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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/13/1988 Meeting e M I NUT E S Eugene City Council McNutt Room--City Hall July 13, 1988 11 : 30 a. m . COUNCILORS PRESENT: Ruth Bascom, Rob Bennett, Debra Ehrman, Freeman Holmer, Jeff Miller, Roger Rutan, Emily Schue. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Cynthia Wooten. The adjourned meeting of July 11, 1988, of the Eugene City Council was called to order by Mayor Brian Obie. Mayor Obie introduced Jim Babcock, James Brown, and Stanley Morris of the Eugene Moose Lodge. They presented a check for $1,369 to the Mayor to be used for maintenance of local wading pools. Mayor Obie expressed appreciation on behalf of the City. 1. ITEMS FROM ,THE CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR, AND CITY MANAGER e Mr. Miller announced the Great Rotary Duck Race which was being sponsored by CO SAC to help fight drug abuse. He distributed fliers for the event. He said another issue of concern is the future of the Eugene Emeralds if 4J School District decides to hold football games at Civic Stadium. He said he would be calling a meeting of interested parties on this issue to make certain the Emeralds remain in Eugene. Mr. Rutan said the organizing committee for the World Veteran Games has been working hard to organize the event which will be the largest ever held in Eugene. He said this event will take a lot of coordination and effort to be successful. Ms. Schue added that the Chamber of Commerce is beginning to organize supporting activities and information that will go along with the games. Mr. Rutan said the organizing committee has been very successful in raising sponsorships and is a positive example of the power of partnership. Ms. Ehrman said she received a call about young people riding bicycles and skateboards on the mall; she said this continues to be a troubling problem. Ms. Schue discussed an ordinance from Portland in which landlords have been asked to consider eviction for tenants who are known drug sellers. She asked for more informat'on about this ordinance. Mayor Obie suggested that this issue be referred to the Public Safety Advisory Committee. Mr. Holmer said the Sister City Committee seems to be extremely active and asked if there is a way to ensure this activity in the future. He asked for e, MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1988 Page 1 . -""'~_.' --- e a report on the City.s budgetary investment in the sister city activities. Mr. Holmer said he had completed office automation training which was very effective. He added that he has not thought of a solution to the problem of extending computer access to all councilors. Mr. Holmer additionally requested that future announcements from the City Manager regarding labor negotiations report the cost of a labor contract in terms of total compensation rather than wages. He also asked whether there are written documents which precede negotiations of labor contracts in which the City announces its proposal; he suggested that the City Council receive copies of these documents before negotiations if they exist. Mayor Obie and Mr. Rutan agreed that they too would like to have a better understanding of what the charter allows and expects from the council in labor negotiations. Mayor Obie announced that he would be going to Disneyland to help celebrate Mickey Mouse's 60th birthday courtesy of Delta Airlines. He said ten underprivileged children will accompany him. Mayor Obie discussed the travelling plans for the visit to Irkutsk. He said he hoped to meet with the Deputy of Trade to see about future trade opportunities and with the Chair of Cultural Opportunity while there. Mayor Obie said he would be in Salem on July 18, 1988, to meet with the Chair of the Transportation Committee and the new highway engineer. He said many of the projects requested in the City's most recent Six-Year Strategic Financial Plan have not been funded. The West Eugene Parkway is included in the plan along with a signal at 30th Avenue and 1-5, but eight other e requested projects will probably not be funded. Ms. Schue expressed frustrations that Lane County was instrumental in working with the League of Oregon Cities to get the gas tax raised. This generated more funds for the State Department of Transportation, and yet Lane County has been slighted in receiving funds for its projects. Mayor Obie said historically, Lane County has not asked for its share of the funds, so now the region is not getting adequate recognition. II. COUNCIL DIRECTION TO COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEES ON FUTURE LIBRARY FINANCING Pat Decker, Planning staff, said the task before the council was to discuss the Mayor's appointments to the Council Committee on Future Library Financing and to provide direction to the committee. Ms. Decker said staff would like the council to come to a consensus on which of the site options the financing committee should develop financial packages for as well. Mayor Obie expressed concern that council members had not fully decided they support building a new library and asked council members to comment on this. Ms. Schue s,'id she is not yet ready to narrow down the possible sites because of the many unanswered questions about the future of downtown Eugene. She felt the community does need a new library, but more time should be taken to choose the location and decide on the funding. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1988 Page 2 e Mr. Holmer said the council adopted the development plan for library expansion as one of its goals. He felt the council should try to meet this schedule and develop a plan to take to the voters in spite of the uncertainties. Mr. Rutan said he is committed to the idea of bUilding a new library. He felt the major question is not how much the library will cost, but how much it will cost the City and how it will be financed. He said appointing the financing committee is a pivotal step which should be taken immediately. Mr. Bennett said he supports the community's desire for an expanded library, although he felt the financing might be problematic. Mr. Bennett felt the committee should be formed to look at financing of the library and determine if expansion will be possible at this time. Ms. Bascom said expansion of the library is her highest priority. She felt the financing committee should be appointed but should not be limited by a January deadline. Ms. Bascom felt the committee should consider both operation and construction costs of the library. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, to direct the Council Committee on Future Library Financing to develop recommendations for council consideration, regarding the future library project consistent with council decisions and direction. The motion carried, 7:0. e Mayor Obie appointed Ms. Bascom, Ms. Ehrman, and himself to the Council Committee on Future Library Financing. He asked other interested councilors to contact him. III. ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING RIDGELINE PARK ACQUISITION Ernie Drapela, Parks and Recreation Director, said the council adopted a Ridgeline Study in 1974 to protect the visual integrity of the ridgeline. The City has acquired 373 additional acres of property along the ridgeline since then. Mr. Drapela said the extension of the ridgeline to the Willow Creek area is high priority in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. He said staff is facing a dilemma about how to get from Blanton Road to Crest Drive and has examined three options. He said the most practical is the acquisition of 15 acres of land. Mr. Drapela said staff is bringing the process before the council as an ordinance and that this is a process the Parks, R2creation, and Cultural Services Department would like to follow in future acquisitions. Mr. Gleason said the concept of ribbon park systems is a key concept in parks and recr~ation opportunities in the area. He said the ribbon park system allows people to use non-urban linkages (e.g., ridgeline trails, water courses, bike paths) to link the parks and recreation areas in the City. Mr. Gleason said this is part of a 20-year vision. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1988 Page 3 e Ms. Ehrman asked why the council needs to authorize eminent domain if the property owner is willing to sell. Mr. Drapela explained that the City Attorney felt a PARCS land purchase should be no different from any City land acquisition. He said the City Attorney recommended that all future land acquisitions be brought to the council as ordinances and eminent domain. Mr. Rutan said he does not want to set the posture that the City of Eugene negotiates coercively. Mr. Gleason said the impression that the City forces an outcome has more to do with how the City approaches negotiations than with this ordinance. He said the City will continue to approach negotiations with consideration for the property rights of owners and that the City is also obligated not to pay extraordinary prices for its acquisition; these two factors must be balanced. In response to a question from Mr. Holmer, Mr. Sercombe said if the council passes this ordinance, it must attempt to negotiate an out-of-court deal with property owners as a precondition for filing a condemnation action. The law states that at least 20 days before a condemnation action begins, the government has to extend a written offer to the property owner. If condemnation results in the property being condemned for a higher value, the government pays for the attorney's fees. He said the 20-day offer is based on an appraisal. Mr. Sercombe said negotiations can occur without an appraisal, but if the appraisal is given away before there is an earnest desire to negotiate, the ability to negotiate is compromised. Disagreeing with staff's portrayal of the bargaining process, Mr. Bennett e said that in City land acquisitions, the two parties are not exactly on equal footing. He said the City must believe there is an important public purpose to get involved in a land acquisition. CB 3059--An ordinance authorizing the institution of proceedings in eminent domain for acquisition of property interest in connection with the extension of the Ridgeline Park and Trail system. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, that the bill, with unanimous consent of the council, be read the second time by council bill number only, and that enactment be considered at this time. The motion passed unanimously. Council Bill 3059 was read the second time by council bill number only. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, that the bill be approved and given final passage. The motion carried 6:1, with Mr. Holmer voting in opposition. The bill was declared passed (and became Ordinance No. 19569). e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1988 Page 4 --- - ----- e IV. ORDINANCE CONCERNING RULE MAKING AUTHORITY OF THE PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the item. CB 3060--An ordinance concerning the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department; Amending Sections 2.812, 2.813, 2.814, 2.815, 2.816, 2.817, 2.1990, and 4.680 of the Eugene Code, 1971; and declaring an emergency. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, that the bill, with unanimous consent of the council, be read the second time by council bill number only, and that enactment be considered at this time. The motion carried unanimously. Council Bill 3060 was read the second time by council bill number only. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Ro 11 ca 11 vote; a 11 councilors present voting aye, the bill was declared passed (and became Ordinance 19570). V. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT e Chuck Bailey, chair of the Citizen Involvement Committee (CIe), outlined the activities of the committee since its last report in June 1988. He said the committee reviewed and made suggestions to improve the citizen involvement plans for the 19th and Agate Special Area Study, the Parks Master Plan Update, the River Road/Railroad Avenue Subarea Study, a major revision to the Historic Preservation Ordinance, an amendment to the Sign Code, and code amendments regarding public notice, modification procedures, and day care facilities. In addition, at the request of the Planning Commission, the committee reviewed the content of the proposed sign code amendment as it related to the Sign Code Board of Appeals, and the amendments regarding public notice. Mr. Bailey said the CIC also reviewed and suggested changes to the public involvement plan for the Economic Development Strategic Plan, the first City-wide Public Information Work Plan, the citizen involvement plan for the Future of Our Library Committee's Final Report to the City Council and the citizen involvement plan for the City's Six-Year Strategic Financial Plan. Mr. Bailey said this year the committee has reviewed the citizen involvement programs of three City departments, including Public Works, Public Safety, and Administra~ive Services. It has also worked on absenteeism at advisory group meetings, and citizen involvement questions related to public/private development partnerships. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1988 Page 5 e Mr. Bailey said that during the coming year, the crc would like to explore how development partnerships have occurred in Eugene, the opportunities and constraints in the area of citizen involvement, and the experience of other communities. The purpose of the research would be to discover which citizen involvement strategies are likely to contribute to effective decision-making when a development partnership is under consideration. Ms. Ehrman complimented the CIC on a productive year and suggested that the committee review the council's budgeting process in the future. VI. RESOLUTION CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION Tim Sercombe said this is a charter amendment initiative measure. The council needed to decide when it wants to have an election on the measure. He said if the council did not take any action, the measure would automatically be placed on the November ballot. The council also needed to decide whether to have a voters pamphlet in connection with this measure. Susan Brody, Planning Director, said a decision to amend the charter would create a natural resources zoning district and the process as to how that zoning district would be applied. In order for the zoning district to be applied, the City must receive a petition with 7,000 signatures that would require the City Council to initiate a rezoning process. Ms. Brody said where the zone would be applied would depend on the submission of a second petition of 7,000 signatures. Because zoning must be consistent with State e law and the Metropolitan Plan, Ms. Brody said staff would have to design a process to allow the council to concurrently consider a Metro Plan amendment and a zone change. She said more research needs to be done in this area. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, to initiate the voter pamphlet process. Ms. Schue said voters pamphlets are costly and should not be published in this case, even though this is a complex issue. Mr. Rutan said this is a classic example of why a voters pamphlet is needed. The motion carried unanimously, 7:0. Mr. Gleason said it would be possible, but difficult to prepare for a September election. Mayor Obie felt there are some logical reasons to have a September election despite the formidable obstacles. He said the major reason is that the issues surrounding the Riverfront Research Park need to be resolved in the community so that grant money is not jeopardized. Mr. Holmer asked whether the decision on this measure will affect the conditional use permit and would create a serious problem for the development of the research park. Mr. Gleason felt it would because no developer will take a financial risk on the property if half of it will be taken away, the University of Oregon will not know what lease agreements to make, and the State will probably not invest money in the project. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1988 Page 6 e Ms. Bascom said this issue is critical to many university students and she has had calls from students asking that the election be held in November so students will be in town for the election. Ms. Bascom said the research park is an effort to use a special resource wisely and sensitively, and she hoped this would be made clear in the process of educating voters. Mr. Bennett felt the election should be held in September. He said critical negotiations are ongoing and felt momentum would be lost if the election is held later. He added that this is an important issue and felt it merits a special election. Mr. Rutan moved, seconded by Mr. Miller, to set the date of the special election for September 20, 1988. Mayor Obie said he supported the motion because the issue needs to be put to rest in the community and because it would separate the item from the other important issues that will be on the November ballot. Ms. Schue felt the issue should be on the ballot in November. She said to prepare for a September election, campaigning would have to occur in August. She added that the council would be subject to accusations of trying to railroad the issue and complaints that many people were out of town if they called a special election. Mr. Holmer said there is a petition circulating that calls for an election on e urban renewal tax increment financing. He said this would put the research park on the ballot in November in a different form and that he would rather face both issues simultaneously. The motion failed, 3:4, with Mr. Rutan, Mr. Bennett, and Mr. Miller voting in favor. The final two agenda items were forwarded to the next agenda. At 1:35 P.OI., the meeting was adjourned to July 20, 1988. Respectfully submitted, ~~<'L . ~( r-... ~r'1 .... - . "'('----. . Micheal Gleason City Manag~r (Recorded by Mary Feldman and Tanya Northman) mncc 071388 e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1988 Page 7