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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/29/1982 Meeting ~ . M I NUT E S - Eugene City Council City Council Chamber September 29, 1982 11:45 a.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: John Ball, D.W. Hamel, Mark Lindberg, Gretchen Miller, Emily Schue, Betty Smith (commencement to 12:40 p.m.), Cynthia Weoten. COUNCILOR ABSENT: Brian Obie. Adjourned meeting of the City Council of the City of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by His Honer Mayor Gus Keller. I. ITEMS "FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL, APPOINTMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AGENDA ADJUSTMENTS A. Open House at Hult Center for the Performing Arts Ms. Woeten distributed cepies .of a new release giving details of events scheduled for the open house on October 3, 1982, at Eugene's Hult Center for the Performing Arts. She said it was hoped that as many as 10,000 people would attend the event, which was designed to previde citizens .of Eugene with an opportunity to e beceme familiar with the facility. Mayor Keller thanked Ms. Wooten for her work in organizing the open heuse. B. Construction Time Line for LTD Transfer Station Ms. Wooten said she had received several calls from downtown merchants who were concerned that prolonged construction of the Lane Transit District transfer station en 10th Avenue would affect their businesses, particularly if the work extends into the Christmas shopping season. They were also concerned with removal of parking spaces frem the lot at 10th Avenue and Olive Street. Ms. Woeten requested a report back from staff on this concern, with written infermation sent to the Downtown Commission and the Eugene Downtown Association. C. League of Oregon Cities Legislative Committee Ms. Schue neted that she serves on the League of Oregon Cities' Legislative Committee. She asked councilors with suggestions for items te be breught before the 1983 legislature te cent act her. Ms. Schue neted that the cemmittee had taken a pesition in .opposition to Ballot Measures 3 and 6. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 29, 1982 Page 1 ( ~ D. Naming of Hult Center fer the Perferming Arts e Mr. Lindberg said that he had received letters and calls regarding the renaming of the Eugene Performing Arts Center to the Hult Center for the Perferming Arts, with expresslen .of the feeling that the renaming indicated that the citizens of Eugene were no longer the primary "owners" .of the center. Mr. Lindberg felt it was especially impertant, in view of this sentiment, to make it an ongeing commitment of the City and the ceuncil te keep the center .open to the citizens of Eugene and to make them feel at home at the center. Mayer Keller said that he had speken en a local radio show regarding the council's December 1979 decision at the beginning of the Eugene Arts Foundation's fund- raising efforts to name the center itself and rooms within the center after major centributers. Mayor Keller noted that funds raised by the foundation had been used to censtruct and provide a number of "extras'l for the center and weuld continue to be used for support .of local arts organizations and for operation and maintenance of the center. He noted that the contributions to the founda- tion will reduce the amount of tax dollars the citizens of Eugene will need to pay for center operatiens through the year 2000. E. Sister City Trip Mayer Keller announced that the Eugene Sister City delegation would leave on October 2, 1982, te visit Kakegawa, Japan. He said he hoped to make some good contacts with Japanese businesses and industries and noted that both State and Federal ecenomic development agencies had provided geod support in arranging appointments and contacts fer him. Mayor Keller said he would return en Octeber 16, 1982. Ceuncilor Weeten expressed the sentiments of the ceuncil e in wishing the Mayor a pleasant and productive trip. F. League of Oregen Cities Cenventien Mayor Keller reminded councilors of the League of Oregen Cities Convention, to be held in Eugene on Nevember 7, 8, and 9. He thanked City staff fer their work in organizing the event and noted that recently published cenvention brochures included excellent information on Eugene's tourism and cenvention facilities, as well as the statement that this year's convention would cest less than those held in other cities in previous years. G. Appointment Mayor Keller announced his appointment of Jean Snider, 1175-1/2 Charnel ton Street, to the Eugene Bicycle Committee. Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to approve the Mayor's appointment of Jean Snider, 1175-1/2 Charnel ten Street, to the Eugene Bicycle Committee. Rell call vote; motion carried unanimously. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 29, 1982 Page 2 H. Anneuncement of Retirement .of Deputy Pel ice Chief Pat Larien City Manager Micheal Gleason announced, with regret, that Deputy Police Pat . Larien had made the decision te retire in January 1983 after 28 years of service as a pel ice officer. Mr. Gleasen said Mr. Larion had been in charge of the City's Patrol Section fer a number of years, during particularly volatile times. He commended Mr. Larion fer his even temper and for the remarkable job he had dene. Deputy Chief Larien spoke briefly abeut his years of service to the City. Mayor Keller commended Mr. Larien for his excellent performance in a very stressful job. II. ROUTINE ITEMS FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL A. Censideration of City Council Minutes of September 8, 1982, September 13, 1982, and September 15, 1982 (minutes distributed) Ms. Schue meved, seconded by Ms. Smith, te approve the City Council minutes of September 8, September 13, and September 15, 1982. Rell call vote; motion carried unanimously. B. Call fer public hearing re: easement vacatien (Coburg Properties, Limited) (EV 82-3) (map distributed) CB 2524--An ordinance calling a public hearing for November 10, 1982, re: easement vacation for Coburg Preperties, Limited, located on the east side of Coburg Read between e Bailey Avenue and Tandy Turn. Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, that the bill be read the second time by ceuncil bill number .only, with unanimous censent of the council, and that enactment be considered at this time. Roll call vete; motion carried unanimously. Council Bill 2524 was read the secend time by ceuncil bill number only. Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Rell call vote. All councilors present veting aye, the bill was declared passed and numbered 19027. III. PUBLIC HEARING re: JEFFERSON AREA NEIGHBORS BOUNDARY CHANGE (meme, charter/bylaws distributed) Mr. Gleasen said that the proposed boundary change would bring the boundaries of the Jefferson Area Neighbors into confermance with the boundaries of the newly established Downtown Commission. He said that the neighborhood group had considered the change and had appreved it. . MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 29, 1982 Page 3 Public hearing was opened. . There being ne public testimony, public hearing was closed. Res. No. 3720--A resolution approving and accepting a boundary change for the Jeffersen Area Neighbors. Ms. Schue moved, secended by Ms. Smith, to adopt the resolutien. Roll call vote; motien carried unanimously. IV. ORDINANCE CONCERNING IMPOUNDMENT OF VEHICLES (memo, ordinance distributed) Mr. Gleason introduced Deputy Police Chief Pat Larion. Mr. Larion said that the proposed amendment to the City Code would alter the procedure the City currently must follow when a vehicle is impounded. He said that the present requirement of posting notice of impoundment at the site from which the impeunded vehicle was taken was very difficult and that the additional requirement of sending a certified letter to the vehicle owner was both costly and cumbersome. He said that the proposed amendment would require that a notice be sent to the owner via regular mail if the vehicle is valued at less than $1,500 and by certified mail if the vehicle is valued in excess of $1,500 and would eliminate the requirement of pesting a notice in a public place near where the vehicle was impounded. Responding te a question from Councilor Lindberg, Mr. Larien said that the $1,500 figure had been selected to cenferm with current State Law. e Responding to questiens frem Councilor Wooten, Mr. Larion said that most frequently the impounded vehicles have been intentionally abandoned and the person te whom the vehicle is registered is not the current owner. He said that the amendment did not affect the procedure fellowed when a car is first reported as abandoned but, rather, the procedure for disposing of an impounded car. He said that the process of-impounding a car usually takes at least twe weeks and that, once the car is impounded, it is usually net less than three months before the City proceeds with dispesing of the car. Councilor Miller said that in her experience the Eugene Police were always very good at attempting te locate the owner of a vehicle before impounding it. Ms. Miller asked whether State Law required that the notice of disposition of impounded vehicles be run in the legal advertising section of a newspaper for two weeks. She questioned whether such legal ads were a worthwhile expense and whether the owner of a missing car would ever refer to the legal ads to find the car. Mr. Gleason said staff would check to see if running the legal ads was a statutory requirement. CB 2525--An ordinance concerning impoundment .of vehicles; amending Section 5.695 of the Eugene Code, 1971; and declaring an emergency. Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, that the bill be read the second time by council bill number only, with unanimous consent .of the council, and that enactment be censidered at this time. Rell call vote; motien carried unanimously. e MINUTES--Eugene City Ceuncil September 29, 1982 Page 4 Council Bill 2525 was read the second time by ceuncil bill number only. e Ms. Schue moved, secended by Ms. Smith, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Roll call vete. All councilers present voting aye, the bill was declared passed and numbered 19028. V. RESOLUTION ACCEPTING GRANT FROM FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (memo distributed) Mr. Gleason introduced Director of Aviation Bob Shelby. Mr. Shelby said that Cengress had recently enacted the Aviation and Airways Improvement Act, which would make appreximately $4.5 billion available nationally. He said that the City of Eugene had been issued a grant offer of $532,932 fer strengthening of taxiways and .one apron for use by small aircraft, for lighting changes, and for continued upgrading of the airport. He noted that the grant would support the City economic development efferts by previding a new area for storage of corporate aircraft. Mr. Shelby said staff recommended acceptance of the grant. Res. No. 3721--A resolution accepting a grant frem the Federal Aviatien Administration for construction en Mahlon Sweet Field. Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, te adept the resolutien. Rell call vote; metien carried unanimously. VI. INTEREST RATE ESTABLISHMENT (memo, .ordinance distributed) e Mr. Gleason introduced Warren Wong, Finance Director. Mr. Wong said that the current Code allewed the City te set interest rates at the maximum allowed by law, but did not specify whe set the rates. He said that the ordinance befere the council would provide that rates be set by the City Manager or his designee. He said that interest rates would be set to cover direct overhead plus financing costs and said that would currently be appreximately 10 to 11 percent. CB 2526--An .ordinance concerning interest rate; amending Sectien 2.022 of the Eugene Cede, 1971, and declaring an emergency. Ms. Schue meved, secended by Ms. Smith, that the bill be read the second time by ceuncil bill number only, with unanimeus censent .of the council, and that enactment be censidered at this time. Roll call vete; motion carried unanimously. Council Bill 2526 was read the secend time by council bill number only. Ms. Schue moved, secended by Ms. Smith, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Roll call vete. All councilors present voting aye, the bill was declared passed and numbered 19029. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 29, 1982 Page 5 VI I. SALE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BANCROFT BONDS--SERIES "1" (memo, resolution distributed) e Mr. Gleason said that this would be the City's last sale of Bancroft bends, pending outceme .of voting en Ballet Measure 3 at the Nevember 2, 1982, election. Mr. Gleason introduced Finance Director Warren Wong. Mr. Wong noted that en September 8, 1982, the ceuncil had authorized the staff to preceed with issuing $4,555,000 in Bancroft bonds. Mr. Wong said that the bids for the bonds had been opened this morning. He said that he had worked for seme time with the bond analysts at Moody's, discussing the City's goed record for financial manage- ment, sound financial forecasting, and rapid adjustment of expenditures to meet resources available. He said that the AA rating that this bond issue had received was a compliment to the City organization and the City's programs. Mr. Wong said that seven banks had submitted bids, with the lowest bid of 8.2782 coming from the First Interstate Bank of California in Los Angeles. Mr. Wong noted that this interest rate was one-half percent less than any other recent bond issue in the State .of Oregon. Mayor Keller thanked Mr. Wong fer his excellent werk. Ceuncilor Smith expressed the appreciatien of the council for Mr. Wong's commendable efforts. Res. Ne. 3722--A resolution awarding the sale of General Obligatien Bancroft Improvement Bonds Series "1", in the princi- pal amount .of $4,555,000 to First Interstate Bank of California at a net interest cost of $2,051,995.00 and a true interest rate of 8.2782 percent. Ms. Schue moved, secended by Ms. Smith, to adept the resolution. e Roll call vete; motion carried unanimously. Councilor Smith left the meeting. VIII. ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL POSITIONS ON BALLOT MEASURES ONE, THREE, AND SIX AT THE NOVEMBER 2, 1982, ELECTION (memos, resolutions, impact statement on Ballet Measure Three distributed) Mr. Gleason asked Finance Director Warren Wong to discuss Ballot Measure 1. Mr. Wong said that the effect of the measure weuld be to include the value of new construction in a jurisdictien's tax base. He said that presently the tax base can .only be increased by the constitutional six percent limitation, unless increased by the voters or by annexations. Mr. Gleason intreduced Jim Farah, Interim Planning Directer, to discuss Ballot Measure 6. Mr. Farah said that passage of Measure 6, repealing the State's comprehensive land use laws, weuld preduce a loss of direction and policy for the City's economic development strategy and programs; would eliminate the present means of arbitrating local intergovernmental differences on land use issues; would greatly reduce the predictability of land use decisions for new industries and expanding firms; and would eliminate the land use directien needed as a base en which te plan the City's capital improvement program. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 29, 1982 Page 6 Mr. Gleason discussed the impact on the City of Ballot Measure 3. He said that this preposed one and one-half percent preperty tax limitation measure would produce complex changes in the entire Oregon tax system. He said that .one - problem with the measure was that it was vague and unpredictable. Mr. Gleasen said that the State Attorney General had indicated that some .of the provisions in the measure were based on California law and had ne parallel with the Oregon Constitution. Mr. Gleasen referred to materials which had been distributed to councilors on the measure. He said that passage of the measure would mean reductien of the City's budget by $14.5 million. He said that, while it was difficult to produce exact figures on the impact of this reductien en City operatiens, and recognizing that the Budget Committee would make the decisions en how to deal with the reduction, he estimated that approximately 300 to 350 employees would have te be laid .off. Mr. Gleason said that the proposed measure would reduce the property tax rate .one and one-half percent in the assessed valuatien in 1979 and would permit subsequent increases of only 2 percent per year. He said the measure provided that lIessential servicesll, defined ~ as Police and Fire, could not be cut below 1979 levels. Mr. Gleason said that this would not pretect the City's existing public safety system. --- Mr. Gleason said that comparisens of Measure 3 with California's Propositien 13 were not valid, since the percentage of preperty tax moneys going inte the California General Fund was only 10 to 12 percent, as .opposed 55 to 60 percent fer Oregon. He said that Califernia had also been able to draw on $6 billion in unencumbered tax reserves to aid local gevernments and that, because the last draw on these funds was being made this year, the true impact of Preposition 13 en Califernia was yet to be seen. - Mr. Gleason said that the principal benefactors of Ballet Measure 3 would be the business community, including major multi-national corperations, not the general citizenry. Mr. Gleason discussed the negative impacts of the measure on the City's ecenomic development program, including dewntewn development and industrial siting efferts, and en General Fund Revenue-Sharing programs. He then itemized City programs which would probably have to be cut if the measure were passed, including traffic and neise patrol, crime prevention, Willamette Street IIGutll enforcement, volunteer fire programs, the entire detective division, and two police patrel divisions. He said that two more satellite fire stations would need to be closed, in addition to the three already closed. He said further reductiens would include elimination of the fire prevention program, refinement and growth management land use planning, and the histeric preservation program. He said that respensiblity fer building inspection would probably have to be transferred to the State, that the public library and municipal swimming peols weuld have te be closed, that programming in senier centers would be eliminated, and that only recreation programs for which there was 100 percent reimbursement to the City could be continued. He said that the City would not be able to contribute te the Eugene Sports Pregram or to Joint Social Service activities. He said that e MINUTES--Eugene City Ceuncil September 29, 1982 Page 7 . . the human rights and neighborhood liaison pregrams would be eliminated, as well as staff support te the council. He said that centributions to the animal . control program, the Boundary Commission, the Lane Regional Air Pollutien Authority, and the Community Schools Pregram would be eliminated. Mr. Gleason said that public safety services would be cut 20 percent, public develepment 40 percent, cultural and leisure services 55 te 70 percent, and support services 35 percent. Mr. Gleason said that if Measure 3 passed, there was no way that a counter measure could be enacted in a rapid enough time frame to forestall the reductions. Mr. Gleasen said he agreed with the sentiment .of the electorate that Oregen could no longer rely so heavily on property taxes. He said that if Ballot Measure 3 fails, there was a strong need for enacting alternatives to the property tax to ward off future attempts at enacting measures similar to Measure 3. Mr. Hamel said it was extremely important to get the message to the public regarding the effect of Ballot Measure 3, particularly on social services. Ms. Miller said that there was an organized group .opposing Ballot Measure 3, and she urged councilers and concerned citizens to support that group's efforts. Res. No. 3723--A resolution supporting the passage .of Ballot Measure One at the November 2, 1982, election. Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Mr. Hamel, to adept the resolution. Rell call vote; motion carried unanimously. Res. No. 3724--A resolution opposing the passage and impact of e Ballot Measure Three on the Nevember 2, 1982, election. Ms. Schue meved, seconded by Mr. Hamel, to adopt the reselutien. Rell call vete; motion carried unanimously. Res. No. 3725--A resolution in opposition to Ballot Measure Six repealing the State Land Use Statutes. Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Mr. Hamel, to adopt the resolutien. Rell call vote; motion carried unanimeusly. Mayor Keller said that the potential effects .of the three ballet measures on the planning and efferts of the City should metivate councilors to become involved and to work to support the positiens the council had just taken on the three measures. IX. ANNOUNCEMENT re: CITIZEN PARTICIPATION MONTH Mr. Gleason intreduced Public Infermation Director Barbara Bellamy. Ms. Bellamy noted that the month of Octeber was a time when the City traditionally recruited citizens to serve on City beards and commissiens. She distributed butt ens with - MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 29, 1982 Page 8 . . . the inscription "11m Working for a Better Eugene" and said councilors would receive informatien on vacancies on beards and commissions and copies of appli- cations to distribute to members of the public. e The meeting was adjourned. . Respectfully submitted, ~~2~:. - City Manager MDG:DCM:pm/CM26a18 e - MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 29, 1982 Page 9