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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/27/1983 Meeting e e e M I NUT E S Eugene City Council City Council Chamber April 27, 1983 11:45 a.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: John Ball, Dick Hansen, Freeman Holmer, Mark Lindberg, Emily Schue, Betty Smith, Cynthia Wooten. COUNCILOR ABSENT: Brian Obie. Adjourned meeting of the City Council of the City of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Gus Keller. I. ITEMS FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL, APPOINTMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AGENDA ADJUSTMENTS A. Volunteer Week Recognition Councilor Hansen noted that in honor of Volunteer Week, April 18 to 22, ten outstanding local volunteers had been recognized for their efforts. He suggested that the City send a letter to these people commending them for their dedication. Mayor Keller and councilors agreed. City Manager Micheal Gleason said staff would see that the letters were sent. B. Hult Center Budget Discussions Mayor Keller noted that Budget Subcommittee C had been meeting to address the issue of the Hult Center operating budget shortfall. He noted that he had also spoken with representatives of the Eugene Arts Foundation about the problem. Mayor Keller felt that these efforts would soon lead to some good suggestions for solutions and said that these suggestions would be brought to the council for its consideration. He said that at its April 26 meeting the Budget Commit- tee had discussed reducing the proposed FY 83-84 Hult Center operating budget and that he felt this might be appropriate. He said that a 25 to 50 percent raise in the ticket fee was also being considered. Mayor Keller thanked the Hult Center staff for the good information that had been provided. He said he believed that the suggestion that had been made of hiring an outside consultant to .review the center's financial operations was a good one. Mayor Keller said it was his hope that those who were working with the budget problem would be making a recommendation to the council in mid-May. He strongly supported community involvement in the development of suggestions and in the decision-making. Councilor Schue thanked the Mayor and Councilors Smith and Wooten for their work to find solutions to this problem. She personally felt that the increased ticket fee was a good suggestion. MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 27, 1983 Page 1 e C. Agenda Adjustment Mr. Gleason noted that Item VI, regarding the Buy Oregon First program, had been rescheduled for the May 11, 1983, council meeting. D. Balloting/Set Interview Time for Community Development Committee Opening (memo, applications, ballot distributed) Councilor Schue noted that four people were under consideration for this position and suggested that all four be interviewed. Councilors concurred with this suggestion. Mr. Gleason suggested that interviews be held at 10:45 a.m. on May 11. Councilors agreed to this date and time. E. Announcement of Historic Preservation Week Activities e Mr. Gleason introduced Pat Decker, Historic Preservation Officer. Ms. Decker said that May 8 through 14 will be Historic Preservation Week, with most activities in the City being held on Sunday, May 8. She introduced Robert Melnick, Vice Chairperson of the Historic Review Board. Mr. Melnick said that the focus of this year's activities would be on the historic buildings at 10th Avenue and Willamette Street, with special events being held from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Ax Billy Building. He said that brochures had been developed outlining a walking tour of historic buildings in the downtown area. Mr. Melnick said that a poster had also been made to highlight the Historic Preservation Week events. Mr. Melnick introduced representatives of the Junior League of Eugene who noted that promoting awareness of historic preservation was a goal of their group. League members distributed brochures about the coming events. Mayor Keller thanked staff and the League members for their efforts. II. ROUTINE ITEM FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL A. Approval of Legislative Subcommittee minutes of April 21, 1983 (minutes distributed) Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to approve the Legislative Subcommittee minutes of April 21, 1983. Roll call vote; motion carried unanimously. Councilor Wooten asked if the Legislative Subcommittee would be reviewing all the alternative revenue plans brought before the Legislature. Ms. Smith said that the subcommittee would continue to make such reviews and report to the full council. III. PUBLIC HEARING: ALLEY VACATION FOR PROPERTY LOCATED BETWEEN CHARNELTON AND OLIVE STREETS, NORTH OF 7TH AVENUE (Hayward, Gonyea, et al.) (AV 81-1) (map, background information distributed) Mr. Gleason introduced Terry Jones, Planning Department. Ms. Jones said that the requested vacation was for the south half of a 14' alley between Charnelton and Olive streets. She noted that the Planning Commission had voted 7:0 to recommend approval of the request. She said that at the Planning Commission e MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 27, 1983 Page 2 e hearing one property owner had objected to the vacation. Ms. Jones noted that three conditions recommended by the Planning Commission for this request had been fulfilled. Public hearing was opened. Mayor Keller noted that Jim Saul, 44 Club Road, had indicated he was present to respond to questions from councilors regarding this request. There being no testimony, public hearing was closed. CB 2635--An ordinance authorizing vacation of the south half of the north/south 14-foot alley between Olive and Charnelton streets. 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 considered at this time. Roll call vote; motion carried unanimously. Council Bill 2635 was read the second time be council bill number only. Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Roll call vote. All councilors present voting aye, the bill was declared passed and numbered 19137. e IV. REVISIONS TO EUGENE CODE CONCERNING DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TAXES (memo, ordinance distributed) Mr. Gleason introduced Carol James, Audit Supervisor, Finance Division. Ms. James said that the Finance Division was charged with administering and enforcing the taxes levied for the Downtown Development district. She said that several changes to the code were being suggested to make administration of these duties more consistent. Ms. James referred to the April 15 memorandum from herself to Mr. Gleason regarding the suggested revisions, a copy of which was attached to the council agenda. She noted that the proposed changes would 1) allow the City Manager to set interest rates for delinquent tax accounts; 2) allow interest to begin accruing on the date following the due date; 3) remove the Downtown Commission from the appeals process; 4) define "property owner" as it is used in the code section; 5) allow overpayments of DDD ad valorem taxes to be applied first to other DDD ad valorem taxes due; and 6) allow establishment of administrative rules for the ODD ad valorem tax. CB 2636--An ordinance concerning Downtown Development District Taxes; amending Sections 3.700, 3.730, and 3.760 of the Eugene Code, 1971; adding a new Section 3.767 to that code; and declaring an emergency. e 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 considered at this time. Roll call vote; motion carried unanimously. MINUTES--Euqene City Council April 27, 1983 Page 3 e Council Bill 2636 was read the second time be council bill number only. Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Roll call vote. All councilors present voting aye, the bill was declared passed and numbered 19138. RIVER ROAD/SANTA CLARA SERVICE PLAN (memo, resolution distributed) V. e Mr. Gleason introduced Tom Hayes, Planning Department. Mr. Hayes noted that on March 15, 1983, the council had authorized staff to proceed with formation of a joint Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County staff team to work on a process for development of a service plan for River Road/Santa Clara. He said that the joint resolution before the council had been approved by the Springfield City Council and the Lane County Commissioners. Mr. Hayes noted that Roy Burns of the Lane County Planning staff was present to respond to questions from councilors regarding the County action. Mr. Hayes said that the resolution before the council would create a policy committee made up of two representatives each from the Eugene City Council and the Lane County Board of Commissioners and one representative from the Sprinqfield City Council, as well as a 15-member planning team made up of eight people representing organizations with an interest or service responsibilities in the River Road/Santa Clara area, two representatives of community organizations, and seven at-large members to be selected under a process that would be defined by the policy committee. Mr. Hayes said that the Citizen Involvement Committee had asked how staff proposed notifying the organizations that would be asked to participate and whether there was any preliminary indication of interest from these groups. Mr. Hayes said that initial contacts indicated that there was an interest in participating, with the exception that the River Road Community Organization, while it has taken no official position on the matter, had indicated an intent to abstain from participation. Mr. Gleason added that the Santa Clara Community Organization had said it was interested in participating. Mr. Hayes noted that "Exhibit 8" had been left out of the agenda packet. He distributed copies of this exhibit, which outlined the responsibilities of the Lane Council of Governments to the joint staff team. Councilor Holmer asked what the estimated cost was of developing the plan. Mr. Hayes responded that the initial budget for this fiscal year and into FY83-84 was for each jurisdiction to contribute staff time equivalent to 20 percent FTE per week. Responding further, Mr. Hayes said that the first two elements of the plan, Sanitary Sewer and Transportation, were scheduled for completion by November 1, 1983, with other elements to follow over a period that would total approximately two and one-half to three and one-half years. Mr. Burns said that the Board of County Commissioners had approved the resolution and that it appeared the commission's representatives on the policy committee would be Commissioners Ivey and Lieuallen. Res. No. 3773--A resolution concerning a servlclng plan for the River Road/Santa Clara neighborhoods. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 27, 1983 Page 4 ~. e e Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to adopt the resolution. Roll call vote; motion carried unanimously. Mayor Keller asked for volunteers to represent the council on the policy board. He noted that Councilor Ball had volunteered to serve and that Councilor Holmer had said he was available. Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to appoint Councilors Ball and Holmer to the River Road/Santa Clara Plan Policy Committee. Motion carried unanimously, with Councilors Ball and Holmer abstaining. Councilor Wooten noted that County Commissioner Lieuallen, formerly a member of the Eugene City Council, was in the hospital for surgery. She suggested that the council send him a get-well card. Mr. Gleason said staff would do this. V. BUY OREGON FIRST PROGRAM (memo distributed) As announced earlier in the meeting, this item was held over to May 11, 1983. VI. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT UPDATE AND INITIAL PRESENTATION OF FY83-84 APPLICATION (memo distributed) Mr. Gleason introduced Greg Byrne, Eugene Development Department. Mr. Byrne noted that it had been six months since the council had had a formal report from the EDD on the block grant and that his report would bring the council up to date on the grant and would discuss the proposal for the 1983-84 grant. Mr. Byrne said that the goals for the City's Community Development Block Grant program were 1) to comply with the findings and requirements of the Department of Housing and Urban Development audit; 2) to restructure the program to eliminate the sources of its past problems; 3) to close out former grants; and 4) to prepare the application for next year's grant in line with HUD guidelines. Regarding the outcome of the recent HUD audit of the City program, Mr. Byrne said that some funds had been reimbursed and that a decision on additional reimbursement had not yet been made. He said that program contracts were being closely monitored. Mr. Byrne said that efforts were being made to increase minority representation on the Community Development Committee. He summarized by stating that in general it was found that the City's CDBG program was serving the City well, although it was recognized that there had been some problems with the program. Mr. Byrne said that recommendations for the FY83-84 grant were 1) that there be fewer projects and that they be larger, 2) that there be fewer third-party contracts, 3) that neighborhood staffing be done through direct contractual relationship with the City; and 4) that greater use be made of existing personnel in the Parks and Public Works departments. Mr. Byrne said that in closing out old grants, assessments would be made of the feasibility of completing old projects and that if completion did not seem feasible, funds be reprogrammed. He estimated that 75 percent of the projects could be completed by the end of this fiscal year. MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 27, 1983 Page 5 e e - Mr. Byrne then discussed the proposed FY83-84 grant application and noted that the funding categories were based on the plan adopted by the council 18 months ago. He said it was proposed that the funding for the Jefferson/Far West Neighborhood Improvement Program be accelerated so that the program could be accomplished in one year rather than two. Funding for this program was therefore proposed at $300,000. The remainder of the funding proposal was as follows: $428,750 for housing rehabilitation; $331,250 for the Economic Development Fund managed through the City Council Subcommittee on Economic Diversification; $55,000 for restoration of the Alpha Tau Omega historic building; $50,000 for contingency funds--a reduction of $25,000 from last year's contingency allocation; and $265,000 for planning and administration. Mr. Byrne noted that this $265,000 represented 20 percent of the grant amount, the maximum allowed by HUD regulations for administration. He said that the target for the program was to reduce administration costs to 15 percent of the grant amount. Councilor Lindberg said that the council would hold a public hearing on the grant application at its May 9, 1983, meeting. He commended staff for the good work on the program and resolution of past program concerns. The meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, ~ Micheal D. Gleason City Manager (Recorded by Darcy Marentette) MDG:DCM:dcm/CM8b6 MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 27, 1983 Page 6 /