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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/02/1980 Meeting .. "~ . I f-/ ~' ~ .~ 1Y- .,~- . M I NUT E S EUGENE CITY COUNCIL January 2, 1980 Adjourned meeting from December 19, 1979, of the City Council of the City of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Gus Keller at 11:45 a.m., January 2, 1980, Council Chamber, with the following Councilors present: Jack Delay, Betty Smith, D. W. Hamel, Eric Haws, Scott Lieuallen, Gretchen Miller, and Emil~ Schue. Councilor Brian Obie was absent. I. ITEMS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL, APPOINTMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AGENDA ADJUSTMENTS A. Agripac Move--Manager announced that he and Mayor Keller were in a meeting this morning with Agripac representatives where it.was announced that Agripac plans to move their downtown plant out to their Seneca plant site. The City will be working with them on wastewater management and energy issues as well as air pollution control, etc. Agripac wishes to commence their move in 1983 and, if possible, complete it by 1985. Mayor Keller said that this is an important announceme.nt and was pleased with Agripac's decision to remain in this marketplace rather than relocating in Salem. They provide some 1400 jobs each season. B. Appointments. 1. Mayor's nominees to Board/Commissions: Airport Commission--Richard Williams, Bruce Chase; Electrical Board--Ermal Phillips; Library Board--Lora Webb: Performing Arts Commission--Les Anderson, Ron Blind, Irv Fletcher, Nancy Hayward, Thomas Jacobson, Douglas Orme, Royce Saltzman, Sally Weston, Gary Williams; Plumbing Board--Ed Bissonette, Warner Dallas, R. Livingston, Robert Richmond, Jim Vos; Sign Code Board of Appeals--Marian Bowden. 2. Mayor's appointments: Building/Housing Code Board of Appeals-- Dan Platz; Gaming Commission--Steve Hessel, Lt. Guy Mattoon; Masonry Board--Ray Parmelee: Mechanical Board--James Balzhiser; Zoning Board of Appeals--A. J. Giustina. Mr. Delay moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to approve the Mayor's nominees and appointments, with the exception of Performing Arts Commissioners, who will be considered next week. Motion carried unan imous ly. 1/2/80--1 . . C. Appointments Made at Special Council Meeting, December 19, 1979. 1. Alan Maxwell, 2195 Woodacres Drive, and Eleanor Mulder, 2775 Emerald Street, appointed to the Planninq Commission for four- year terms ending January 1, 1984. 2. Robert linz, 1321 Paige Avenul~, appointed to the Joint Housinq Committee for a three-year term ending January 1, 1983. 3. Harris Hoffman, 1252 West 12th Avenue, appointed to the Com- munity Development Committee for a three-year term ending January 1, 1983. . D. Announcements 1. ..Pub 1 i'c Service QffScer AQI;'lQintment.-....Ma,nager i)nn9Unced the apPoi ntment 0(" ~ug Cook, PubllC orks Department, as t~e PubllC Servlce Offlcer in the City Manager's office for the next six months. Mr. Cook will be handling complaints and taking over from Don Moloney, who has served from the Fire Department for the last six months. 2. Finance Director AppointmentuManager announced the appointment, effective January 4, of Bill McGuire as the Finance Director to replace Sherman Flogstad whose resignation is effective January 3. II. ROUTINE ITEMS FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL " r..,'" A. Wrecker's License 1. Far West Transportation Northwest Inc., dba Far West Truck Center, 2200 West 6th Avenue. Mr. Delay moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to approve the wrecker's license for Far West Truck Center. Motion carried unanimously. B. Donation of Real Property--Manaqer announced the donation by George Wingard of a piece of property known as Lot 6, Block 6. He indicated that there were no stipulations attached to this donation. Mr. Delay moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to accept the donation of Lot 6, Block 6, Sladden, 2nd Addition to Eugene-Lane County, ~ Oregon. Motion carried unanimously. C. Authorized Signatures--Manager said that a resolution needed to be approved appointing the following as authorized check signers for the City; R.A. Keller as Mayor, CharlesT. Henry as City Manager, and William McGuire as Finance Director. e 1/2/80--2 ~ e Res. No. 3298--A resolution appointing authorized check signers on behalf of the City of Eugene for checking accounts in the Citizens Bank of Oregon, First National Bank of Oregon, and the United States Bank of Oregon designating those authorized to sign grant applications, bonds, etc., and repealing Resolution number 2631. Mr. Delay moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to adopt the resolution. Roll call vote. Motion carried unanimously. III. ORDINANCE FOR SECOND READING (maps distributed) Manager explained that the Planning Commission had proposed R-1 zoning for much of this area, and this portion is being referred back to the Planning Commission for RA consideration. There were, however, two lots originally proposed for RA, and this ordinance relates to those two lots, known as portions of 5400 and 5700. Ms. Smith commented that the Council's previous discussions of these two lots raised questions about the future expansion of needs Chef Francisco. She wondered if it could possibly affect their expansion. Manager said that Chef Francisco had indicated that they presently own the necessary land needed for their expansion for the next five years. e CB 2038--Authorizing rezoning from M-2 Light industrial District to RA Outer Residential District and a change of sign district from Outlying Commercial District to Residential District for property located west of Polk Avenue between Cross and Bailey streets was read by number and title only there being no Councilor present requesting that it be read in full. Mr. Delay moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Roll call vote. All Councilors present voting aye, except Ms. Smith voting no and Mr. Haws abstaining, the bill was declared passed and numbered 18550. IV. LANE COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUEST TO AMEND CONTRACT FOR PARTIAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR THE ABBIE LANE PROJECT (memo and additional information distributed) Manager explained that the State is not willing to make the loan for this project, unless the housing authority receives a tax exemption. The Lane County Housing Authority has requested that an amendment be authorized to enable an exemption of local property taxes, and to require a minimum of payment in lieu of taxes of 60 percent or more on those due. There is some debate as to the amount that should be involved. There are one or two weeks available to complete negotiations with the State. Manager e 1/2/80--3 asked Ms. Stevenson, the Executive Director of the Housing Authority and Urban Renewal Agency for the County, how the State feels about payment in ~. lieu of taxes. Ms. Stevenson said thE~re would be no problems with any pilot programs. Mr. Lieuallen wondered if the 60 percent figure were satisfactory to the State, and Ms. Stevenson said that she did not know if that figure specifically was acceptable to the State. She said the agreement is between the City and the Housing Authority, and the State has not indicated any problems with such an agreement, as long as other expenses are paid first. ManagE~r cl arified that the attorneys have said there is no contract if it only states "after expenses are paid, money wi 11 be received". To ensure pa.yment, more specif ic terms have to be st ated . Mr. Delay moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to approve in concept the contract amendment and allow the City Manager to negotiate the amendment. Manager noted that, of course, the school districts are the big sacrificers and will lose the most revenue in this case. Ms. Stevenson also mentioned that this is the first Section a project in the City. Others have been HUD low-rent projects. Councilor Lieuallen indicated that perhaps a clause in the agreement can specify that these payments be made to a fund that could be used for further development. He also indicated that more monies might be paid in the future when the project's residual reserve is above HUD requirements. Ms. Schue questioned whether the Housing Authority should be treated any differently than any other developer involved in Section 8 development. a:.. '~- Vote was taken on the motion, which carried unanimously. V. PROPOSED EXPEND !TURE REDEMPTION TO COMPENSATE FOR SHORTFALL IN GENERAL FUND BALANCE AT JUNE 30, 1979 Manager explained that the proposed expenditure reductions would allow the City to end the year in the black. Each department was asked to review its present budget and indicate how it might achieve a six-percent reduction in expenditures by year-encl. After reviewing the departmental proposals, revisions by the Manager's office will allow several departments to project less than a six-percent cutback, specifically Parks, Library, and Fire, while departments such as the Public Works Department are implementing more than a six-percent cutback. In developing these reductions staff attempted to follow the priority sheets developed at the first of the budget year. Certain capital projects and capital outlay items also have been suggested for dE~lay. In addition, a number of unfilled positions have been frozen, some administrative and others clerical. Manager mentioned that some of the rl:!ductions were delaying the purchase of two rapid attack vehicles in the Fire Department, and therefore proceeding with the master satellite program more slowly, closure of pools on a rotating basis, and Sunday closure of the Library. . 1/2/80--4 e Mr. lieuallen wondered if travel expenses, shown for reduction in some departments, would be reduced throughout the City, as he feels that the public image would be heightened by less travel was being done. Manager responded that there will probably be less travel in all departments, though the total amount saved is not that significant. Mr. lieuallen wondered if it would then be possible to keep swimming pools open with volunteer help. Ernie Drapela. Parks Director, said the savings on pool closures are partially personnel costs, and partially energy costs. Pools consume 29 percent of all energy used by City services. Closures have been discussed with neighborhood groups and with the schools. At this point, they are looking at a five-month rollback instead of a six-month rollback originally proposed, since the initial closure needs a 30-day notice. He said there would be some concern from a liability standpoint if those other than certified personnel were used. Councilor Lieuallen asked whether long-range solutions to the heating situation are being explored. Mr. Drapela indicated that both the Amazon and Jefferson pools need some work and felt an outside consulting firm should do this study which would include research on energy systems. In response to Ms. Smith's question, Mr. Drapela agreed that schools are the heaviest users and the area of school payment for use of the pools could be explored; further, Mr. Drapela indicated that the pool closure would be handled in such a manner to accommodate the swim team meet February 17. Mr. Haws commented that, in his conversations with the general public, some seemed to feel that City services mean only library and pool services. Thus, there would probably be a great amount of controversy over these two proposed closures. Mayor Keller, at some point, would like to know What it actually takes to make a pool operational instead of hassling over the question of pool refurbishing costs every six months or so. He also suggested that the Council could refuse to accept the Sunday closure of the library. e Mr. Delay said he feels that the proposal as outline is a reasonable and a balanced one although he was concerned about continuing to defer capital projects. Mrs. Schue agreed, saying departments all have to do their share. Mr. Hamel agreed with the Manager~ recommendations. Mr. Haws, however, feels that this proposal does not give Council a choice of possible reductions, and it might not be what the citizens want. Ms. Smith says she feels the solution of closing the pools on a rotating basis will accommodate needs much better than total closure of one pool. She is concerned about closing the library on Sunday. However, she would like a reaffirmation that there is no other way to reduce the budget by $18,000. Mr. Keller said he feels the $18,000 should be removed from the library budget to spread the load, but it should come from some other place in the library's budget other than Sunday closure. Mrs. Miller also regrets the proposed Sunday closure of the Library, but she said that the only way to justify this closure is to explain to the citizens that all services and departments were cut proportionately. She feels that it is an important principle to remember in working with various constituencies. Mr. Lieuallen clarified for himself some points of a memo written by Finance Director McGuire, outlining the revenue deficits. e 1/2/80--5 e e e Mr. McGuire agreed that the shortfall is partly due to a reduction in building permit fees, engineering fees, assessments, and federal qrants. He commended Mr. McGuire on the memo, because it precisely outlines how the revenue problem has occurred and assists Mr. Lieuallen in dealing with it. Mr. Delay felt that no one service cutback is any more critical than another, identifying some other crucial items such as a second Assistant City Manager position, Land Use Planning Code update, and a firing range. Mr. Delay moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to accept the Manager's recommendations. Motion carried, all Councilors present voting aye, except Mr. Haws voting no. Upon motion duly made, seconded and passed, the meeting was adjourned to January 9, 1980. ~)~ Charles T. Henry City Manager DP:al/CM27al (Recorded by Diane Price) 1/2/80--6