HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/16/1989 Meeting
M I NUT E S
Eugene City Council
Dinner/Work Session
Black Angus Restaurant--2123 Franklin Boulevard
October 16, 1989
5:30 p.m.
COUNCILORS PRESENT: Ruth Bascom, Robert Bennett, Shawn Boles, Bobby Green,
Freeman Holmer, Roger Rutan, Emily Schue.
The special meeting of the Eugene City Council was called to order by His
Honor Mayor Jeff Miller.
1. WORK SESSION: TRENDS AND CONDITIONS IN THE CITY OF EUGENE
Jim Carlson, Lane Council of Governments (L-COG) staff, provided an overview
of the "City of Eugene Environmental Scan" prepared by L-COG which reviews
the trends, conditions, and issues that define the environment within which
the City of Eugene will operate during the next five years. He reported that
population demographics will change, with increases in the youth and 40-54
age groups and minority populations. The economy will see growth in the
non-manufacturing sector. A declining middle class and increasing number of
blue collar service workers will affect the community's ability to pay for
public services.
Councilors were interested in having projections extended farther into the
future. There was also interest in changes that would result from a Eugene
built out to the urban growth boundary, the impact of increasing energy
prices, the relationship between housing supply and dwelling unit size, and
the differences between national trends and those that are Eugene-specific.
Mr. Gleason described Eugene's unique strength as being its formal planning
process and ability to direct outcomes. He outlined some of the areas that
he expected to figure prominently in the work of the City in the next decade.
The largest budget item is public safety (50 percent of the General Fund and
half the employment base). Although the work load has increased
significantly, the number of employees has decreased. Intervention as a
strategy will be more effective than simply adding more officers, but will
require more sophisticated integration of social services and other
governmental agencies.
Regarding planning and development, Mr. Gleason attributed a no-growth
attitude in a community to anger with the degradation of the quality of life
that results when the appropriate capital is not invested in that community.
He urged the council to avoid unplanned experiences that tend to be very
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Dinner/Work Session
expensive and emphasized that investment in the community needs to match the
expenses of development.
Mr. Gleason considered it important to integrate parks and neighborhood
schools, cultural and library activities, and sports and athletics in order
to provide positive activities for young people and to provide a necessary
mechanism for law enforcement and social service interventions.
Mr. Gleason supported fee-based maintenance and operation of facilities such
as the Wastewater Treatment Plant and airport. He expected pressure to be
exerted by the Federal government regarding the pollution hazards of storm
water.
Regarding transportation, Mr. Gleason indicated that more Federal support
should be sought. He considered the bicycle system underutilized and said
that bicycles represent a positive alternative transportation strategy and
recreational opportunity.
Mr. Gleason recommended beginning the next budget cycle with a dialogue with
the community on the level of public service it can afford, particularly in
the areas of public safety and capitalization.
II. DISCUSSION WITH STAFF ON ISSUES FACING THE CITY
City Librarian Jim Meeks reported that the need for a new building, branch
libraries, and developments in automation are issues facing the library.
Public Works Director Christine Andersen reported that transportation systems
will be a focus of Public Works activity. She anticipated higher levels of
congestion, increased use of mass transit, and more use of alternative modes
of transportation (bicycling and walking).
Mr. Bennett and Mr. Boles encouraged the council to assume leadership on
transportation issues and develop a realistic plan for redefining the future.
Ms. Schue stressed the importance of economic practicality.
Cultural Services Director Bob Schutz anticipated that children's
programming, park land acquisition, infrastructure maintenance and
replacement, and marketing would be important areas of concern for Parks,
Recreation and Cultural Services in the next ten years.
Reporting for the Administrative Services Department, Warren Wong said that
changing Federal and State legal requirements would be important issues for
the Finance Division. Important issues for the Intergovernmental Relations
Division will be the human rights program and joint social services. In
Human Resources and Risk Services, efforts are focusing on issues of cultural
diversity in the work place and the community. Rising costs of employee
benefits will need to be addressed by the division. Issues relating to
public access and the costs of automation will be primary concerns of the
Information Services Department.
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Deputy Chief Bill DeForrest represented the Department of Public Safety. He
described the long-range planning process currently under way as a response
to the changing needs of a changing population. Maintaining its emergency
response capability while playing a greater role in intervention systems will
present a challenge to the department.
Municipal Court Administrator Sandra Franklin reported on Court's
participation in the Department of Public Safety's long-range planning
process. The increase of substance abuse in the community and the impact of
automation will be important issues influencing the work of her department.
Abe Farkas outlined several issues that will have impact on the Planning and
Development Department. Among them were low-income housing and job
provision, community design standards, development financing, and the many
issues relating to the downtown area.
Councilors indicated particular interest in comprehensive planning,
cooperation between the public and private sector, site review and design
standards, and housing policies.
The meeting adjourned to October 18, 1989, at 9:15 p.m.
~~
Micheal Gleason,
City Manager
(Recorded by Mary Feldman)
mncc 101689-530
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