Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/28/1982 Meeting e e e ~ ~ " M I NUT E S Eugene City Council City Council Chamber April 28, 1982 11:45 a.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: D.W. Hamel, Eric Haws, Gretchen Miller, Brian Obie, Emily Schue, Betty Smith, Cynthia Wooten ABSENT: Councilor Mark Lindberg; Mayor Gus Keller. Adjourned meeting of the City Council of the City of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by Acting Mayor Brian Obie. I. ITEMS FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL, APPOINTMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AGENDA ADJUSTMENTS A. Tree City USA Award Councilor Schue said that she had participated in a tree planting ceremony to mark the City's receipt of an award from the National Arbor Day Foundation, in recognition of the City's tree planting program and the work of the Parks Department on that program. B. Completion of Eugene Action Forum's Skinner Butte Trail Cleanup Councilor Wooten invited councilors to attend a breakfast to be held on Saturday, May I, 1982, to celebrate Imagination Day and the Eugene Action Forum's completion of clean-up work on the trail to the top of Skinner Butte. Mr. Obie said he would represent the Mayor and council at this event. C. Agenda Adjustment Acting Mayor Obie requested that the agenda be adjusted to place item VI, a report from the Eugene Arts Foundation, ahead of item III, to accommodate scheduling needs of the Arts Foundation representative. Councilors agreed to this change. II. ROUTINE ITEMS FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL A. Approval of City Council Minutes of January 20, and April 12 and 14, 1982 (distributed) Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to approve the City Council minutes of January 20, and April 12 and 14, 1982. Roll call vote; motion carried unanimously. MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 28, 1982 Page 1 -:~, B. Payment of Bills and Claims (distributed) e Res. No. 3653--A resolution authorizing the payment of bills and claims for the period April 21, 1982, through April 28, 1982. e e Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to adopt the resolution. Roll call vote; motion carried unanimously. C. Resolution Authorizing Negotiations for Sale of Warrants (resolution distributed) Res. No. 3654--A resolution authorizing preliminary negotiations for the sale of warrants to fund local improvement projects. Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to adopt the resolution. Roll call vote; motion carried unanimously. III. REPORT AND REQUEST FOR RESOLUTION FROM THE EUGENE ARTS FOUNDATION (memo, materials, resolution distributed) City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced Benson Snyder, president of the Eugene Arts Foundation. Mr. Snyder distributed copies of an analysis of the foundation's fundraising goals and achievements through April 27, 1982. He reported that the foundation has received commitments for donations of $3,040,897, or 55 percent of the total g:>al of $5.5 million. He said that the fundraising campaign would now move into its broader phases, reaching out to a larger segment of the population. He said that the foundation's board of directors would be meeting later in the day to review and, if necessary, revise the goals and priorities of the campaign. He predicted that the foundation would be able to cover the costs of all the high-priority items for purchase of equipment and for finishing spaces within the Performing Arts Center. He said that the board would also be considering the process and priorities for making direct grants to major com- munity arts organizations. He said that as the City's budget details are defined, the foundation stands ready to receive requests for support of operating and other expenses related to the Performing Arts Center. Mr. Snyder said that the foundation highly recommended that the council adopt a resolution naming the small theater in the Performing Arts Center after Betty and John Soreng, who have exhibited a history of interest in the arts in Eugene and who have made a contribution of $750,000 to the foundation's current fundraising effort. Res. No. 3657--A resolution naming the small theater in the Eugene Performing Arts Center. Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to adopt the resolution. Councilor Wooten expressed her personal thanks to the members of the Soreng family for their contribution to the Arts Foundation and to the City. Councilor Schue thanked the Sorengs for this demonstration of faith in the future of the MINUTES--Eugene City Council Apri 1 28, 1982 Page 2 e e e ~ City and of the Performing Arts Center. Councilor Smith concurred with these expressions of appreciation and also expressed the appreciation of the council to Mr. Snyder and the members of the Eugene Arts Foundation for their work. Roll call vote; motion carried unanimously. Mr. Snyder said he hoped to return soon with a request for the naming of the large performance hall. He also hoped that the foundation would soon be moving into the stage of fundraising for an endowment for the center. He thanked the council for its support of the arts and of the center. IV. RESOLUTION REGARDING BALLOT MEASURE 4, RE: GAS TAX INCREASE (memo, resolution distributed) Mr. Gleason introduced Jim Gix, Regional Construction Engineer, Oregon Department of Transportation, Highway Division. Mr. Gix thanked the council for the opportunity to make a factual presentation on the background and content of Measure 4. He gave a slide presentation on the effect on Oregon's highways of the decrease in gas tax receipts and the increase in maintenance costs. He said that funds raised through passage of Measure 4 would be required by law to be used for maintenance and improvement of existing highways. He said that 20 percent of the funds generated would go to Oregon's counties and 12 percent to Oregon's cities. He said the effective average annual increase in gas taxes would be $4.80 for a compact car, $6.70 for a standard car, and $270 for a truck. Mr. Gleason introduced Don Gilman, Assistant Director of Public Works. Mr. Gilman said that the replacement value of the approximately 400 miles of streets in the City was about $180 million. He estimated, in 1982 dollars, $765,000 would be needed in FY 1982-83 to provide adequate maintenance of these streets. He noted, however, that only $140,000, or 20 percent of the estimated amount needed for maintenance, was in the budget currently under consideration for FY 1982-83. Respondinq to a question from Councilor Haws, Mr. Gilman said that passage of Measure 4 would mean an eventual 30 percent increase in the amount of funds the City currently receives from the State for road maintenance. He said that in the third year of the tax increase increments called for in Measure 4, the City would receive $564,000 in gas tax receipts. Councilor Haws asked to what extent State highway funds had been spent in the City in the recent past. Mr. Gix responded that the State maintains State highways that run through the City. He noted that the City has recently made improvements using funds from Federal aid programs which are implemented by the State. He said there had been no major State-funded projects in the City in the recent past, due to the City ordinance requiring such projects to be approved by City voters. Councilor Haws asked if the State Highway Division had plans for repair of existing State highways in the City in the near future. Mr. Gix responded that an overlay of 6th and 7th avenues was planned, as well as overlays on the McKenzie and Willamette highways. MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 28, 1982 Page 3 e e - ~ Me. Wooten hoped that passage of Measure 4 by the voters of the City of Eugene would help in release of funds to the City. Mr. Gix responded that the policy of the Oregon State Transportation Commission was to use funds first to preserve the existing highway system, second to repair winter damage to highways, and third to restore projects once planned but recently dropped from the department's work program. Councilor Wooten was concerned that, under the Measure 4 proposal, 65 percent of revenues would come from consumers driving automobiles and 45 percent from weight/mileage assessments to trucks. She felt this was disproportionate given the greater amount of damage to highways caused by trucks. Mr. Gix said that the proportions had been arrived at through a cost/responsibility study. He said that City staff had a copy of that study and could share the information with interested councilors. He said that 98 percent of the direct damage to highways is assigned to trucks but there are many other costs involved that apply equally to cars and trucks. Ms. Wooten said that she would agree to the council's support of the ballot measure but that she personally believed there should be a more equitable distribution of highway costs. Councilor Schue asked if construction of the 6th/7th corridor and the Chambers connector were included on the Highway Division's project priority list. Mr. Gix responded that these projects were funded for engineering studies but not for construction costs. Ms. Schue said she hoped the Transportation Commission and the Highway Division understood the commitment of the council and the City to obtaining the support of the City's voters for these projects. She said that the council was ready to go to the voters whenever funding is assured for the projects. Res. No. 3655--A resolution supporting and endorsing the passage of Ballot Measure 4. Mr. Haws asked if staff recommended passage of this resolution and felt it was in the best interests of the City. Mr. Gleason responded affirmatively. Councilor Obie said that the City's transportation capabilities bear a direct relation to the City's economic diversification potential. He urged City voters to bear this in mind. Councilor Hamel said that he had attended a number of meetings on the issue of highway funding and that this matter had been placed on the council's agenda at his request. He urged support of Ballot Measure 4. Roll call vote; motion carried unanimously. V. SEWER USER CHARGES FOR EUGENE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT Mr. Gleason introduced Don Gilman, Assistant Director of Public works. Mr. Gilman noted that the City operates a separate sewage treatment facility at the airport. He said that a review of the operation and maintenance costs of that facility has shown that these costs are less than the user fees currently being charged to the airport. He stated that staff therefore recommended that MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 28, 1982 Page 4 , .. ~ - the user charge be reduced to be equitable and also to comply with Federal regulations governing such charges. Mr. Gilman noted that the resolution distributed to councilors needed to be amended to include rescinding of the previous resolution which established the current fees. Res. No. 3656--A resolution establishing sewage collection and treatment system user charge rates at the airport facility as amended. Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to adopt the resolution, as amended. Roll call vote; motion carried unanimously. VI. MWMC OCTOBER 1981-SEPTEMBER 1982 BUDGET (memo, budget message distributed) Mr. Gleason said staff recommended that the council consider adoption of the revised FY81-82 budget for the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission. Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to adopt the revised FY81-82 Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission annual budget. Roll call vote; motion carried unanimously. VII. FURTHER DISCUSSION OF NEGOTIATIONS FOR SALE OF WARRANTS (item II-C) - Ms. Wooten referred to item II-C, and suggested that the Finance Department be instructed to engage in discussions with local lenders reqarding the sale of warrants to fund local improvement projects. She requested that staff report back to the council on these negotiations and on the interest rates offered. Assistant City Manager David Whitlow said that a report would be brought back to the council. IX. MESSAGE FROM MAYOR KELLER REGARDING NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK Mr. Obie read a message from Mayor Keller to the citizens of Eugene, recognizing observance of National Small Business Week, indicating support for small businesses, and noting the contribution made by small businesses to the strength of Eugene's local economy. Meeting was adjourned. Micheal D. Gleason City Manager (Recorded by Darcy Marentette) 4It MDG:DCM:ce/CM26a1 MINUTES--Eugene City Council submitted, April 28, 1982 Page 5