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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/25/1991 Meeting e M I NUT E S Eugene City Council Hilton Hotel--Studios A, B, and C October 25, 1991 5 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Roger Rutan, Shawn Boles, Ruth Bascom, Debra Ehrman, Bobby Green, Randy MacDonald, Paul Nicholson, Kaye Robinette. The annual goals session of the Eugene City Council of October 25, 1991, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Jeff Miller. 1. COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF INTERESTS The Mayor and councilors discussed specific areas of interest that they hope to address in the coming year. A. Mayor Mi 11 er Mr. Miller said his primary goal is for the Department of Public Safety (DPS) e Long-Range Plan to be implemented. B. Councilor Bascom Ms. Bascom noted the following goals she would like to accomplish: 1 ) strengthen intergovernmental networking through the Metropolitan Policy Com- mittee (MPC); 2) explore State and Federal funding for housing projects through the Housing Policy Board (HPB); 3) explore Federal funding for local transportation projects, especially for alternate modes; 4) support arts and tourism as economic drivers for the community; and 5) enact ordinances which may develop from the Urban Forest Management Plan. C. Councilor Ehrman Ms. Ehrman said her primary focus will be on the library, and she wanted to see a measure to fund the library in front of the voters before her term expires. Regarding transportation, she said she will continue serving on the Lane Transit District Site Selection Committee and hoped that the Ferry Street Bridge Study proceeds with either a council-adopted or voter-approved alternative. She supported forming a group to develop a Lane County Fair- grounds Master Plan. She said she will propose a new social goal for next year. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 25, 1991 Page 1 . D. Councilor Nicholson Mr. Nicholson said he will focus on solid waste and transportation issues. He said he is working on an alternative proposal for economic development. He supported forming groups such as the Council Committee on Infrastructure to provide direction early in the process of policy-making. E. Councilor Rutan Mr. Rutan said his major focus in the coming year will be on the Eugene Deci- sions process and on his efforts to communicate to the community the impor- tance of the process, the proposal which comes out of it, and the credibility of the City. He said he will also focus on coalition building and other council work plan items. F. Councilor MacDonald Mr. MacDonald discussed the following three issues he would like to focus on in the coming year: 1) development of a preliminary emergency management plan, strategy, and funding proposal for developing a sound emergen- cy/disaster plan, including coordination with Lane County, the State, and others involved in disaster response; 2) enhancement of the Amazon drainage canal to create a natural resource area for wildlife and recreational uses; and 3) development or use of Alton Baker Park. He noted that he is working on a proposal for controlling air pollution, specifically to reduce e chloroflourocarbons. Regarding Mr. MacDonald's first interest, councilors supported the suggestion of making this a component in their Federal lobbying trip, with hopes of obtaining Federal funding. Councilors also supported a suggestion of incor- porating this in the DPS Long-Range Plan. G. Councilor Green Mr. Green said his energy in the coming year will be focused on the Eugene Decisions process. He expressed concern about the possibility of the final proposal being determined by a nonunanimous vote. He said he will also work to enhance the Highway 99 corridor and to create more of a cultural and gov- ernmental downtown district, as opposed to a commercial/retail area. He proposed the development of a multicultural center downtown and said this would provide a unique attraction for tourism. H. Councilor Boles Mr. Boles said he does not have one primary focus and will direct his energy in several directions: 1) Central Area Transportation Study (CATS), ensuring that it is integrated with alternate mode goals and with the Lane Transit District's station siting; 2) Metropolitan Area General Plan update; 3) shifting economic diversification efforts to focus on arts and tourism as the economic drivers of the community; 4) in conjunction with Eugene Decisions, e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 25, 1991 Page 2 - refocus the energy of the Development Division on inner-city redevelopment and revitalization; 5) infrastructure: true costing, transportation corridor standards, and review and update systems development charges (SDCs); 6) sup- port the revitalization of the Downtown Commission and assist it to become proactive; 7) the Community Development Committee: track process for allo- cating capital repair and improvement funds to nonprofits and allocating money to support street improvements for low-income residents; and 8) Citizen Involvement Committee: increase electronic access for citizens and work on hands-on selection of board, commission, and ad hoc group members. Mr. Boles said he hoped that a city flag would be designed for Eugene. Responding to a question from Mr. Green about the CIC, Mr. Boles said the CIC's charge is to review land use planning issues and major internal plans that have a citizen-involvement component, such as the DPS Long-Range Plan. Mr. Boles said CIC's goal is that citizens are provided adequate opportuni- ties to get involved and be informed. In response to a concern expressed by Mr. MacDonald about the Metro Plan update, Mr. Boles suggested that the League of Oregon Cities lobby for State funding for such an update. Councilors concurred that the Metro Plan needs to be updated and that funding sources to accomplish this should be explored. I. Councilor Robinette Mr. Robinette said he shared other councilors' interests and believed that many of them could be addressed if the Eugene Decisions process is success- e ful. He said that council faces some difficult times before it begins making important decisions. Councilors took a break and continued meeting over dinner in Studio A. II. DISCUSSION OF COUNCIL FINANCIAL POLICIES IN RELATION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FY93 BUDGET Copies of an information packet titled "FY93 Budget, Council Goals Session, October 25, 1991," were distributed. Administrative Services Department Director Warren Wong presented the preliminary FY93 budget proposal and re- viewed the information in councilors' packets. Mr. Wong said that the Eugene Decisions process will likely extend into FY93. Because a budget must be in place by July 1, 1992, the FY93 budget develop- ment and review process must occur simultaneously with the Eugene Decisions process. Councilors discussed how to conduct the FY93 budget process in light of Eu- gene Decisions. Mr. Robinette supported a placeholder budget in order to maintain services through FY93 and be consistent with Eugene Decisions. He expressed concern e October 25, 1991 Page 3 MINUTES--Eugene City Council e about maintaining a $2 million Ballot Measure 5 reserve at the expense of capital projects. Mr. Rutan suggested directing staff to develop a strategy for conducting the budget process without seriously affecting the council's focus on Eugene Decisions. Mr. Nicholson emphasized the importance of being consistent with the message being communicated in the Eugene Decisions process. Mr. Boles expressed concern about reducing the capital budget, citing mis- takes made by other municipalities. He suggested that staff develop three or four alternatives for a placeholder budget, which the council would then review for consistency with the financial management goals and policies. Councilors concurred. Mr. Robinette suggested that the Council Committee on Infrastructure and staff determine the cost of funding capital project priorities. Ms. Bascom asked if the council should go to the Budget Committee with a decision made on the placeholder budget. Mr. Nicholson said he understood that the placeholder budget would be devel- oped partly based on FY94 budget projections. He suggested reviewing contin- gency plans with placeholder budget options. Ms. Ehrman did not think that enough information was available about the impact from Ballot Measure 5 to e project towards FY94. Mr. Gleason said the council needs to decide how to evaluate whether Eugene Decisions has worked. He noted the possibility that the community may want the City to address Ballot Measure 5's impact sequentially, which could re- quire repeating the Eugene Decisions process in FY93. Following further discussion, councilors agreed to the shortened time line for the FY93 budget process. They agreed to present options for the placeholder budget to the Budget Committee for its review and recommendation. The council will then review its financial management policies and make a final decision on the placeholder budget. The council took a break and reconvened in studios Band C. III. DISCUSSION OF COUNCIL GOALS A. Financial Strategy: Develop and Execute a Long-Term Strategic Financial Plan Mr. Boles proposed institutionalizing a streamlined version of Eugene Deci- sions as part of the organization's regular decision-making process. Mr. Nicholson proposed revising the goal to include an evaluation component. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 25, 1991 Page 4 - Mr. Rutan questioned whether Mr. Boles' proposal should be a goal of future councils. Mr. Boles clarified his proposal as being to continue the Eugene Decisions process, if it is successful, using a streamlined model to institutionalize an ongoing strategic planning process for the City that serves as a basis for future decision-making and work planning. B. Downtown: Begin to Implement the Downtown Redesign Following a Public Vote Mr. MacDonald proposed dropping this goal. Mr. Boles supported revitalizing the Downtown Commission and assisting it to become proactive. He noted that the Downtown Commission has expressed feel- ings of being underfocused, overstaffed, and reactive. Mr. Nicholson felt the Downtown Commission's charge was too narrow to gener- ate enough public support for implementing the downtown redesign. He sug- gested formulating a new sustainable goal and a new body that could generate public support for downtown projects. Ms. Bascom suggested that Mr. Nicholson attend the commission's meetings. Mr. Rutan supported Mr. Boles's proposal. He felt that the Downtown Commis- sion has a broad representation. He noted that the vacancy rate on Willamette Street, between 7th and 11th avenues, is over 50 percent. - Mr. MacDonald disagreed that the Downtown Commission has broad representation and suggested reviewing the composition of the commission. He suggested that the commission develop a work plan to achieve this goal. Councilors con- curred. Mr. Gleason said this goal is an important staff issue. He described one of the problems as the focus on downtown being on too narrow an area of the downtown and noted that some areas of downtown are thriving. Mr. Miller moved, seconded by Mr. Nicholson, to drop this as a goal and add it to staff's work plan. Ms. Ehrman shared Mr. Boles's concern that the council might be viewed as abandoning the downtown. Mr. Boles reiterated the commission's desire to become proactive and added that members have ideas which they would like to pursue, such as installing rest rooms and recruiting businesses. Mr. Miller said the council is concerned about the downtown but does not have a goal for it. Mr. MacDonald concurred. The motion failed 5:4, with Mayor Miller and councilors Rutan, MacDonald, and Nicholson voting in favor and councilors Robinette, Boles, Green, Ehrman, and Bascom voting against. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 25, 1991 Page 5 e c. Library: Present a Specific Plan and Receive Public Approval for Building a New Library Mr. Nicholson moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, to keep this goal. Ms. Ehrman commented that the Sears building is being considered for the new Lane Transit District (LTD) transit station. She noted the potential bene- fits if this occurred. Mr. Rutan shared Mr. Miller's concern about keeping this as a goal since it is so closely tied to the Eugene Decisions process. Mr. Rutan said the coun- cil does not want the public to perceive that a decision has already been made on the library. Councilors agreed by consensus to modify this goal to reflect that it is subject to the Eugene Decisions process. D. Social Goal/Housing: Through Intergovernmental Cooperation, Provide Funding for Permanent Low-Income Housing Units Mr. MacDonald supported maintaining the council's strong and effective ef- forts on this goal through the well-established infrastructure. He commended the work of Ms. Bascom on the council's Social Goals Committee. He proposed replacing this social goal with a goal that focuses on domestic violence or sexual assault. e Mr. Boles agreed that an infrastructure has been established for this goal. He felt that a new social goal should focus on issues of cultural diversity and the impacts on the city's growing Hispanic population. Mr. Rutan commended the work that has been accomplished around this goal and proposed continuing the progress by keeping this goal. Ms. Ehrman expressed concern about this being a permanent goal. She agreed that mechanisms are in place to address this issue on an ongoing basis. She felt that progress would continue if the council changed its social goal. She agreed with Mr. MacDonald's suggestion that the goal focus on sexual assault and domestic violence. Mr. Green concurred with Mr. MacDonald and Ms. Ehrman. He proposed a social goal that focuses on violence in the community. Ms. Bascom said she would like a new social goal to focus on child care but suggested continuing the housing goal for one more year in light of Eugene Decisions. Mr. Miller supported continuing this goal in light of Eugene Decisions. He felt that issues councilors have raised are important ones, but that there is a lack of staff and funding to devote energy to them. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 25, 1991 Page 6 e Mr. Miller moved, seconded by Mr. Boles, to keep this goal. The motion passed 6:3, with councilors Green, MacDonald, and Ehrman voting nay. E. Transportation: Implement New Strategies for Alternative Modes of Transportation. Focus on Increasing Bus Ridership and Supporting the Use of Bicycles Mr. Boles moved, seconded by Mr. Rutan, to keep this goal. The motion passed unanimously. F. Work Pl an Items Councilors discussed items they would like to have raised as priorities on their work plan. l. Department of Public Safety (DPS) Long-Range Plan Mr. Miller asked that fire redeployment and implementation of the DPS Long- Range Plan become a goal. He felt that the council-adopted plans highlighted in the Eugene Decisions tabloid should all be council goals. Mr. Ehrman concurred with Mr. Nicholson's objection to those council-adopted plans be- coming council goals because they have not been past goals nor have they been the subject of a public vote. Ms. Ehrman said that Eugene Decisions will likely provide the council with new goals. e Councilors shared Mr. Miller's concern but agreed that the DPS Long-Range Plan should not be made a council goal. 2. Highway 99, Phase 2 Mr. Green asked for council consensus to direct staff to develop financing mechanisms, in cooperation with partner agencies, for constructing this project and enhancing this entryway to the city. Councilors supported this. Mr. Boles suggested coordinating this with the Committee on Infrastructure. 3. Emergency Management Mr. MacDonald asked for council agreement to devote a half-time staff posi- tion to develop a preliminary plan, strategy, and funding proposal. Councilors discussed this. They supported Mr. Boles' suggestion of making this an element in the council's Federal lobbying trip, with hopes of obtain- ing Federal funding. They also supported Mr. Miller's suggestion of incorpo- rating emergency management into the DPS Long-Range Plan. 4. Solid Waste e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 25, 1991 Page 7 e Mr. Nicholson asked that this issue be added to the work plan. In response to questions, he clarified his recent memo to the council requesting that he present a proposal to amend a section of the Eugene Code in order to give further guidance to the Solid Waste and Recycling Board for the upcoming rate-setting process. Mr. Gleason explained that the board's current focus is on developing a long-term approach to solid waste and recycling. While he saw merit in some of Mr. Nicholson's ideas regarding the rate analysis, he said that staff cannot work on broader issues and the rate analysis at the same time. Councilors discussed Mr. Nicholson's memo. Ms. Ehrman understood that public concern was related to the buying out of companies and the freedom to choose which hauler to provide service. Mr. Boles said that the council could provide direction in response to man- dates required under Senate Bill 66, and, in conjunction with this, address the general rate-setting process. In response to concern expressed by Mr. Gleason, Mr. Nicholson said the board needs some gUidance in developing a rate structure that will allow haulers to achieve the national prevailing rate of profit. Councilors agreed to revisit this issue at a future work session. e IV. PROCESS SESSION A. Revisit the Role and Purpose of the Citizen Involvement Committee (CIC) Mr. Robinette explained that he raised this issue because he understood that the CIC's citizen involvement processes had not been adopted by council. Mr. Boles clarified that the council has reviewed those processes and is scheduled to review the CIC annual work plan at the October 28 work session. B. Continue Discussion of Staff Presentations Mr. Nicholson expressed concern about a lack of follow-up and evaluation of policies after they are implemented. Mr. MacDonald reported criticisms from his constituents about the council allowing staff too much leeway in implementing policy. Mr. Boles felt that where there has been a clear mechanism for policy imple- mentation, there has been an effective mechanism for evaluation. Mr. Gleason explained that the council's direction on a policy can shift after it has been implemented. He said the way this is handled could appear as staff inconsistency. Responding to concern expressed by Mr. MacDonald about evaluations being time-intensive, Mr. Gleason said that full-time e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 25, 1991 Page 8 < e elected officials share this concern and that the issue is independent from the issue of whether elected officials are compensated. He agreed with Mr. Boles that the council works best when it focuses clearly on its goals. C. Requests or Assignments to the City Manager or City Staff by Individual Councilors Ms. Bascom reminded new councilors that the ground rule for requesting as- signments to the City Manager or staff is that the issue must be brought up during a public meeting and must be requested by at least two councilors. D. Guidelines for Use of the Public Forum for Items Appearing on Future Council Agendas Councilors agreed that the public forum process has not been abused. They agreed to continue allowing the public to speak about anything they wish during the public forum. They agreed that if a member of the public wishes to speak on an item that is scheduled to appear on an agenda soon, he/she should wait until the public hearing. They also agreed that the public forum cannot be used to testify about an item which is not a public matter or which has already been heard by a Hearings Official. E. Assigning Administrative Decisions to the City Manager Councilors agreed to forward this issue to the Council Committee on Commit- tees. e Councilors agreed to schedule a process session for December 2 or before the end of the year to continue discussion on process issues. The meeting adjourned at 11:30 p.m. 7~' ~~ ~ Micheal Gleason, City Manager (Recorded by David Straub) mncc 1025911 e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 25, 1991 Page 9