorenson)
Yes, Lane County can approach the fire districts, Willamalane and other districts and
suggest plans to address compression through intergovernmental agreements.
16. Can the County give money to other districts or the cities? (Sorenson)
Yes. If Public Safety District funds were used, those funds would be limited to expenditure
for purposes outlined in the Public Safety District description.
17. What will be the effect of compression on the Glenwood Urban Renewal District?
(Lundberg)
District formation and application of the tax rate may have the effect of increasing,
revenue to urban renewal districts. Urban renewal increases compression for the other
governmental districts. Urban renewal dollars collected from education districts are
moved from the education limit and compressed under the government limit. As a
Page 8 of 10
government district, the Springfield Economic Development District's Glenwood Urban
Renewal Plan area will participate in compression like any other governmental district.
18. What is the ceiling of the deficit of public safety services the County is trying to plug
with the Public Safety District? No total number has been put to the need that the
County has identified? (Bettman)
At the current funding level offering limited public safety services, Lane County shows a
$3.7 million deficit in FY07-08 and continuing deficits thereafter. That is why the County
is pursuing the Public Safety District concept. The actual rate and revenue necessary to
address citizen public safety need is still developing. We will try to include amounts
necessary to address compression and other city concerns.
In addition to future deficits, decades of cuts have left the public safety service system full
of holes. 14/ith losses in each area, there have been subsequent impacts on the amount of
services cities obtain from the County in areas such as prosecution, parole & probation,
incarceration, including County jail and SB114 5 functions, youth services, mental health
crisis response, child and adult victims services, and drug treatment.
19. Are we asking approval of the district before we know what the financial costs of the
services are? (Bettman)
No. Lane County is only requesting approval of the Metro Plan amendment to clarify
that the services proposed by the County would be consistent with the Metro Plan. Next,
financial issues of each city could be addressed when we seek resolutions of support.
Because of the length of time land use matters can take, we thought it was prudent to
address this issue first. If the apparent limitations of the Metro Plan are addressed, we
can work out specific city issues with district formation to obtain the resolutions.of
support necessary to proceed to the Boundary Commission.
20. Would this policy amendment allow the County to locate correction facilities outside
the urban growth boundary? (Sorenson)
No. This Metro Plan policy amendment does not directly affect location of correctional
facilities. Although there are no such plans, if the Public Safety District wanted to build
a new facility it would have to locate the facility where it is consistent with the applicable
zoning. For example, when Lane County located the Forest Work Camp, it was consistent
with the applicable statewide goals, land use plan & zone district.
Testimony:
1. Fred Simmons
2. David Hinkley
3. Charles Biggs
Page 9 of 10
4. Laurie Seigel - Metro Plan, Chapter 3, Section G, Public Facilities and Services
Policies are impacted by the proposed amendment and the proposed amendment
would be inconsistent with this section of the Metro Plan.
The Metro Plan chapter on Public Facilities and Services does not expressly address
public safety services. It expresses policies primarily on sewer, water, transportation,
planning & coordination, schools, and solid waste. Approaching the issue from the
perspective of Statewide Planning Goal 11 would only require a Public Facility Plan for
water, sewer, and transportation. There is no discernable inconsistency with chapter 3,
section g in a policy that would authorize formation of a public safety district
5. Rob Handy
6. Mona Lindstromberg
7. Jim Hale
Page 10 of 10
ATTACHMENT C
JOINT ELECTED OFFICIALS MEETING
April 19, 2005
5:30 p.m. (Commissioners' Conference Room)
City Councilor John Woodrow called the meeting of the City Council of Springfield to order.
Present: Anne Ballew, Joe Pishioneri, and Dave Ralston. Sid Leiken and Tammy Fitch were
excused.
City Councilor George Polling called the meeting of the Eugene City Council to order. Present:
Bonnie Bettman, George Poling, Andre~. Ortiz, Chris Pryor, Gary Pape, David Kelly and Betty
Taylor
Commissioner Anna Morrison called the meeting of the Lane County Board of Commissioners
to order. Present: Bill Dwyer, Bobby Green, Faye Stewart and Recording Secretary Melissa
Zimmer.
1. SECOND READ lNG AND PUBLIC HEARING/Ordinance No. PA 1221/In the Matter
of Amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan) to
Clarify and Provide Greater Flexibility for Public Safety Service Delivery in the Eugene-
Springfield Metropolitan Area (Metro Plan, Growth Management, Policy 15) (NBA &
PM 4/5/05).
Kent Howe, Land Management, explained the purpose of the proposed plan amendment
is to clarify the formation of a Public Safety District that would be consistent with Metro
Plan policies. He noted there are no policies in the Rural Comprehensive Plan or other
small city plans thataddresses special district formation. He said it was only the Eugene
Springfield Metro Plan that has policies that address district formation. He indicated at
the time the Metro Plan was developed, it didn't contemplate the need for special service
districts that would be providing public safety services nor did the Metro Plan
contemplate the financial constraints that would be placed on local government.
Howe noted the Metro Plan has policies that specifically limit the formation of special
service districts regardless of the nature of the services provided. He added the Metro
Plan contemplates special districts for urban services and growth management. He
indicated that Policy 15 appropriately limits their formation and links them to future
annexation requirements in order for cities to measure growth-reducing services. He
explained the services are limited to and consistent with benefits in reaction to public
safety services to provide context for determining services that would be consistent. He
noted the proposed amendment does not weaken the position of Eugene and Springfield
or their ability to annex land or to control the proliferation of other growth inducing
special districts. He said there were two criteria that were applicable to the authorization
of the Metro Plan amendment: that the amendment is consistent with the statewide
Page 1 - Joint Elected Officials Meeting - April 19, 2005
WD bc/m/05035/T
planning goals, or that the amendment would not create an inconsistency in the Metro
Plan
Howe indicated on February 1 there was a joint public hearing with the Planning
Commissions. He added all three Planning Commissions deliberated separately and
recommended approval of the proposed amendment, that it met the land use criteria for
approval of the Metro Plan. He said they identified concerns that were centered on three
general areas of the proposal: the "notwithstanding" exception language that is in the
proposed policy; the single countywide district and the list of services that has "including
some of the concerns that the Eugene and Springfield Planning Commissions had with
the language. He said there was a recommendation from the Eugene Planning
Commission that there be a s~ngle countywide district. He addedthe recommendation
from Springfield was that in case there was a city that was not within the district, so there
wouldn't be a potential Metro Plan conflict in the future; make it a single district within
the County.
Howe said the second alternative was:to delete the "but not limited to" language so it
would read that those services are included. He noted the third alternative was instead of
using the word "including", to use the words "suCh as". He noted the fourth alternative
stated that "shall be" be changed to "limited to".
Howe explained that tonight's meeting and public hearing is to take testimony to improve
the policy amendment language ~hat Lane Cotmtyisproposlng for the purpose of
providing a better financial situation for public ~safetyin Lane County. He indicated the
elected officials had in their paCkets materials provided to the Planning Commissions at
the February 1 public hearings, ~e staff responses to questions that they raised at the
public heating, the minutes of the public hearing and the draft minutes of the three
Planning Commissions' deliberations.
Howe indicated themain premise is for land use. He said it is a Metro Plan policy that is
being proposed to. be amended and the two criteria to be focused on is if the land use
amendment is consistent with the statewide planning goals and if it would create an
internal inconsistency in the Metro Plan. He noted if the elected officials find that those
two are met, then the policy is worthy of being amended in the Metro Plan.
Bettman commented that the need for the County is financial but the decision in the
Metro Plan is land use. She said it didn't make sense to her.
Howeresponded there are criteria in the Metro Plan for amending it. He said the need is
something they will have to determine. He explained this was unique as the services of
the district are not really metro growth inducing services. He added that the policy of the
Metro Plan addresses that. He indicated the County was being cautious in making the
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Metro Plan amendment because they don't ~vant someone to say that it is inconsistent
with the Metro Plan.
Bettman asked what the boundary of the safety service district would be.
Howe explained it was all of Lane County. He noted there will be negotiations with each
city. He said if it ends up a city doesn't agree, it would create a hole in Lane County.
Bettman commented if they were inconsistent withthe Metro Plan they wouldn' t~have to
include language rendering all of the policies of the amendment. She said When say
it is notwithstanding the above provisions of this policy and all other related pOlices and
texts of this plan that it makes a, b, c, d, and e of Policy 15 neutralized. She adde6i~also
neutralizes many of the other Metro Plan policies. She thought that made it a glaring
inconsistency with the Metro Plan.
Howe explained this would be an exception to the other policies asit moUtdbe a creation
of a new special service district.
Bettman indicated that earlier they made the point the services they are going to provide
are specific services that are not urban services and not provided by cities.
Jennifer Solomon, Peter Sorenson arrived at 6:10 p.m.
Bettman asked how much the district would displace of the $35 million and how much
would be coming to the revenue stream with the substitute p~ of the $35 million.
Bill Van Vactor, County Administrator, responded the specific details have not been
worked out. He indicatedthey had to first work with the Metro Plan amendment then
they will work on the resolUtion of support by the 12 cities of Lane County. He said at
that point ttiey would discuss what the balance of services should be and work those
issues out.
Kitty Piercy arrived at-6:15 p.m.
Kelly commented that onthe Metro Plan criteria that the amendment shouldn't make the
Metro Plan internally inconSistent. He asked if it mattered legally what the definition of
who provides the services is::.'.,He wanted legal feedback. He added that the Metro Plan
talks about who the logical provider of various services is. He didn't think the distinction
was made that just because':they provide money for a service, they are not necessarily a
provider. He wanted to:.know if there was any case law. He was dismayed that in the
packet.there,.was no description of what the tax rate could be, what services it would
provide, or what services that the cities now provide would go away because of
compressiom:He said it made him uncomfortable to have the discussion without any
documentation.
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Bill Grile, Development Service Director, City of Springfield, indicated the Springfield
Planning Commission took this up and they passed it by unanimous recommendation to
move it forward. He noted the Planning Commission stated this was primarily a budget
issue for the elected officials to deal with. He said there was a recommendation to the
Springfield City Council that the language would state there would be a single service
district within the County.
Kurt Yeiter, City of Eugene, noted the City of Eugene Planning Commission had similar
providing. He said they thought an amendment to the Metro Plan made sense.
Christine Lundberg arrived at 6:20 p.m.
Yeiter indicated that the Eugene Planning Commission was the first to deliberate on the
proposed amendment. He said they weren*t able to wordsmith adequately. He said the
concern was to constrain the special distriet, sso >that other services that wouldn't be
provided by statute are not pulled in under a broad language. He noted the closest to that
was Option 4. He stated the Eugene Planning Commission discussed the public safety
district as too broad a term.
Bettman asked if it would cost more for rural se~ices than for urban services and if the
Planning Commissions discussed this.
Yeiter responded they didn't address any financial issues. He said they considered
growth inducing impacts and wordsmithing.
Bettman asked if they were comparing services with what the statute stated.
~ :'~:Yoiter indicated they discussed what was required by state statute and the list might have
~ ~, :,b~n too constrained for what could:be allowed with the exception. He said there are
current services that are provided that are not required that are logically provided by state
statute.
Bettman asked if this language was internally consistent. She stated she would submit
~i' questions and wanted responses back.
~-'
,-~;:AleX,Gardner, Deputy. District Attorney, commented that this was a rational process. He
'indicated if there wasa better alternative that he was willing to hear those ideas. He
noted:that service in Lane County is cost effective. He urged the elected officials to do
an analysis of what it takes them to prosecute each case. He added that they are failing to
prosecute over 100 cases per month and 60% to 70% of those cases come from the
Eugene/Springfield area.
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Kelly agreed there needed to be improved public safety. He suggested doing it in a way
that doesn't require a change in the fundamental structure of government. He thought
there could be a serial levy an income or sales tax that wouldn't change the Metro Plan
amendment.
Bettman asked how the voting would take place. She asked if elected officials had to opt
in and if they were included in the vote.
Van Vactor responded that if the city council adopts the resolution it is part of the
application and the Boundary Commission authorizes the ballot. He added ifa city
council does not vote for it, that jurisdiction does not participate in the vote.
Bettman commented in the past that when the County had a bond measure the
commissioners were not campaigning for it. She thought if they supported their own
ballot measure it would pass. She said they need to establish credibility with the voters
and work hard.
Dwyer explained that the County has grown over 25% with the same amount of revenue
that they are trying to manage with. He said they are trying to provide the same current
levels of services. He added the County receives $1.27 per thousand including bonding.
He stated the Coburg Fire Department receives more per thousand than Lane County. He
said they have to still provide public safety, the District Attorney's office, the jail, the
Department of Health andAssessment and Taxation. He commented that the system is
currently broken and it is not acceptable. He recalled that the Metro Plan was put
together with the three major metropolitan areasso they don't have competing districts to
compete with what the cities are going to provide. He said they have to consider the
mechanism question on whether they should form this district.
Green commented that.a sales tax would never pass in Oregon. He noted Lane County's
public service budget is around $38 million just for public safety. He added the
discretionary general fund is $50 million and 75% goes to public safety. He said they
would be willing to give the services back to the cities to see how well they could do. He
said the challenge is whether or not they could afford to do it. He said they are trying to
get to a solution.
Bettman said if the County starts to impact their budget, she wondered if Lane County
looked at the priorities and if they are providing just the services that are mandated. She
commented that she sees Lane County spending money that is frivolous. She asked if the
County was still mandated by statute to provide public safety services.
Van Vactor responded that crimes will be committed and to the extent they have the
resources they will prosecute and incarcerate them.
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Bettman commented that services are more expensive in the rural areas and there would
be non-conformity in the cities.
Pryor stated this problem was not just the County's problem. He said it is everyone's
problem. He said they have a jail that can't accommodate all of the criminals they do
have. He said the dilemma for him is not an issue of being opposed to the idea; he said it
is a matter of being skeptical with the idea. He said the County is asking cities to
consider making a fundamental change in the core services the cities provide in the first
place, which is public safety. He said the County is asking the city governments to look
at making a fundamental change in what they had been for years believed was their core
function. He wanted to make sure every option was considered before they continue, to
go forward.
Dwyer said Lane County is mandated to prosecute all the crimes in Lane County
including cities' crimes even if they were to option out. He asked what other ideas they
could come up with.
Lisa Smith, Department of Youth Services, stated ~at the Department of Youth Services
serves the entire community and they are the authorized provider of the services. She
said they have had significant reductions ~ services and they lost the psychiatric hospital.
She noted they have no sobering programs for youth in the community. She added the
drug court is in peril and there are changes andreductions to the Oregon Health Plan.
She stated their current prevention program, (which is best in the system) has been cut.
She noted that for Youth Services this year they will have $1 million in reductions
because of federal grant conclusions. She added in the last biennium they had a 50%
reduction in secure custody beds and some of those were from the state. She stated that
250 beds were lost. She indicated when she came on board four years ago the cap was at
75 and today for LaneCounty it is 31. She explained that it wasn't because there wasn't
a need it is because the state,had a financial crisis. She said they lost half of their
Pathways residents and all of their,girl shelter programs. She commented that everything
is interrelated when there are cuts:
Kelly commentedwhat is making this challenging is the intermixing of two different
things. He said it would be up to the voters to decide what they are willing to pay for
services. He added it was up to the elected officials to decide collectively what
mechanism they would use to pay for the service district. He said they have to determine
what is the best mechanism to collect the money.
Bettman stated she supportedall the services but she said they were discussing a land use
issue to the Metro Plan and any other testimony is irrelevant to the criteria. She added
the public hearing should be limited to the Metro Plan. She didn't know what other comp
plans there were for other jurisdictions. She asked why Lane County hadn't gone out and
gotten the approval of the cities so they could come to Eugene and Springfield. She said
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that would eliminate the inequity in Florence and other cities. She asked why they were
working on the Metro Plan amendment first.
Morrison indicated they had been talking to cities. She said there are multi-tracks
because of timing. She indicated there is discussion with the Regional Managers Meeting
and the outreach had started to other city councils.
Morrison recessed the meeting for the Lane County Board of Commissioners at 6:45 p.m.
Piercy recessed the meeting for the Eugene CityCouncil at 6:45 p.m.
Woodrow recessed the meeting for the Springfield City Council, at 6:45 p.m.
Melissa Zimmer
Recording Secretary
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ATTACHMENT D
JOINT ELECTED OFFICIALS MEETING
April 19, 2005
7:00 p.m. (Harris Hall)
City Councilor John Woodrow called the meeting of the ~i~ coUnCil ~ S~gfield to order.
Present: Anne Ballew, Christine Lundberg, Joe PishiO~eri ~hd Dave R~i~ 8i~ Leiken and
Tammy Fitch were excused.
Mayor Kitty Piercy called the meeting of the Eugen~ ~ ~i~ i° order. Pr~ ~ie
Bettman, George Poling, Andrea Ortiz, Chris Pryor, Gary ~ap~¢ David Kelly, Jennifer S~i6~on:
and Betty Taylor
:
Commissioner Anna Morrison called the meeting of the Lane Coun~ B~a ~ommissioners
to order. Present: Bill Dwyer, Bobby Green, ~o~er S0~enson, Faye S~ an~ 8ecording
Secretary melissa Zimmer.
1. SECOND READING AND PLIBLIC ~~rd~ ~o. PA 1221/In the Matter
of Amending the Eugene-Springfiel~ ~°politan ~ ~eral ~: {Metro Plan)to
Clarify and Provide Greater FlexibiIi~ for Public Safety S~i~ ~l~very in the Eugene-
Springfield Metropolitan Area {Metro ~an, G[ manag~ ~61icy 15) (NBA &
PM 4/5/05). :
Kent Howe, Land Management, ~i~ the purl is to hear and take
testimony on the proposed amendment to the Metro purpose of the
amendment is to clarify that:~ fo~ation of a Public S~fe~ ~Unty Service District is
consistent with Metro Plan:~l~ies ~ s~!d it was unique in Lane County that they have to go
through the the proces~ :~ n~ a public safety district. He noted there are no policies
in the Plan ~at addr~ sp~gial district formation. He added there are no
t Plan o£any 6~the i~n small cities in Lane County. He noted it is
Plan that gi~eS ~g~ to addressing special district formation.
~ indicated res were cre~ted at a time when they didn't contemplate the
~d for special service public safety services nor did the Metro Plan
induc~gg s~ices. He noted the services are consistent with and
public safety services. He noted that list is included
and not that is intended to provide the context for determining the
services and be complementary to the contemplated services.
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Howe stated the proposed amendment does not weaken the position of Eugene and Springfield
relative to other growth management policies or their ability to annex land or control the
proliferation of other growth inducing special districts. He noted that most of the public safety
services are mandated by statute and the cities do not provide the contemplated Public safety
services. He said the County is already providing these services in:the Eug~ Springfield
metro area. He indicated the applicable land use criteria fo~ decision ~ {h~ ~ed
amendment is that it is consistent with the statewide goa[~ ~d it will n6~ creat~ ~ internal
inconsistency within the Metro Plan.
concern: the "not withstanding exception" language, a single ~iywi~ ~trict and with th~
language of the list of services that would be included. H~ ~ i~ w~ specifically the language
"including but not limited to." He noted the packet materials :~0ntaih fo~ ~ati~es that
increase in their restdctiveness.
Commissioner ~a Momson opened up the ~b!i~ ~ng fo~ ~e County
Mayor Kitty eiercy opened up the Public He~ f°r the ~geh~ ~ ~f~l
Councilor Jo~ Woodward opened up the SP~gfi6td City Council.
Bettm~ commented that the two ~a they are d:e~h on for the Metro Plan
amendment is that it is consisten~th the state consistent with the
Metro Plan. She said they shOUld B~ heating with state land use goals,
the policies in the Metro P[~; th~ ndment in front of them and all of the land use issues. She
noted it is a discrete piece ~at ~ ~ ~Onsidehng.
:onsistenf ~ ~tate gOals to create a public safety district within urb~
:::'~ow~ ~ponded danning ~li~igs ~e silent on that issue.
: } ~en suggested discussing ~at ~ices are being noted in the special district. He was willing
ih hmow the focus down to issue.
form si levels of service outside of the cities. He said the net
effect would on the edge of the Metro Plan and violate the compact urban
growth policies, why there is restrictive language in Policy 15 about district
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formation. He added in 1982 local governments had the option of asking their citizens to
approve a tax base by putting it on the ballot, there was no need for a plan amendment. He noted
in 1982 tax bases grew by six percent. He commented it was a different financial environment
than it is now.
With regard to Measure 5 passing, Van Vactor said it imposed the ~ taxes,
$10 to general government and $5 to schools. He said wit~ ~hsure ! have
increased the tax base. He noted in 1996 Measure 47 chan~ {hings islature
put out to the citizens a measure addressing the issue
Measure 50. He said that passed and that is now
today. He noted that act had the effect of producing on a
average by 17%. He said it capped the property tax growth at ~i ~1~ new constructi(,i
said it created that there is no legal way for Lane County t0 ?~reaS~ ~ ~anent tax rate.
stated they are stuck forever at $1.27 per thousand. He n°~ lh~ ~ ~ is number 35 out
of 36 counties for low tax rates. He indicated costs for Lane C°untY are ~°~r~d ~ix percent and it
is hard to control costs at six percent with the revenuo d three perceht ~ ~iained that
every year they have to reduce services in order foi~:fli~ to ~eer~ their balan~.~et He
added they had done that the past three years bY~ h~ ~ ~d reducing
se~mes. He said
they face the future of continuing to erode
Van Vactor distributed a revised charter taxes and the
rates and where Lane County ranks among ~ i~s. E~a ~Ounty is proposing an
ORS. 451 County Service District. ~e exl:laih~d tl~ ~ ~oard of~i~ Commissioners
would remain in charge and there ldbe no new going b~dy ~ iayer of government to
coordinate the service delivery s~:
Van Vactor indicated theywant~ ~° go with a district in~d ~a local option levy because with
a district, if approved by tfi~ Vo~ ~ rate is permanent. He believed that public safety is a
core service o£government and h~ an ~gP~ive infrastructure and it shouldn't be subject to the
risk citizeh~ ~ ~ lng the renewal and the loss of the core service.
are more s~OO~ ~ compression and it would be a less stable
de i~g th~ Public Safe~y District with three major hurdles: getting the
Amendment, th~ ~aary Commission process that involves getting the resolutions
~aia th~ ~ould then determine ~ the rate would be and how each city would be affected by
the proposal work for Lane County, Eugene and
Sprin~I~ ~ indicated all 12 cities is to work it out so it is a win-win for all of
the juriS~i¢~ ~hfted this in a narrow fashion and it didn't touch on any of the
other policie§ ~i~!~i!:: ?!;i
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Bettman noted the County sponsored a bill, HB3301 in the State Legislature that would enable
special districts by removing the prohibition on overlapping districts, meaning that it could take
in the City of Eugene. She added there was a provision in that bill that was onerous because it
eliminated the cities from their jurisdictional authority to approve o~ dinar>prove She noted there
concur with the proposal to form the service district
requirement for compliance for Policy 15. She said th~!iii!~ ~n~ii!!i~Uld say
and Eugene adopted the Metro Plan Amendment, they are!!!!!~hg!~!!them§elves out
Van Vactor stated the state law would remain in effect wh~'reiiithi~ ~:ii~ii~iii~ii~!i!i!have to give their
consentbeforetheCountycouldgototheBoundaryCommission. ~iiiiiiiiiiiii!iii!i~iiiii!i!iiiiiiiii!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii~iiiiiii~iiiiiiiiiiii~
Bettman said Lane County's provision would hay~iiiiiii~ ~~!~is provisioh'~'~:~i~iiilre~a to the
safety district. ~"~iii~i~i;i~'~
Van Vactor explained that their provision i~iiiilth~i!i!i~etro Pl~iiiii~i~iiiii~iiiiii3Verfidden the provision
Sorenson asked if there for the Count~ ~h~ ~b cities to make the creation of
this district contingent Ul: approving it. He wanted to make it clear that the
district doesn,t come into effe~ ~i ali ~lhe general-purpose governments prove it by a certain
date.
ible to r~ t~ i~age in the proposed Metro Plan
pro~i~ that ~ added they c~go~ to the Bound~y Commission until they
application is C~nS~t~ith the applichble comprehensive pl~. He said they wanted
the more flexible lafi~ m rase all of the cities didn't approve.
l what in Policy ~~e subsections was restrictive.
the l~gu~ ~ i~e amendment was resthctive.
15 was pe~issive.
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Van Vactor responded that it was the overall context of Policy 15 that lists: "Will be considered
only when and states sections a to e. He thought that was restrictive, as they had to meet all of
the conditions.
Jim Gangle, Assessor, explained if the district chooses a particular: would be a
property tax compression that would occur if they come He
distributed a document about the amount of compression that ~Ould across the
County. (Copy in file). He noted that compression woUl~ ~ first.
He noted the City of Eugene has a youth and library 1°~ ~t)tion
has the police and fire local option levies and those dii
compression moves into the permanent authority.
Ballew asked if the markei ~al~ i~ases would have any effect.
Gangl~ re~~ if~e real mark~ increasing faster than the three percent limitation
on th~ ~~ v~i~i ~ ~ould ha~ ~ ~er:the Measure 5 cap. He added if the real
m~et ~ ~~ ~ ~°ntinUes to ,d_e~ii~ ~ ~asure 50 value starts bumping up against
.: that ~!h°ted that ~5~ ~ ~ty s proP~ ~ill had gaps.
asked if there was County in terms of the deficit the County is trying to
a~eomplish with the service
have tried to !those services that are most valuable to the citizens of the
and g was the cities and the County would work
to are that would be best dealt with the Public Safety
District into the levy.
Russ Burger, S~fi~ ex~¢d the question is whether or not the Metro Plan could be amended
to allow for the se~i~ ~gtrict. He said they have ideas about the need but they need a
Page 5 - Joint Elected Officials Meeting - April 19, 2005
WD bc/m/05035/T
conversation with the cities before they come up with the plan that is best for Lane County. He
said from the Sheriff's Office perspective, they have 119 empty jail beds. He said they are
empty because they don't have the funds to staffthose beds. He noted they release under 4,000
offenders a year who have either not completed their sentence or have not gone to trial yet. He
asked the question on February 28 about what is going on with prop crime, in Lane County
for unincorporated Lane County. He noted between January 1 and February 282 they had 1,056
burglaries reported and 1,107 thefts. He said they had lost their burglary, investigator from
budget cuts last year. He added that the INET Enforcement Team was- also a victim of budget
Springfield is discussing building a municipal jail. He said they have the money to build it but
they cannot operate it. He thought the service district cOUld pay for that. He s~d it was adding
capacity to the system, but even if they had the 119 empty jail beds full it would still be too small
for their needs for a county this size. He wanted to get ~6~er to resolve this.
receive 8,000 cases this year. He ~ at lhe time the ~IOad h~ led, they have had 30%
reduction in prosecution staff in ~ ~hal division ~ add~ th~ have gone from 11
investigators in the criminal diviSiOh ~ one. He said the D~t~ Digtrict Attorneys have to do
felony crime~ gte people who ar~ ~ ~ crimes in Eugene and Springfield. He commented it
up paying most of the penalty. He said their
w~ a Croblem that coul~ ~ ~ ~ndefinitely.
Department of Y°~ ~ices, stated she represents the Juvenile Department for
/. She added the se ~rovide are not duplicated by any other agency within
the Cities of Eu field. She said they are the authorized juvenile
She said approximately 3,800 referrals per year. She added of
theCit~ofi~ugene, 27% come from the City of Springfield and the others
come She noted at no time do the cities receive a monthly
accounting services were used. She said that had been an expense
that has been She said the Juvenile Department's mission is to hold youth
accountable, lockin~ uP ~ juvenile offenders who pose the greatest risk to the community and
Page 6 - Joint Elected Officials Meeting - April 19, 2005
WD bc/m/05035/T
they want to provide treatment so juveniles leave the system with more skills than when they
entered. She indicated that they provide a full range of rehabilitative and reformative services.
She said the current system has such serious reductions that their mission is at peril. She noted
since 2001, state closed custo,dY beds through the Oregon Youth Au~hty has been reduced
from 75 to 31 due to the state s own fiscal crisis. She said they have ~ ~their ~'dangerous
offenders that could go into the Oregon Youth Authority, but after that ~h~e remain in the
community. She added they also have 32 beds of detentiO~ that is on~ ~ ~the~ capacity.
She indicated with reduction of other services, in dealing ~ith youth and ~ ~eria that they
Rob Rockstroh, Health and Human Services, said when the~ ~ ~i~ing public safety, the~
funding. He added they are mandated to do Mental.Health and Alcohol and ~ ~at~ent. He
said the Commissioners are the Mental Health Health afi~ ~ Services
is the prime funder of Mental Health and ~n Lane C0~' He
indicated they contract out about $60 lost about $6 million in
the last two bienniums. He noted most area. He said
the systems are collapsing because of state ~ federal catg He are
~i~iiiiiii¢iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii2iiiiiiiiii~
interconnected and they need each other and i~th~Y do~ ~ wOrk to ~ would be in
trouble.
Doug Harcleroad, District Attorn~ e~asized what ~ ~it~es hearing was a group of
people who want to build a bal~ ~Ublic safety syS~ ~~hts for all citizens in Lane
County. He said they want:~ ~ ~erVices and preven~ {hat ~orks and is balanced. He
noted there are nine police g~i~ in Eane County with 400 sworn officers. He said they bring
~i~mons, sh°~a ~ compression and then violate the trust of
l~ca[~°ters. He thou to carefull~ ~eview this before they amend the Metro Plan.
: ~e§aid there are potential fi~ial ~aws that would reflect against the cities of Springfield and
but Willamalane Park~ ~ ~ecreation will run into compression. He thought on its face
believe it has been thf~ut well enough. He said before they go to the Boundary
and the people, t~at ~ have a clear plan.
co ~ that the proposed Public Safety District is a disastrous
pro[ He said in the long run, this would undermine public
support for He asked if the special district provided all of the
services, why be needed. He commented that public safety is the
single largest impediment ~° local tax reduction measures. He indicated the public doesn't see all
Page 7 - Joint Elected Officials Meeting - April 19, 2005
WD bc/m/05035/T
the services that government provides. He said the money for public safety is there. He said the
Board of Commissioners (if they wanted to) could fully fund public safety, but they don't want
to. He commented the Board of Commissioners has chosen to fund alot of things inadequately.
He thought the solution for the County's public safety funding prob[~ is budgeting, not
increases should be done by a vote of the people, not a~d: He said th~ ~°~iOn aspect of
the district would hit the children, the schools and lib~ ~ depend on oP~ !:e-¢ie~ He
didn't think that was what the County wanted
Laurie Segel, Eugene, indicated the amendffi~ i~ too 3 of the
Metro Plan g) services to development are identi~ed in fi~di~gs listed. She said
the services to development such as woter, schO~I~, hav~ ~dings but there are none
for public safety services to serve de~lopmeni: She ~aiathe "n '"
ot ~lhhstand~ng and "all other
related policies and texts" had inq~Stencies. She S~ ~e[~ ~6ed ib be findings and policies
in Chapter 3 g) Public Facilities ~ ~iCes, that sP~ ~ ~li~ ~afety services for
development and that is current!7 notlthe case.
Rob Handy, Eugene, ~ake, the tax breaks they give and the caps at the state
level with Measures 5, 47 and ~0 ~ ~!ing dollars and making decisions about funding
priori[~S: ~ ~aia it ~ !~miting discretionary funds for other things. He asked
~ti~s that Eugene would end ~ SubSidizing some or their services and diminishing their ability
to~ethe discretionary fund.
Jim Hale, ~ ~ ~ ~i~;ted officials to give the District Attorney and Sheriff the
broadest possibi~ i~~to Solve a problem that applies to everyone in Lane County.
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Mayor Piercy closed the Public Heating for the City of Eugene.
Councilor Woodrow closed the Public Hearing for the City of Springfield.
Commissioner Morfison closed the Public Hearing for the Lane Coun~ ~ard °~
Commissioners.
MOTION: to approve a Second Reading and Setting a ~ ~ading ~lib~i~n on May
3, 2005 for Ordinance No. PA 1221.
Green MOVED, Stewart SECONDED.
VOTE: 4-0. (Dwyer was out of room).
There being no further business, Commissioner Morfison adj. p.m.
Page 9 - Joint Elected Officials Meeting - April 19, 2005
WD bc/m/05035/T
ATTACHMENT E
BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF LANE COUNTY, OREGON
) IN THE MATTER OF AMENDING THE EUGENE-
) SPRINGFIELD METROPOLITAN AREA GENERAL PLAN
ORDINANCE NO. PA 1221 ) (METRO PLAN) TO CLARIFY AND PROVIDE GREATER
) FLEXIBILITY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICE DELIVERY
) IN THE EUGENE-SPRINGFIELD METROPOLITAN AREA
) (METRO PLAN, GROWTHMANAGEMENT, POLICY 15).
WItEREAS, on August 25, 2004, the Lane County Board of Commissioners initiated an
amendment to the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan) Growth Manage-
ment Policy 15 to clarify and provide greater flexibility for public safety service delivery to the citizens of
the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area within the Metro Plan boundary; and
WHEREAS, Chapter IV of the Metro Plan sets forth procedures for amendment, which for Lane
County are implemented by the provisions of Lane Code 12.200 through 12.245; and
WItEREAS, the current Metro Plan, as adopted in 1982 and subsequently amended, contains
fundamental principles and growth management policies in Chapter II that apply to the delivery of public
services to the citizens of the metropolitan area, including policies applicable to the creation of new spe-
cial service districts; and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendment to Metro Plan, Growth Management, Policy 15 would
allow the creation of a special service district providing public safety services within the Metro Plan
boundary and clarify the distinction between services provided by the cities to accommodate "urban lev-
els of development" and the described public safety services traditionally provided by Lane County; and
WHEREAS, following a joint public hearing with the Eugene and Springfield Planning Com-
missions on February 1, 2005, the Lane County Planning Commission recommended revision of the
growth management policies by adoption of the proposed amendment to provide flexibility for basic, on-
going county public safety services to the Lane County Board of Commissioners by action taken at a pub-
lic meeting held by the Planning Commission on March 15, 2005; and
WHEREAS, the Eugene and Springfield planning commissions recommended adoption of the
proposed Metro Plan amendment with revisions to make it clear that the policy would apply to a single
countywide public safety service district; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners has conducted a public hearing jointly with
the city councils of Eugene and Springfield on April 19, 2005, and is now ready to take action based upon
the above recommendations and the evidence and testimony already in the record as well as the evidence
and testimony presented at the public hearing held in the matter of amending the Metro Plan.
NOW THEREFORE, the Board of County Commissioners of Lane County ordains as follows:
The Metro Plan Growth Management, Policy 15 is amended to add a new subsection "f", as set
forth in Exhibit "A" attached and incorporated herein, which new subsection is hereby adopted as
an amendment to the Metro Plan.
Ordinance No. PA 1221-- In the Matter of Amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan) to Clarify and Pro-
vide Greater Flexibility for Public Safety Service Delivery in the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area (Metro Plan, Growth Management, Pol-
icy 15).
Page I of 2
FURTHER, although not part of this Ordinance, the Board of County Commissioners adopts the
Legislative Findings set forth in the attached Exhibit "B."
ENACTED this ~ day of ,2005.
Chair, Lane County Board of Commissioners
Recording Secretary for this Meeting of the Board
APPROVED AS TO FORM
Date Lane County
OFFICE OF LEGAL COUNSEL
Ordinance No. PA 1221-- In the Matter of Amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan) to Clarify and Pro-
vide Greater Flexibility for Public Safety Service Delivery in the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area (Metro Plan, Growth Management, Pol-
icy 15).
Page 2 of 2
Ordinance No. PA 1221 - Exhibit A
Amend the Metro Plan, Growth Management, Policy 15 to add a new subsection "f." (existing
Metro Plan page II-B-5/Periodic Review revised Metro Plan page II-C-5) to read as follows:
"15. Creation of new special service districts or zones of benefit within the Plan Boundary of the
Metro Plan shall be considered only when all of the following criteria are satisfied:
a. There is no other method of delivering public services which are required to
mitigate against extreme health hazard or public safety conditions.
b. The three metropolitan area general purpose governments concur with the
proposal to form the service district or zone of benefit.
c. The district or zone of benefit is an interim service delivery method, and there are
legal assurances, such as annexation agreements, to ensure that annexation to the
appropriate city occurs within the planning period.
d. The servicing city is not capable of providing the full range of urban facilities and
services in the short term, although it is recognized that urban facilities and
services will be provided by a city consistent with adopted public facilities plans
and capital improvement programs.
e. The district or zone of benefit will contract with the appropriate city for interim
service delivery until annexed to the appropriate city.
f. Not withstanding the above provisions of this policy and all other related policies
and text in this Plan, a district or zone of benefit may be created and maintained to
provide preventive and reactive public safety services, including but not limited
to, adult and youth corrections services, crime prevention, prosecution, detention,
supervision, mental health and alcohol and drug services, victim services, drug
court, interagency narcotics enforcement, patrol, investigation and arrest."