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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/11/1978 Meeting (2) . M I NUT E S EUGENE CITY COUNCIL January 11, 1978 Adjourned meeting from January 9, 1978, of the City Council of the City of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Gus Keller at 12 noon at North's Chuck Wagon, 2864 Willamette, with the following Council members present: D. W. Hamel, Ray Bradley, Eric Haws, Tom Williams, Jack Delay, Scott Lieuallen, Brian Obie, and Betty Smith. I. Items from Mayor and Council A. Vice Presidential Role--Mr. Bradley said that, in seconding motions during the coming year, he did not want his seconds to be construed as support. On motions to which he is strongly opposed, he will not second but rather will let another councilor do so. e B. Air Quality Maintenance Area Advisory Committee--Mr. Delay, a member of the nominating committee for the above body, said that a meeting had been held last Friday at which time the composition of the afore- mentioned committee was determined. Recommendations for members have not been dealt with as yet, but composition of the committee will include the nominating committee composed of Mr. Delay, Mr. Adams from Springfield, and Richard Owings from L.C., a member from the Highway Department of Transportation, a member from LCDC, and a member from L-COG, as well as members from the public at large to include a name provided by Mr. Delay, a name provided by Springfield, and two names provided by Lane County. Also included will be representatives from the Lane County Labor Council, the League of Women Voters, the Oregon Lung Association, the Forest Service, the Fire Chiefs Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the Clean Air Committee, the Agricultural Industry, U of 0 Transportation and Planning and one from the utility, chemical, and metal industry. He feels the composition as determined by the nominating committee will be very effective. C. 1990 Plan Update Committee Meeting--Mr. Bradley announced that there would be a meeting of the 1990 Plan Update Committee Thursday morning, January 12, 1978. D. How To Workshop--Mr. Lieuallen announced that the Handicapped Commission is hOlding a workshop for handicapped individuals on Saturday, January 14, at the Amazon Community Center. E. Intern Introduction--Manager introduced a winter term intern in the City Manager's Office, David Hebert. e 1/11/78--1 ~ F. Council Assistants Appointments--Manager announced the hiring by the City of two Council assistants, Sheila Ritz Arthur and Patrick Lynch. G. EPA Correspondence On Field Burning--Manager distributed a letter to Council dated January 11, 1978, which was addressed to Assistant City Manager from the City Attorney's office. Attached to that letter was a copy of a letter of January 3, 1978, from the U. S. Environ- mental Protection Agency responding to a memorandum of December 19, 1977, in which the City requested an opinion from EPA regarding the procedures followed by the State of Oregon in the adoption of new open field burning regulations. The answer given by the Environ- mental Protection Agency was that the procedures followed by the State in submitting the proposed revisions are defective in at least two major aspects. First, adequate notice for the July 15 public hearing was not provided and, secondly, the State has failed to meet the certification requirement of 40 CFR paragraphs 51.4(d). H. Special Council Meeting--Manager reminded Council of a 5:00 p.m. special Council meeting "today", January 11, to interview appli- cants for the Women's Commission, Joint Housing Committee, and the Planning Commission. . II. Request for Garbage Hauling Rate Increase December 12 memo from the Finance Director and September 15 letter from Mr. Wally Swanson, Chairman of the Eugene Garbage Board, have been distri- buted to Council members. Manager noted that the Garbage Board has approved 10.35 percent rate increase for all items except for a single ... 32-gallon can once-a-month pickup, which would remain the same at $1.95. ,., The reasoning for no increase in that rate is that once-a-month pickups are usually in the senior citizens' route. The last rate increase approved by the Council was on August 23, 1976. Manager noted that staff has not done an in-depth analysis. To do so would require substantial commitment of resources. Also, said the Manager, the garbage haulers themselves are studying the possibility of proposing a franchise system which would divide the city into areas and provide a much more efficient arrangement. It is the feeling of staff that, if such a proposal is made within the next two months or so, it would be a waste of staff time to do an in-depth study now. He further said that the increase does not seem out of line. Mr. Wally Swanson, Chairman of the Eugene Garbage Board, noted that, though the actual increase over the present garbage rates would be 10.35 percent, the period covered since the last rate increase would be 16 months, which would convert to an annual rate increase of 7.76 percent. 1/11/78--2 Jvl e . A representative of Garbagio, a private hauler, said that, although he would support an increase in rates, it is possible for them to run their operation at the present prices. He does feel that people will start to separate their material more effectively. He said that if rates are regulated responsibility also should be regulated. Manager noted there is an extensive County study going on which may well take a year and which may have an effect on what system the City would consider. Any further study, then, could wait until the conclusion of the County study. Mr.' Bradley wondered about the expense of any studies. Finance Director said there is a lack of information on how to generate a means of gathe'ring the information necessary to do an in-depth analysis. The cost, he felt, could run as high as $10,000-$12,000. Mr. Bradley felt the need to know more raw facts in order to make a decision on any rate increase. He could support a rate increase only if, simultaneous to approving such an increase, staff would begin to gather raw data so that 18 months from now a requested rate increase could be evauated. Mr. Williams said he would support any effort to get a long-term handle on the whole matter. Beyond that, he felt that anyone who holds an increase to seven percent on an annual basis has done very well. e Mr. Haws said there is not enough information yet on which to base a decision. He objects to regulating the rates, he objects to franchises, and he objects to any increase. Mr. Keller thought it appeared that some time in the near future staff could do some work to devise an ade- quate reporting system that would be uniform. Mr. Lieuallen did not feel a seven percent increase told the Council anything because Council does not know where the garbage haulers started from. Finance Director noted the last request approved was in July 1976, and, before that, August 1974. He said staff feels the rate increases are completely in line. Manager noted additionally that, where there were formerly 31 garbage haulers, there are now 15 or so. He feels that indicates that the competition is a little tough and that the charges being made to customers are not exorbitant. Mr. Delay feels that looking at a franchise system is potentially fairly scarey. He would not want to stifle competition. He feels a task force could look at that question adequately. Mr. Hamel moved, seconded by Mr. Bradley to accept the rate increase as proposed by the garbage haulers and Garbage Board of 10.35 percent to become effective March 1, 1978. Mr. Haws spoke favorably about the possibility of deregulation. Mr. Williams asked Manager to respond to that comment, and Manager res- ponded that the. Finance Department has felt perhaps that is the way to go in the future. He said he would prefer not to answer in depth at this point on the issue of deregulation, however. He said he does feel more possitively about franchising. - 1/11/78--3 2.2.. Mr. Obie asked if the Garbage Board had ever considered the matter of deregulation. Mr. Swanson commented that that whole issue was covered ..... some time ago. He said there is a problem in any method presented. .., He also noted that former City Manager, McKinnley had analyzed income tax statements and presented them to the Garbage Board. It was noted at that time that there was only one garbage hauler making $10,000 a year as an individual. He also commented that the rates here in Eugene are less or at the most even with other cities of comparable size. Also, he said, he has not had any complaints in the last two years on the rates. Mr. Bradley said it seemed as though the Council did not want to take the time to consider any rate increases. He suggested the notion of submitting any rate increase requests to a hearings official. Vote was taken on the measure which carried, all Council members present voting aye except Mr. Haws voting no. III. Women's Commission Request Re: Attendance at Meetings Held in States Not Ratifyi ng ERA December 30 memo from Human Rights Coordinator as well as news articles have been distributed to Council. The Women's Commission is asking Council to adopt the policy prohibiting City officials from attending business meetings in states that have not as yet ratified the ERA. Julie Aspinwall Lamberts, Women's Commission member, was present to ~ officially request the Council to adopt such a policy. She said the .., organizations supporting such a boycott are numerous and include such large bodies as the United Auto Workers. In that regard she noted that the United Auto Workers had five meetings scheduled in states not yet ratified and they withdrew from all but one. She also added that Washington, D.C. is one city she knows of that has joined in the boycott. She also said there is a request on Governor Straub's desk now that Oregon join in the boycott. Further, she commented that the Eugene Women's Commission has endorsed passage of the ERA. The City Council has approved the objectives of the Eugene Women's Commission and has therefore, in effect, approved passage of ERA. She said she is hopeful the Council will honor the Commission's request. Mr. Haws asked for a clarification, wondering if the Women's Commission was simply saying they did not want the City to pay for officials atten- ding conferences in unratified states, that if officials went to such conferences they would pay for their expenses themselves. Ms. Lamberts said that is what the Women's Commission had in mind. 1/11/78--4 - 2,3 - Mr. Delay supports the resolution but spoke of an upcoming meeting that has been scheduled a long time in advance and many City Council members are planning to attend. There is no way to change the locale of the meeting and it is important that representives attend it. Ms. lamberts agreed that it is a very difficult question but she feels that the long- term effects out-weigh the short-term benefits. She noted she is going to a conference herself in an unratified state and has agreed to absorb the cost. She said she cannot recommend that to all people but it is her personal feeling. Mrs. Smith said she is in complete agreement with the Women's Commission's stand but she shares Mr. Delay.s concerns about attendance at already scheduled meetings. She wonders if the City might go on record as con- tacting any national organizations that hold meetings with which staff or City officials would be connected, requesting that in the future they schedule meetings only in ratified states. Ms. Lambert said the trouble with that is that many organizations plan as long as five years in advance. In that regard, she said the deadline for ratification of ERA is March 22, 1979. She is afraid the impact of letters written to such organizations would be minimal. - Mr. Obie said he thought it was wrong to tell others in other parts of the country what to do. It seems like coercement to him and it seems better that proponents should go to the meetings and share their knowledge and reasons with those states rather than refusing to attend. He felt that would be the same as not going to Springfield to attend a meeting because they do not have a gay rights ordinance. He feels Council should carryon with reason rather than trying to strong arm people into doing something. Mr. Williams does not think boycotting should be taken on as a city policy without some very detailed thought on the subject. He said that, when he first became aware of the human rights movement in this country, he was led to believe discrimination was wrong and that it was not proper for one person or group to discriminate for a reason having no relation- ship to what anyone is or is not doing. Also, employment is supposed to be based on whether a person can or cannot do a job. Before Council now, he said, is a very specific request by a human rights entity saying "discriminate". He feels that it does not make sense to discriminate on an action a certain state has failed to take that is irrelevant to the trip being taken. Mr. Delay said that the issue under discussion is the level of Council's commitments to equal rights for women. He feels the economic boycott is a viable tool. - 1/11/78--5 2~ Mr. Delay moved, seconded by Mr. Bradley, to hold a public hearing February 13 on the issue, at which time discussion shoul d not be hel d on the meri ts of ERA but only whether to adopt a resolution on boycotting attendance at meetings in unratified states. - Vote was taken on the motion which carried, all Council members present voting aye except Mr. Williams, Mr. Obie, and Mr. Hamel voting no. IV. Public Hearing: Street Closure--Roland Way at Cal Young Road Map has been distributed to Council members. Mr. Hamel said he was very much in favor of this street closure. Public hearing was opened. Angela Dean, Roland Way, said every family on Roland Way unanimously supports the street closure. Public hearing was closed. Res. No. 2816--Authorizing closure of Roland Way at Cal Young Road was read by number and title. Mr. Hamel moved, seconded by Mr. Bradley, to adopt the resolution. Roll call vote. Motion carried unanimously. -e V. Liquor License Application: Change of Ownership Branding Iron, 579 East Broadway (DA), to BevIs Steak House, Inc.; appli- cant, Elvira M. Davis, 2095 Wood Acres Drive, Eugene (by Cordy Jensen). Manager reported the application is in order. Mr. Hamel moved, seconded by Mr. Bradley, to forward the liquor license application to OLCC with recommendation for approval. Motion carried unanimously. VI. Calling Public Hearing February 15, 1978, Re: Pearl Street Vacation Map has been distributed to Council members. Recommended by Planning Commission December 12, 1977. e 1/11/78--6 2.5 . C.B. 1588--Calling public hearing February 15, 1978, re: Street vacation, portion of Pearl Street 20 feet in width and running a distance of approximately 280 feet between East 40th Avenue and Oak Street, and retaining public utility easement over west 14 feet of area was read by number and title only, there being no Council member present requesting that it be read in full. Mr. Hamel moved, seconded by Mr. Bradley, 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. Motion carried unanimously and the bill was read the second time by Council Bill number only. Mr. Hamel moved, seconded by Mr.. Bradl ey, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Roll call vote. All Council members present voting aye, the bill was declared passed and numbered 18103. VII. Approval of State Mandated Five-Year Budget Projections January 6 memo from Finance Director has been distributed to Council members. . Mr. Hamel moved, seconded by Mr. Bradley, to approve the State mandated five-year budget projections. Manager noted that it might have been more a realistic approach to have had three-year budget projections. Mr. Keller felt it might enable the City to do better financial planni.ng in the future. Mr. Lieuallen thought it would be to the City.s good if it demonstrates to the State that revenue sharing money is needed. Vote was taken on the motion which carried unanimously. VIII. Pay Bills, Claims, and Progress Payments Res. No. 2817--Authorizing payment of bills, claims, and progress payments. December 21, 1977 through January 11, 1978 was read by number and title. Mr. Hamel moved, seconded by Mr. Bradley, to adopt the resolution. Roll call vote. Motion carried unanimously. . 1/11/78--7 2.6 IX. Approval of Minutes Mr. Hamel moved, seconded by Mr. Bradley, to approve the Council minutes of January 4, 1978. Roll call vote. Motion carried unanimously. . X. Hearings Scheduled January 23, 1978 A. Quasijudicial Hearing: Minor Partition Appeal (Winter) (M 77-163) Located 2290 Sandy Drive B. Systems Development Charge C. Liquor License Application: New Outlet--The Ginza Japanese Restaurant, 2651 Willamette Street Upon motion duly made, seconded, and passed, the meeting was adjourned to January 11, 1978, at 5 p.m. C~H!n~ City Manager DP:jm/CM12b14 . . 1/11178--8 2.7