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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2C: Ratification of Unanimous IGR Committee Actions ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Ratification of Intergovernmental Relations Committee Minutes of May 6, 2009 Meeting Date: June 8, 2009 Agenda Item Number: 2C Department: City Manager’s Office Staff Contact: Brenda Wilson www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-8441 ISSUE STATEMENT This is an action item to ratify the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) Committee meeting of May 6, 2009. BACKGROUND As a matter of procedure, the City Council is routinely asked to ratify the actions taken by the Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) Committee. This is done by submitting the minutes of each committee meeting to the council. Actions on which the committee is not unanimous are brought before the full City Council for consideration. These bills must be addressed by the full council in order to provide direction to staff in Salem. RELATED CITY POLICIES Ratification of IGR Committee actions is the making or affirming of the City of Eugene’s policy with respect to federal and state legislative issues or such other matters as may come to the council from the committee. COUNCIL OPTIONS The council may ratify or decline to ratify the IGR Committee’s actions as set forth in the minutes of the committee's meeting. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager recommends ratification of the IGR Committee's actions as set forth in the minutes of the committee's meeting. SUGGESTED MOTION Move to ratify the IGR Committee's actions as set forth in the minutes of the May 6, 2009, IGR meeting. Z:\CMO\2009 Council Agendas\M090608\S0906082C.doc ATTACHMENTS A. IGR Committee Minutes of May 6, 2009 FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Brenda Wilson Telephone: 682-8441 Staff E-Mail: brenda.s.wilson@ci.eugene.or.us Z:\CMO\2009 Council Agendas\M090608\S0906082C.doc ATTACHMENT A M I N U T E S Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations McNutt Room—Eugene City Hall 777 Pearl Street—Eugene, Oregon May 6, 2009 1:15 p.m. PRESENT: Andrea Ortiz, George Poling, members; Mayor Kitty Piercy; Brenda Wilson, Lee Shoemaker, Jessica Mumme, staff. ABSENT: Betty Taylor, Chair. 1.Call to Order and Review Agenda Ms. Ortiz called the meeting to order at 1:21 p.m. and noted that Ms. Taylor would not be present and that the Mayor would sit in proxy for Councilor Taylor. Ms. Wilson noted that she had nothing to add to the meeting agenda but that she would like to have a discussion regarding the manner in which she might distribute information regarding the least cost planning piece. Ms. Ortiz, responding to a question from Ms. Piercy, noted that she would be forwarding information and a community proposal regarding a recent peace resolution and a concurrent bill related to that resolution. Ms. Ortiz understood that the proposed bill would give Governor Kulongoski the authority to choose not to send Oregon national guard members to serve in Iraq. Ms. Wilson noted that a version of such a bill had come up in 2007. Ms. Wilson further noted that while the bill could be supported by the CCIGR, the resolution would need to be taken before the Eugene City Council. 2.Review Pending Legislation HB 2554A – Relating to definition of vulnerable user of a public way. Ms. Wilson provided a brief description of HB 2554A to the committee members and noted that staff was currently recommending Priority 3 support position regarding the bill. Ms. Piercy asked for clarification regarding the nature of motorcyclists being classified as “vulnerable users” with regard to HB 2554A. Mr. Shoemaker maintained that motorcycle users might indeed be considered “vulnerable users” in the same manner that users of in-line skates, scooters, and farm equipment might be. He further informed the CCIGR members that the bill would apply to instances where an at-fault driver in an accident had been cited for reckless driving. Ms. Piercy expressed that it was odd that motorcycles, which usually travelled at higher speeds than other modes of transportation, would fall under the “vulnerable user” definition. MINUTES—Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations May 6, 2009 Page 1 Ms. Ortiz felt that the provisions of the bill made sense as motorcycles riders were much less protected than persons traveling inside of a larger vehicle. Mr. Poling, speaking in his capacity as a former motorcycle rider, understood the rationale behind the bill and noted he would support it. Ms. Piercy concurred with Mr. Poling’s statements and indicated she would support the bill as well. Ms. Wilson commented that recent testimony on HB 2554A had focused on the fact that there were many drivers in Oregon who did not pay adequate attention to those persons that were classified as “vulnerable users.” Ms. Ortiz confirmed that the CCIGR would continue the staff recommended position of Priority 3 support regarding HB 2554A. SB 0556A – Relating to automated external defibrillators. Ms. Wilson provided a brief description of SB 0556A to the committee members and noted that staff was currently recommending Priority 3 opposition and Priority 3 Support positions regarding the bill. Ms. Wilson reported that staff’s primary concern regarding SB 0556A was that it had not been worded carefully and might cause confusion regarding the requirements for defibrillators with respect to public assembly locations such as city parks and other areas not generally classified in terms of building square footage. She further noted that the bill did not provide any funding for the defibrillators that it called for. Ms. Wilson noted that staff had conferred with the City Attorney who had advised them that formal support of SB 0556A might be advisable if the bill were amended with clarifying language regarding the bills application to enclosed buildings versus open spaces such as parks and public walkways. Ms. Wilson, responding to a question from Mr. Poling, noted that SB 0556A only applied to buildings with a square footage in excess of 50,000 square feet. Mr. Poling, seconded by Ms. Ortiz, moved to adopt a Priority 3 support position of SB 0556A if amended. The motion passed unanimously, 2:0. HB 2001 - Transportation bill Ms. Wilson noted that IGR staff was reviewing HB 2001 which was a transportation bill to be combined with a senate bill to increase payroll taxes for transit purposes. She further noted that the bill apparently contained language that would preempt local gas taxes although the City of Eugene’s current gas taxes would not be affected due to the grandfather clause of the bill. Ms. Wilson commented that tan amendment had been introduced by 1000 Friends of Oregon and would call for transportation and land use management that would take into consideration those planning tools which ultimately reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Ms. Wilson stated that staff was currently reviewing the provision of the proposal to determine how much federal flex funding would be required to initiate the pilot program called for under the proposal. She noted that the proposal might eventually turn into an unfunded mandate although it potentially gave MPO’s the authority to determine how greenhouse gas planning strategies would function. Ms. Wilson, responding to a comment from Ms. Piercy, noted that the proposal as it had been drafted represented good policy but needed to have the details worked out more thoroughly. MINUTES—Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations May 6, 2009 Page 2 Ms. Wilson, responding to a question from Mr. Poling, noted that the current version of HB 2001 would prohibit the City from raising current local gas taxes. Ms. Wilson, responding to a question from Ms. Ortiz, noted that state funds raised for transportation were dedicated under the Oregon state constitution. Ms. Wilson reported that HB 2001 was currently in the revenue committee and would eventually be going to the Ways & Means committee for further legislative review. Ms. Wilson noted that staff would continue its review of HB 2001 and that she would return to the CCIGR with further information and staff recommendations regarding the bill. Ms. Piercy commented that Springfield City Manager Gino Grimaldi had indicated to her that the Central Lane MPO might have concerns regarding HB 2001 that might need to be addressed by the City of Eugene and the IGR staff. 3.Items from Members and Staff Ms. Wilson stated that she would be sending the CCIGR members information regarding the Governor’s authority resolution that had been discussed at the beginning of the meeting. Ms. Wilson, responding to a question from Ms. Piercy, commented that a similar resolution had been proposed in 2007 but had not been adopted. Ms. Ortiz noted that she would also be distributing information regarding the resolution to the CCIGR members. Mr. Poling, seconded by Ms. Ortiz, moved to adopt the staff recommendation for priorities and recommendations for all bills that were not pulled for discussion for the May 6, 2009 CCIGR meeting and the committee action for all bills that were discussed and acted upon at that meeting. The motion passed unanimously, 2:0. Ms. Ortiz adjourned the meeting at 1:45 p.m. (Recorded by Wade Hicks) MINUTES—Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations May 6, 2009 Page 3