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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/16/1978 Meeting M I NUT E S EUGENE CITY COUNCIL - August 16, 1978 Adjourned meeting from August 14, 1978, of the City Council of the City of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Gus Keller at 11:30 a.m. on August 16, 1978, King's Table, Oakway Mall, with the following Council Council members present: D. W. Hamel, Tom Williams, Jack Delay, Scott Lieuallen, Brian Obie, and Betty Smith; Councilors Eric Haws and Ray Bradley were absent. I. Items from Mayor and Council A. Support of L-COG--Mrs. Smith mentioned distribution to Council members of a resolution supporting L~COG. She hoped that the matter could be discussed at the next Wednesday Council meeting. Mr. Obie expressed the desire for staff to provide a report prior to that time on City expenditures, commitment, and benefits derived from participation in L-COG. B. Appointments--Mayor Keller stated there are two vacancies on the Room Tax Committee. He is recommending reappointment of Dick Hansen and Janet Boettcher. For the Airport Commission, to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Glenn Gordon, Mayor Keller nominated Robert Talbott. Confirmation of these appointments will appear on next Wednesday's Council agenda. e C. Invitation from Weyerhauser--Manager said that Mayor Keller got a call from Weyerhauser inviting Councilors to visit the tree farms and view the herbicide problem. That will take place in the near future for those Councilors wishing to participate. D. Council Goal Session--The date for the Council Goal Session is Friday, September 15, at the Morse Ranch. It will be an all-day session with Don Murray acting as facilitator. In the interim, Mr. Murray would like to interview individual Councilors on August 23 and 24. A sign-up sheet was passed around for Councilors to indicate their time preferences for the individual interviews. The results of those interviews will be distributed to Council members for their use at the Council Goal Session. Eo Introduction of Staff Member--Mike Tharp was introduced as the new renewal supervisor in the Housing and Community Conservation Depart- ment. F. Architectural Screening Process--It was announced that, for those involved in the architectural screening process for the Civic Center Project, meetings start Thursday, August 17, at 8:00 a.m. II. Aging Commission Request--Re: Retirement Age--Memo and proposed ordi- nance have been distributed to Council members. A public hearing will be held on the issue on August 28. Mr. Strong was present from the Aging - ~ 8/16/78--1 5" Commission to introduce the subject. He said that the Commission sup- - ports the ordinance as drafted by the attorney's office, but that the Commission hopes to eventually do away with any reference to age what- soever. Mr. Strong also pointed out that the proposed ordinance as drafted by the City Attorney touches on retirement, which the Aging Commission did not anticipate at this time. Mr. Williams was concerned about raising of the age in that, if there are employees who are not productive before the age of 65, it will only defer the time that they are requi red to stay on the job. Mr. Strong responded that the Commission still feels the City should do what it can to correct a gross injustice. Though it prefers that the upper age limit be elimi- \ nated altogether, from a practical standpoint the Commission feels that this drafted ordinance covers most of the problems of people feeling they have been discriminated against. He said there have been no cases of people appearing before the Commission over the age of 70 who still wish to continue working. Mr. Lieuallen clarified what he felt Mr. Williams was saying, that employ- ees who become unproductive before retirement age will have to be carried for a longer period of time, perhaps, before they can be retired. He said that what Mr. Strong is saying, however, is that could be a problem but the Commission still wants to move to eliminate the concept of discrimi- nation. Mr. Delay felt the issue is trying to balance the question of how many people will be affected in terms of marginal employees who want to continue on to get their pension, versus those who have to retire who are still valuable employees. He feels that it's necessary to go with the e concept of advancing the retirement age, though he feels Mr. Williams' concern is a legitimate element to be considered. Gary Long, Personnel Director, said that the proposed legislation would bring the City ordinance into conformance with already existing Federal law. Mr. Williams said that, though the ordinance should probably be passed, he's not convinced that it will not create more unhappy situations. Mr. Hamel IS viewpoint was that those persons who are not at retirement age yet, but who have become unproductive, should not be protected. Mr. Obie said he would favor no reference at all to mandatory retirement. Mr. Delay said that he would like some response from staff on the reasons for not opening up the age altogether. II I. Public Hearing: Public Works Bid Award--Bid tabulations have been dis- tributed to Council members. The proj ect is for a sani tary sewer from Polk Street to Almaden Street, Job No. 1658. The proj ect is necessary because of a health hazard in the area. Don Gilman, Assistant Public Works Director, said staff is not pleased with the bid results and hopes it can do better through some negotiation. He said the bids that came in were 40 to 50 percent over the Engineer1s cost estimate. The sewer line would serve three properties at this time and there would be a deferred assessment on another 10 lots which could be served in the future. Public hearing was opened. e 8/16/78--2 5&8 ~._--- Mr. Carl Thomas, 3015 Friendly, an owner of one of the properties in the area, was attending simply to get information. e Wayne Risley, 1380 West 5th, a resident of the area, said that, because of unsanitary conditions, he got an easement to hook up to a sewer. If a new sewer line does go in, he wonders if he will be assessed even though he will not need the connection. Dan Baldner, 1424 West 5th, stated he just put his own line in back to the alley. He said the problem is that the City granted an alley vacation for the trailer park next to his property behind the three houses having the problem, and they have built over the top of the old sewer line. He was fortunate because his property is halfway in front of that and halfway in front of a vacant lot. He asked the City about it and was told it was his problem. To come out now and want to run a new line in front of the houses seems wrong to him and he questions whether that is the best way to do it. William Strilzuk, 1410 West 5th, commented that he owns a home that is . involved. He said they have tried since last May to get an easement to. the property and have not been able to do it. He said something has to be done right away because it is a serious problem. Mr. Gilman responded that Public Works was not brought into the problem until a health hazard existed, which was about June. He said that HCC was originally working wi th the peopl e. He said the problem is with the trailer park, with the small lots, and with the homes built close to the property lines. For those lots that could, the most economical way to connect to the sewer was over private easements to the north. There is no intent to levy an - assessment to the other property owners who do not connect to the line. At thi s time the proj ect is only bei ng extended to serve three lots. The rest of the properties are being advised of a future possible assessment shoul d they have to connect to the sewer that is part of thi s proj ect. Public hearing was closed. Assistant Manager noted that alternatives being pursued are not to rede- si gning the proj ect, but rather to reducing the cost. Mr. Gilman added that, as far as the time schedule was concerned, staff would hope to have a decision ready for the next Council meeting so action could be taken at that time. IV. Public Hearing: Water Withdrawal Public hearing was held with no testimony presented. C.B. 1739--Authorizing withdrawal from Oakway Water District that portion of Coburg Road right-of-way CEU 78-60, Final Order 539 of Lane County Boundary Commission and declaring an emergency was read by number and title only, there being no Council member present requesting it be read in full. e 8/16/78--3 5ill Mr. Hamel moved, seconded by Mr. Delay, that the bill be read the second time by council bill number only, with unanimous e 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. Delay, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Roll call vote. Motion carried unani- mously, and the bill was declared passed and numbered 18248. V. Request for Approval of Wrecker License Schnitzer Steel Products of Eugene, 100 North Seneca Road; applicant: Leonard Schnitzer. Mr. Hamel moved, seconded by Mr. Delay, to approve the wrecker's license. Motion carried unanimously. VI. Proclamation by Mayor: Election Results August 8, 1978--Mayor Keller read a proclamation indicating the results of the 8/8/78 election. Measure No. 51--Authorizing $5,732,992 General Tax Outside Limitation: Total Yes Vote--3,209 Total No Vote-- 2,965 Overvotes 3 Undervotes 16 e Mr. Hamel moved, seconded by Mr. Delay" to approve the procla- mation. Motion carried unanimously. VII. Calling Public Hearing September 27, 1978 re Alley Vacation. Map has been distributed to Council members. C.B. 1740--Calling public hearing September 27, 1978, re: Alley Vacation, that portion located between Olive and Charnel ton streets, and West 23rd and West 25th avenues retaining public utility easement through the area was read by council bill number and title only, there being no Councilors present requesting that it be read in full. Mr. Hamel moved, seconded by Mr. Delay, 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. Delay, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Roll call vote. Motion carried unani- mously, and the bill was declared passed and numbered 18249. e 8/16/78--4 570 VIII. Process for Appointments to Lane County Employment Training Advisory Committee--Memo has been distributed to Council members. Manager pointed e out that the City has really not been well represented in the past. The - new committee will have 21 people on it and the City will be allotted seven different positions. The deadline for applications has been adver- tised for August 28. The question arises as to how the people representing the City should be appointed. The August 10 memo from the Manager to the Council suggested two alternative procedures: 1. Open application of community members, with the Mayor selecting nominees and the Council approving them; 2. Open application of community members with the Council president, vice president, and other interested Councilors acting as a selection committee, and whole Council giving final approval. Both options emphasize the need for Councilors to forward applicant names. Betty Smith said she would be comfortable with Alternative No.1. Mr. Delay said he would like to understand if the City's participation in this process would enhance using CETA to accomplish Council goals. Gary Long, Personnel Director, said that won't happen to the degree desired until the City is a prime sponsor. Actions now have to be approved by the Commis- si oners. This process, however, will be the first step in improving City representa ti on. Real control of City issues will occur when the City becomes prime sponsor. Mrs. Smith added that the City is eligible for prime sponsorship when the Federal Census Bureau offically recognizes the City's population of over 100,000. It was Council consensus that Alternative No.1 be selected. IX. Approval of Minutes e Mr. Hamel moved, seconded by Mr. Delay, to approve the Council minutes of August 2, 1978. Roll call vote. Motion carried unanimously. X. Discussion of City Government Response to Ballot Measure 6. Memo has been distributed to Council members. Although it is natural for citizens to ask how Ballot Measure 6 would affect the budget, Manager said it is impossible to accurately predict what would happen to services at this point because of: 1. The impossibility of predicting the allowable City tax rate for 79-80; 2. The impossibility or inherent difficulties in estimating the total assessed valuation for 79-80; 3. The impossibility of predicting what State level financial assistance may be forthcoming; and 4. The impossibility of predicting what restrictions may be imposed as conditions for State assistance. Manager said that staff believes the process for review needs to begin at an early time. He recommends starting the budget process in October with review of various departmental budgets. He added that something of deep concern is the narrow passage of the City budget. According to the terms of Ballot Measure 6, there is agreement that in the future all six percent elections will require two-thirds of those voting. Mayor Keller said he appreciates the fact that staff and Council have not jumped to the opportunity to be misquoted, but rather are sitting back and reflecting before educating anyone. Joyce Berti ami n, Ci ty Attorney I s e 8/16/78--5 51' office, said there is a question to be considered on whether Ballot Measure 6 is a revision to the Constitution which would require two-thirds - of the legislature plus a m~ority of the people voting, or whether it is an amendment, which is an initiative issue. That decision will perhaps take Supreme Court litigation to determine the answer. It makes budgeting a really difficult job for cities. Mrs. Smith wondered if the role of the Budget Committee is to start early to determine any impact passage of the ballot measure would have. Manager said that the Budget Committee could consider various levels of rollbacks. Mr. Delay said that, regarding the budget process, he thinks everyone should be careful to make clear the uncertainties and that staff and Council are trying to examine a whole range of alternatives. Mr. Obie said he has some concern about going outside the normal process, feeling that talking at any early stage about rollbacks and curtailment of service could be more of an alarmist tactic. He felt that it would be dangerous to speculate before passage of the measure. Assistant Manager said that staff has di scussed just that. He said that staff sees the process as merely an acceleration of the current budget process. In regard to Ballot Measure 6, Manager noted that on August 19 there is an all-day session sponsored by lesiglators Boe and Lang which will De on the public broadcasting system. Mr. Williams said he also questions the usefulness of an accelerated timetab 1 e. He does not feel it will necessarily influence the voters at all. Mayor Keller feels that Council and the Budget Committee owe whatever explanation it can give the voters because all they have been exposed to e so far are facts from the California election that do not apply to Eugene and the State of Oregon at all. He did feel, however, that conducting meetings to discuss rollbacks could appear negative. Assistant Manager responded that, though Ballot Measure 6 is the catalyst for this acceler- ated process, staff is merely asking the Budget Committee to do what it has asked for all along. Upon motion duly made, seconded, and passed, the meeting was adjourned. ~H2~ Ci ty Manager CTH:DP:pm/CMI2al e 8/16/78--6 512