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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/12/1989 Meeting (2) e M I NUT E S Eugene City Council Council Chamber--City Hall June 12, 1989 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Ruth Bascom, Robert Bennett, Shawn Boles, Debra Ehrman, Bobby Green, Freeman Holmer, Emily Schue. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Roger Rutan. The regular meeting of the Eugene City Council was called to order by His Honor Mayor Jeff Miller. I. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Miller said the Public Forum is an opportunity for people to express opinions and provide information to the council about issues that are not scheduled for council consideration. He said the council will not respond immediately to the concerns expressed in the public forum. e Randy Prince, PO Box 927, expressed support for students in China and asked the council to adopt a resolution stating its support for the Chinese student movement and condemning Chinese authorities for the recent violence there. He said University of Oregon President Paul Olum and Governor Goldschmidt both have publicly recognized the situation and he urged the council to respond to events of importance. Mr. Prince observed that the council often receives good suggestions from community members during the public forum. David Oaks, PO Box 11284, supported grass roots democracy and chided the council for its silence regarding the situation in China. He requested support of written resolutions submitted by Mr. Prince and himself. II. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Resolution Certifying the City of Eugene as Eligible to Receive State Shared Revenues Res. No. 4123--A resolution certifying that the City of Eugene provides the specified municipal services in order to receive State Shared Revenues pursuant to 221.760 of Oregon Revised Statutes, and declaring an emergency. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 12, 1989 Page 1 . B. Resolution Concerning Transient Room Tax Funds Res. No. 4124--A resolution concerning Transient Room Tax funds and repealing Resolution No. 4089. C. Findings and Recommendations of Hearings Official and Approval of Improvement Project (West 11th and Bailey Hill Road) (Job #2456) Paving, storm and sanitary sewers, and traffic signals on West 11th Avenue from Bailey Hill Road 850 feet east and on Bailey Hill Road from West 11th Avenue 400 feet north and south of West 11th Avenue. D. Approval of City Council Minutes of April 10, 1989, Dinner Work Session; and April 26, May 8, May 10, and May 17, 1989, City Council Meetings E. Consideration of Request for Leave of Absence from Planning Commission Three-month leave of absence request from Planning Commissioner John VanLandingham At Ms. Bascom's request, item B. concerning Transient Room Tax funds was removed from the consent calendar. e Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, to approve items A., C., D., and E., listed under the consent calendar. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 7:0. III. DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD Mayor Miller announced that the Government Finance Officers Association has awarded the City of Eugene its Award for Distinguished Budget Presentation for the FY89 Budget documents. He explained that this prestigious award requires documents to be evaluated as policy documents, as an operations guide, as a financial plan, and as a communication device and to be judged proficient in each of these areas. Since the inception of the program, only 300 governmental entities have received this award nationwide. The City of Eugene is the only city in Oregon to have received the award for five years in a row. Mayor Miller presented the award to Carol Calkins, Budget Operations Manager, who accepted on behalf of the Budget staff and all City staff members who participated in the decentralized budget process. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 12, 1989 Page 2 e IV. PUBLIC HEARING: CITY OF EUGENE FY90 ANNUAL BUDGET City Manager Mike Gleason introduced the topic. Warren Wong, Finance Director, explained that this item was the appropriation act establishing the expenditure limitations for all City departments and funds and levying a property tax. Mr. Wong outlined adjustments made to the Budget Committee FY90 Budget Recommendation, which included: 1) carryforward appropriations for purchase orders outstanding on June 30; 2) carryforward for capital projects approved this year and not scheduled for completion until after June 30; 3) additional property tax revenue resulting from annexations approved by the boundary commission as of June 30, 1989; 4) receipt of delinquent property taxes associated with prior year's Library serial levies; 5) increased parking revenue and service enhancement through the acquisition of automated hand-held devices for the Parking Control Officers; 6) repayment of an interfund loan for a computerized ticketing system for the Hult Center (authorized in FY89 Supplemental Budget #4); and 7) carryforward of the funds approved for the World Veteran's Games that will not be spent in FY89. Mr. Wong said the property tax levy will be approximately $33.4 million, of which $2.9 million is for General Obligation Bond debt service. Councilors agreed to hold a single public hearing to receive testimony on items IV. and V. e Mayor Miller opened the public hearing. Jennifer King, 2565 Agate Street, represented the Cultural Affairs Commission. Ms. King expressed disappointment that the Budget Committee did not support the commission's recommendation regarding the distribution of Transient Room Tax funds and she asked to resubmit a proposal requesting $40,000 from the Hult Center equipment reserve fund, with $25,000 of that amount dedicated to the Cultural Funding Program which supports groups and artists that receive no additional City funding. The remaining $15,000 was to fund performing arts groups that perform in the Hult Center. She clarified that the Hult Endowment Fund's grants are made annually on a project-request basis and those funds are exclusive of Room Tax funding. Ms. King said the recommendation was the product of a task force that worked closely with City staff to review the Room Tax funding. She reported that these performing arts groups have an economic impact in excess of $8 million annually and that over 120,000 people attend their events. Ms. King indicated that the City's support enables the groups to obtain grant funding and withdrawal of that support will jeopardize that ability. Finally, Ms. King said the Cultural Affairs Commission intends to work over the summer to develop a funding recommendation for FY91 to be submitted to the council. She proposed a joint meeting in late fall to enhance cooperation between the commission and council during the next year. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 12, 1989 Page 3 e Fred Mohr, 2662 Alder Street, identified himself as president of the Eugene Opera and representative of all the arts groups in the community who are working to help Eugene be recognized as a center for the performing arts. Mr. Mohr described the Cultural Affairs Commission proposal as an amendment not an addition to the budget. He said nearly 60 percent of the budgets of the community's arts programs are raised through contributions from the community and he requested that the City make a similar commitment to the arts. Dave Weinkauf, 2860 Chuckanut Drive, referred to the World Veterans' Games and asked for similar council support of the arts community which he described as struggling to survive. Mr. Weinkauf said the City competes directly with some of the arts groups and cited as an example, the announcement of this summer's "CATS" performance which will compete for performance dollars with the Festival of Musical Theater. Monte Marshall, 1865 East 28th Avenue, identified himself as co-chair of the Fairmount Neighborhood Association and asked for reinstatement of funding for the City's street grading and graveling program. He said a number of streets in his neighborhood would become impassable if twice-yearly maintenance does not continue. Mr. Marshall resubmitted for the record a letter sent to the Budget Committee which detailed the reasons he believed the City was obligated by its financial management goals and policies to continue funding the program. Mr. Marshall maintained that Metro Plan policy also supports the City's provision of the program. He submitted an additional letter for the record. Mr. Marshall suggested that a decision to eliminate ~he e street-maintenance program may be regarded as a land use decision subject to review by the Land Use Board of Appeals. He claimed that the Budget Committee had voted on the matter, but that the record did not indicate councilors. individual votes on this issue and he requested that a vote be taken so the public knows which councilors support this particular program. Cheryle Hawkins, 1350 Bailey Avenue, thanked the Budget Committee for recommending the continuation of funding for the Neighborhood Newsletter which she considered a vital means of communication. Ms. Hawkins expressed concern regarding the Budget Committee's direction to the City Manager to cut funds appropriated for City inter-departmental newsletters. She said the "Community Safety Quarterly" should not be considered an inter-departmental newsletter and funding for that publication should not be reduced. There being no additional requests to speak, Mayor Miller closed the public hearing. Responding to Ms. Schue's request for additional information about newsletter budgets, specifically that of the "Community Safety Quarterly," Mr. Whitlow explained that there had been insufficient time for the reductions to be processed and to appear in the appropriation act. He expected that as part of the first supplemental budget, there would be recommendations for reductions in Planning and Development Department newsletters and for a 4' MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 12, 1989 Page 4 e 20-percent reduction in the "Community Safety Quarterly" which could be accomplished by finding alternative methods of distribution. Mr. Boles suggested that the proposed $4,000 reduction in the "Community Safety Quarterly" budget could be restored by reprogramming additional revenue identified by Mr. Wong as annexation money accruing to the contingency fund in the amount of $43,000. Ms. Bascom understood that all newsletters would be examined to arrive at the necessary reductions. She felt that the "Community Safety Quarterly" could be shortened without damage to its effectiveness. Ms. Bascom complimented Ms. Hawkins on a banner that she had created for use by the delegation that recently returned from Irkutsk. Regarding Mr. Marshall's comments, Ms. Ehrman noted for the record that she voted against restoring the grading and graveling program. Mr. Boles recalled voting in favor of a motion to restore $10,000 of the proposed $20,000 reduction in the grading and graveling program. Again, he considered the $43,000 identified by Mr. Wong as a potential source for that restoration. Ms. Bascom said she had concurred with the majority of the Budget Committee in opposing the restoration of the grading and graveling program. e Ms. Schue expressed her opposition to restoring the grading and graveling program. She pointed out that paved streets are available to those presently living on graveled streets if they are willing to pay the assessment for that improvement and she encouraged interested property owners to discuss that solution with the Public Works Department. Mr. Green said he had opposed restoration of the grading and graveling program because it represented a temporary solution and he favored the greater cost-effectiveness and ease of maintenance of paved streets. Mr. Holmer thanked Ms. King for her statements and asked about the impact of her proposal on the Hult equipment reserve account. Mr. Wong replied that the present balance of $89,302 in that account would be reduced to $49,302. He pointed out that at the present time, ongoing expenditures in the Transient Room Tax Fund exceed ongoing projected revenue by approximately $30,000. Ms. Ehrman thanked members of the arts community for their interest. She supported further discussion of the decision to phase out City support of arts groups and of the issue of competition between local arts groups and the Hult Center. Mr. Boles said there was some confusion about an agreement between the Eugene Arts Foundation and the City Council regarding programming. He asked whether . MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 12, 1989 Page 5 e it is possible to reprogram Transient Room Tax money in the supplemental budget process. Mr. Wong answered affirmatively. Ms. Bascom said a meeting with the Cultural Affairs Commission is scheduled on the council's future calendar and she expressed optimism that misunderstandings could be clarified. She anticipated support for restoration of funding during the supplemental budget process. Mr. Holmer favored reviewing the issue of support for the arts, considering the possibility of allocating Transient Room Tax funds during FY90, and developing a recommendation for FY91 during the next few months. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, that the council request the Cultural Affairs Commission to report to the council on the history of Room Tax support of arts groups in Eugene; that Councilors Bascom, Schue, and Holmer work with the commission to present in late September or early October a recommendation for council consideration and advice to the Manager about the magnitude of Room Tax allocations to arts groups in the 1990-91 City budget; and that consideration be given to whether there should be a change by supplemental budget in the allocations to the arts groups in the 1989-90 fiscal year. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 7:0. Ms. Schue said that while the issues raised in public testimony d~serve the e council's continuing attention, it was her intention to follow tradition by voting to approve the budget as it was recommended by the Budget Committee. Mayor Miller praised the Budget Committee for its work and commended staff's efforts during the budget process. He concurred with councilors' determination to address concerns expressed by members of the arts community. CB 4142--An ordinance adopting the budget, making appropriations, and determining and levying the annual ad valorem property tax for the City of Eugene for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1989, and ending June 30, 1990; and declaring an emergency. Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, 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. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 7:0. Council Bill 4142 was read the second time by number only. Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, 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 e (and became Ordinance No. 19618). MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 12, 1989 Page 6 e v. PUBLIC HEARING: ORDINANCE ELECTING TO RECEIVE STATE REVENUE SHARING FUNDS This matter was heard in conjunction with the preceding item. CB 4144--An ordinance electing to receive State Revenue Sharing funds pursuant to Section 221.770 of Oregon Revised Statutes, and declaring an emergency. Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, 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. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 7:0. Council Bill 4144 was read a second time by number only. Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, 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 No. 19620). Mayor Miller recessed the meeting of the Eugene City Council and convened a meeting of the Eugene Renewal Agency. e VI. PUBLIC HEARING: EUGENE RENEWAL AGENCY FY90 ANNUAL BUDGET City Manager Mike Gleason introduced the topic. Warren Wong, Finance Division, was available to answer councilors' questions. Mayor Miller opened the public hearing. There being no requests to speak, Mayor Miller closed the public hearing. Res. No. 937--A resolution of the Eugene Renewal Agency adopting the budget and making appropriations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1989, and ending June 30, 1990. Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, to adopt the resolution. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 7:0. Mayor Miller adjourned the meeting of the Eugene Renewal Agency and reconvened the meeting of the Eugene City Council. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 12, 1989 Page 7 e VII. PUBLIC HEARING: CITY OF EUGENE FY89 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET #4 City Manager Mike Gleason introduced the topic. Warren Wong, Finance Division, was available to answer questions from the council. Answering a question from Ms. Bascom, Mr. Wong said a $33.4-million property tax levy would fund next year's budget. Assuming that the School District 4J levy passed, preliminary estimates indicate a $34.20-per-thousand assessment, subject to change as part of the Board of Equalization process. Mayor Miller opened the public hearing. There being no requests to speak, Mayor Miller closed the public hearing. CB 4143--An ordinance adopting a Supplemental budget; making appropriations for the City of Eugene for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1988, and ending June 30, 1989; and declaring an emergency. Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, 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. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 7:0. e Council Bill 4143 was read a second time by number only. Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Roll call vote; the motion carrying 6:1, with Councilor Holmer voting nay, the bill was declared passed (and became Ordinance No. 19619). VIII. PUBLIC HEARING: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS ON AVALON STREET (JOB #1890) City Manager Mike Gleason introduced the topic. Les Lyle, Public Works Department, reported that the proposed project would improve a graveled section of road that provides access to Danebo Elementary School and the neighborhood to the east of Danebo. The Bethel School Board submitted a formal resolution requesting that the roadway be improved. A petition signed by 50 local residents in support of the improvement was also received. Mr. Lyle reported general concern regarding the safety of school children, pedestrians, and bicyclists, and said problems associated with maintaining graveled streets also should be considered. Owners of residentially zoned and currently developed property on the north side of Avalon do not support the improvement at this time. Lacking the required 50-percent support of property owners on both sides of the street to be improved, initiation of design and acquisition can only occur through City Council action. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 12, 1989 Page 8 e Answering questions, Mr. Lyle said the improvement will connect existing curbed and guttered sections on both ends of the project. Because public agencies are considered neutral in a petitioned project (one that is normally initiated by Mr. Lyle as City Engineer), the two adjacent property owners in opposition to this project constitute 100-percent remonstrance. Mayor Miller opened the public hearing. There being no requests to speak, Mayor Miller closed the public hearing. Mr. Green said he has lived on this street for about 10-1/2 years and he supports the project as one that is long overdue. Mayor Miller indicated he was also familiar with the area in question and considered it dangerous for children going to and from school. Ms. Schue observed that air pollution can be improved by paving dirt streets and parking lots. Res. No. 4126--A resolution authorizing design, acquisition, and bidding for improvements on Avalon Street from Danebo Street to 165 east. Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, to approve the minutes, findings, and recommendations from the Hearings Official and to adopt the resolution. Roll call vote; the e motion carried unanimously, 7:0. IX. ORDINANCE CONCERNING DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT City Manager Mike Gleason introduced the topic. Scott Luell, Planning and Development Department, reviewed the Downtown Commission's final recommendations for redesign of the Downtown Development District which he said were the same recommendations on which the council and commission held a public hearing May 8, 1989. Those recommendations were as follows: 1) The marketing, security, and downtown management programs (all non-parking programs) remain status quo as recommended in the FY90 proposed budget; 2) Establish paid parking in high-demand areas to promote turnover; 3) Convert the remaining free parking spaces to at three-hour free parking limit; 4) Reduce the Gross Receipts Tax by 20 percent; and 5) Review these program changes within two years of implementation. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 12, 1989 Page 9 e Mr. Luell directed the council's attention to the amended ordinance which deleted the original escalating fine schedule that had been determined to be impractical at this time in light of the current court system. He also pointed out that the language of the ordinance had been revised to recognize both genders and to authorize enforcement of parking regulations at 7 a.m. Mr. Luell added that the authority to mark vehicles and to protect those marks is the only part of the ordinance with impact outside the district. Ms. Ehrman commented that the new ordinance may not be popular and will require an adjustment period on the part of the public, but she expressed hope that it would lead to greater budget stability for the district. Mayor Miller observed that the issue of equity in the parking program remains to be addressed. Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, to adopt the Downtown Commission's recommendations for the redesign of the Downtown Development District and passage of an ordinance amending the code to reflect the same. The motion carried unanimously, 7:0. CB 4145--An ordinance concerning the Downtown Development District; amending Sections 3.700, 5.232, 5.233, and 5.990 of the Eugene Code, 1971; adding a new Section 5.276 to that code; and declaring an emergency. e Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, 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. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 7:0. Council Bill 4145 was read the second time by number only. Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, 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 No. 19621). X. APPOINTMENTS: NOTIFICATION OF MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS TASK FORCE, PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND LANE TRANSIT DISTRICT STATION SITE SELECTION COMMITTEE Mayor Miller notified the council of the following appointments to the Human Rights Task Force: Debra Bigelow, 292 Hunington Avenue... .....(representing Native Americans) John Kaufman, 1808 Brentwood...............(representing those with hearing impairments) e MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 12, 1989 Page 10 e Mayor Miller notified the council of the following appointments to the Public Safety Advisory Committee: Steven Andresen, 2640 University Street....(term ending 12/31/89) Lawrence Martines, 3730 Watkins Lane.. .....(term ending 12/31/89) Mayor Miller announced the appointment of Councilor Rob Bennett to the LTD Station Site Selection Committee. Ms. Ehrman said the selection of an LTD site is important to downtown and she looked forward to Mr. Bennett's reports on this transportation issue. Mr. Boles said he also hoped that the Council Committee on Infrastructure would receive ongoing reports from the committee. II. CONSENT CALENDAR B. Resolution Concerning Transient Room Tax Funds Responding to Ms. Bascom's request for further explanation of this resolution, Mr. Wong said that traditionally, the council adopts a resolution establishing policy direction to the City Manager and the Budget Committee as to the allocation of Transient Room Tax revenue. In the City Attorney's Office review of that practice this year, it was determined to be duplicative e of the Budget Committee process. For this reason, staff recommended that the existing resolution be rescinded and henceforth, the allocation of the Transient Room Tax would be processed as part of the budget review. Mr. Gleason explained that there is no existing committee for considering the allocation. He said the County Room Tax currently allocated to service the fairgrounds bonds is a separate issue that is reviewed by a committee on which Councilor Rutan sits. Ms. Schue recalled the Budget Committee's discussion of whether the Eugene Celebration should be funded from the Transient Room Tax. Mr. Gleason pointed out that the council determines by ordinance which taxes will be levied and the county also levies a tax, with a portion being shared. Mr. Wong noted that the City rate is established at 4-1/2 percent (which is a fixed rate until the council changes it) and the County's is 3 percent. It would be a City decision to allocate a specific portion of its 4-1/2 percent to the arts. Mr. Boles clarified that the item under consideration allows the management of the fund for budgeting purposes. Res. No. 4124--A resolution concerning Transient Room Tax funds and repealing Resolution No. 4089. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 12, 1989 Page 11 e Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, to approve the resolution. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 7:0. The meeting adjourned to June 14, 1989, at 8:45 p.m. Respect~lly submitjCd, ",.....// - /MC1G:W~ City Manager (Recorded by Mary Feldman) mncc 061289-730 e e MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 12, 1989 Page 12