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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 02/25/98 Work Session MINUTES Eugene City Council McNutt Room--City Hall February 25, 1998 11:30 a.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Tim Laue, Bobby Lee, Scott Meisner, Nancy Nathanson, Laurie Swanson Gribskov Betty Taylor, Ken Tollenaar. COUNCILOR ABSENT: Pat Farr. I. CALL TO ORDER The adjourned February 23, 1998, Eugene City Council meeting was called to order at 11:30 a.m.; His Honor Mayor James D. Torrey presiding. II. ACTION ITEMS A. Approval of City Council Minutes Mr. Tollenaar moved, seconded by Ms. Nathanson, to approve the City Council minutes of February 2, 1998, Dinner Work Session; and February 2, 1998, Meeting. The motion passed unanimously, 7:0. B. Multi-Year Service and Funding Plan Mr. Tollenaar, Council Committee on Finance Chair, provided the report, asking the council to concur on the wording of the overall objective, the list of assumptions, and the actual service priorities. He explained that the priorities were not ranked in any particular order but were those that the committee believed needed the council's attention in developing the Multi-Year Service and Funding Plan. He added that the City would be unable, within a couple of years, to fund the existing reduced level of service if another source of revenue cannot be found. Mr. Wong asked the council to affirm the committee's recommendations so staff can develop revenue options for the committee's March 11 meeting, followed by a report back to the council. He said the goal was to have both the committee and council work completed by the end of April, hopefully allowing for integration into the strategy of any recommendations from the Public Safety Coordinating Committee (PSCC) and the Joint Elected Officials (JEO) and for placing something on the ballot this year should the council choose to do so. In response to a question from Mr. Meisner, Mr. Wong said the committee has touched on the subject of trading off the property tax for some other revenue source but postponed further discussion until the next meeting. Minutes--Eugene City Council February 25, 1998 Page 1 11:30 a.m. Ms. Nathanson said she considered maintenance of the current transportation system "current services" and asked what the distinction was between "adequate funding for current services" and "transportation." Mr. Wong explained that the former phrase referred to the mixture of services provided out of the General Fund and the latter had to do specifically with the Road Fund, adding that the issue is the adequacy of funding currently going into the transportation system from the Road Fund and the fact that staff believes there will be no legislative relief in the 1999 session so the problem must be addressed locally. Mayor Torrey asked staff to refer to "current services" as used above as "GF-funded services." Ms. Taylor said she believed the discussion of potential tax measures should occur with the entire council. She hoped the discussion would include an alternate tax for restoration of services previously cut. Mayor Torrey encouraged individual councilors to develop and present strategies or introduce motions. Mr. Tollenaar agreed with Ms. Taylor that the restoration of items cut last spring should be added to the list of items to be funded. He emphasized that the committee's recommendations were advisory in nature and could be modified or turned down as the council saw fit. Ms. Swanson Gribskov said that until the council found a way to cover current shortfalls, the council should not consider restoring cuts. Responding to her concern on transportation, Mayor Torrey said the committee had addressed an interjurisdictional discussion of the County's Road Fund. Ms. Swanson Gribskov noted that if the PSCC budget moves forward as drafted, AIRS is funded under that regional package. Mr. Wong explained that if the County levy is placed on the September ballot, those property taxes would be collectable in FY99 and since the money is not needed for operations of the Juvenile Justice Center and part of the County's Corrections Program until FY00, the idea was to capture those funds and do the AIRS conversion. If the measure is on the November ballot, the first year taxes are collectable is FY00 and the funds would be needed for the other programs so there is no cashflow to do the AIRS conversion. Mr. Meisner agreed with restoration of services, provided they were those important to the community. He said that about half of the minimum preservation program was not in the base budget and wondered how the program could function. Mayor Torrey said it was difficult to convince the public of the need to do maintenance so the council may have to take the initiative in adequately funding the program. Mr. Wong indicated that staff was still following the council's last adopted policy: to include $1 million in the base budget and to capture another $900,000 out of the marginal ending capital fund. He noted that that funding is only worth about $1.4 million in purchasing power now. Mr. Wong added that this is only about half of what is required for adequate maintenance of the current assets; however, if some of the major capital needs were addressed, it would reduce some of the ongoing maintenance budget. Ms. Nathanson requested information on the cumulative cuts among all the jurisdictions, adding that the information could be used to justify the council's actions with regard to service cuts. Mr. Lee asked the council to maintain the current level of services at the post-Measure 50 level, which cannot be done with the 3 percent cap. Otherwise, he said, the message the council is sending to the public is that "we are downsizing government." Mr. Lee asked what process would be used to decide funding priorities. Minutes--Eugene City Council February 25, 1998 Page 2 11:30 a.m. Mr. Laue said the council goals and feasibility of programs would be considerations. Jim Carlson, Lane Council of Governments (LCOG), said today the council is being asked to affirm the "generic" list of topics without any details-those will be found in the other concurrent processes within the integrated time line. Ms. Taylor said she has found that the council committee system has actually increased her council workload. Ms. Taylor moved that the entire council serve as the Finance Committee. The motion died for lack of a second. Mr. Laue suggested limiting property tax for capital expenditures for core essential services, i.e., public safety, and introduce an alternate tax for other services. Mayor Torrey reminded the council that it is against adopted council policy to fund ongoing services without sustainability Addressing a question from Ms. Swanson Gribskov, City Attorney Glenn Klein said it is possible to offer voters alternate funding methods and show their impact on the property tax, but it may be necessary to have two measures that are contingent on each other. The Mayor noted that an expert on financing methods is scheduled to address the council in the near future. Mr. Meisner said he was prepared to support the list of priorities, provided restoration of services at some level is added. He cautioned against "overly" separating priorities, adding they need not necessarily be funded in that manner. Ms. Nathanson suggested inviting one or more members of the Governor's committee on tax reform to address the council, but said she was concerned that if the committee's proposals reach the public realm before the City had an opportunity to advance its strategy, it may negatively impact the City's ability to pass a measure. Mr. Tollenaar said the Governor's committee is looking at a $0 net impact-addressing tax reform specifically. Ms. Nathanson cautioned that the State's "rebalancing" of the tax load might influence the voter's response to the City's proposed alternative methods. Ms. Swanson Gribskov agreed with Ms. Nathanson, saying the governor's tax may draw a "knee- jerk" reaction from local voters. She said the committee should be monitored closely. Ms. Taylor expressed support for the Governor's committee and encouraged the council to consider a range of taxes to relieve the property tax. Mr. Meisner agreed with the comments from councilors Nathanson and Swanson Gribskov, saying the City should move ahead and not wait for State action. Minutes--Eugene City Council February 25, 1998 Page 3 11:30 a.m. Mr. Laue said the political reality was that the Governor was unlikely to raise the issue of tax reform before the next legislative session. He urged the council to place a measure on the September ballot. Mayor Torrey reminded the council of its impending budgeting process, saying councilors may wish to lobby the budget committee to restore services. He said he favored the following ballot schedule: September--urban renewal issue, community policing; November--the park proposal; next year--library proposal. Mayor Torrey pointed out a key election in May regarding the "double majority," noting he suggests the park proposal in November because it is the only one that may be jeopardized by the double majority rule. Ms. Elmer said both she and the Police Chief held as their highest priority the (PSCC levy) criminal justice system, which will be placed on either the September or November ballot. The second priority for them is to maintain level staffing, i.e., managed "overhires." She explained that the high number of retirees in the next few years will greatly impact the budget. The third priority is community policing, particularly prevention strategies. Ms. Elmer reminded the council of its previous decision to conduct an external analysis of staffing needs in the Police Department. Mayor Torrey said the managed overhires issue was an ongoing problem that should not be addressed with one-time money. He said he strongly supported public safety prevention and intervention programs but questioned the PSCC's ability to address the community's needs in this area. Nonetheless, he added, he would support the County's public safety levy. Ms. Elmer said she was not suggesting that the PSCC be left to determine what the City's prevention and community policing programs should be, but was identifying pertinent issues and constraints Ms. Nathanson said the Parks Committee has not yet met and discussed a funding proposal and nothing has been predetermined. She explained her position that the City needed to understand what the State is likely to propose on tax reform as that may influence the council's decision. Ms. Nathanson said that she was pleased with the analysis of managed police over-hires, but that she was frustrated that the issue had first been raised at a Budget Committee meeting four years and ten months previously. She pointed out the risks in having the problem persist. On the issue of the criminal justice system, she said she saw no reason why those as well as the needs of community policing could not move forward on parallel tracks without giving up one in favor of the other. Mr. Tollenaar said prevention and intervention was included in the PSCC proposal, but funding may be reduced during the County's budgeting process. In response to his question on managed overhires, Ms. Elmer confirmed that it was included on the budget for the next fiscal year as a base line item. Addressing a question from Mayor Torrey, Acting Police Chief Jim Hill said a request for proposals (RFP) for a staffing needs study in the department would be issued in about 60 days, including funding needs. Mr. Lee said it was important to track and measure performance on goals to instill a sense of ownership in the public of progress made on those, and possibly increase the chance of positive outcomes at the ballot. Minutes--Eugene City Council February 25, 1998 Page 4 11:30 a.m. Mr. Tollenaar summarized the discussion saying he heard the council: 1) add a comment about "general fund-funded" services under assumption; and 2) add selected restoration of services to the list of service priorities. Mr. Tollenaar moved, seconded by Ms. Nathanson, to approve the recommendations of the Council Committee on Finance with the two modifications above. The motion passed unanimously, 7:0. II1. ITEMS FROM THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, AND CITY MANAGER A. Washington, DC Lobby Trip Ms. Swanson Gribskov said she would be joining Mayor Torrey and Ms. Elmer on the City's lobbying trip to Washington, DC. She indicated she is soliciting input from local officials and other interested parties. B. Hendricks Park Advisory Committee Ms. Swanson Gribskov reported that the Hendricks Park Advisory Committee concept has been approved by the Citizen Involvement Committee. C. Moon Mountain Ms. Swanson Gribskov said Moon Mountain continues to be an issue and she will keep the council apprised. D. Pre's Rock Ms. Swanson Gribskov announced that there is a group of citizens attempting to buy "Pre's Rock," the site where Eugene runner Steve Prefontaine died. E. Press Conference Mr. Laue announced that he will hold a press conference at noon on February 27 regarding his political future. Minutes--Eugene City Council February 25, 1998 Page 5 11:30 a.m. F. Tree Ordinance Ms. Taylor asked to hold a work session on the tree ordinance in general. Staff indicated that a work session was scheduled for March 2. G. Inclusionary Zoning Ms. Taylor asked to add inclusionary zoning to a future council agenda. Mayor Torrey asked staff to meet with her and prepare the request as an item for the Council Consent Calendar. H. Daytime Curfew Mayor Torrey said his report on implementing a daytime curfew is forthcoming. I. Student Community Police Council Mayor Torrey introduced his concept for a Student Community Police Council and asked Acting Police Chief Hill to develop the proposal for discussion by the council. J. Council Agenda Items Mr. Tollenaar recalled the process approved by the council to get items on the agenda and asked for a status report. Ms. Elmer said there had been no items raised that had not already been set for the agenda by the council or staff. K. Citizen Inquiries Mr. Tollenaar said he is not getting good feedback from the Public Service Officer on citizen inquiries. Ms. Elmer said staff was aware of the problem with the process and working on resolving it. Ms. Nathanson recalled that the issue was raised before and she was unaware that some inquiries went directly to departments--something that made it difficult to track issues important to her constituents. She described it as a fragmented process. Ms. Nathanson said she needed to know about major things or patterns of small things. L. Teen Court System Ms. Nathanson thanked staff who arranged for her to visit the Teen Court System in the Bethel area. She said she was impressed with the program, adding that it takes its major support from the community, with very little in public resources. M. National League of Cities Ms. Nathanson said she has not received anything in writing but it is her understanding that the National League of Cities has appointed her to its Policy Committee on Transportation and Communications. She was scheduled to travel to Washington, DC after the City lobbying delegation's departure. Ms. Nathanson asked staff to assist her with information on transportation and communications. The council congratulated her on the appointment. Minutes--Eugene City Council February 25, 1998 Page 6 11:30 a.m. N. Council Committee on Planning and Infrastructure Mr. Meisner said the issue of requests for qualifications on the Eugene Celebration was scheduled for the committee's March 5 meeting, at noon in the Sloat Room. O. Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) Mr. Meisner said the council's request last May for discussion on the costs and related budget cuts that support the RDU has yet to be scheduled and asked to hold that discussion this spring. P. City Committee and Commission Recruitment Mr. Meisner reminded the council that the City is currently recruiting for members for the Planning Commission, the Budget Committee, and the Human Rights Commission. Applications are due March 20. Q. Congratulations Mr. Meisner congratulated Captain Jim Hill for his appointment as Acting Police Chief. R. Boundary Commission Mr. Lee noted that the Lane County boundary commission was the only one left statewide and the County Board of Commissioners has decided to revisit the issue. S. Housing Code Mr. Lee said petitions were being circulated in the University area and identified this as an issue for the City Manager. T. Council Committee Assignments Mr. Lee wondered when the council committee assigmnents would be rotated. Mayor Torrey said those interested in changing assigmnents should switch with others. He offered to assist those wishing to switch. Ms. Taylor said she had notified Council President Pat Fart of her desire to switch. Staff will follow up. U. Retirement Ceremony Ms. Elmer invited the council to a retirement ceremony for longtime Police Department Officers, Lieutenant Ellwood Cushman and Sargent Dave Poppe, at 2:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber. She noted Police Chief Len Cooke would make presentations at the ceremony. Mr. Meisner asked staff to keep the council apprized of Lt. Cushman's replacement as Sector Commander. Staff indicated that the announcement will be made this week. The meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Minutes--Eugene City Council February 25, 1998 Page 7 11:30 a.m. James R. Johnson City Manager Pro Tem (Recorded by Yolanda Paule) Minutes--Eugene City Council February 25, 1998 Page 8 11:30 a.m.