BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING
February 20, 2008
following HACSA
Commissioners'
Conference Room
APPROVED
3/12/2008
Commissioner Faye
Stewart presided with Commissioner Bill Fleenor, Bobby Green, Sr., and Peter
Sorenson present. Bill Dwyer was
excused.. County Administrator Jeff
Spartz, County Counsel Teresa Wilson and Recording Secretary Melissa Zimmer were
also present.
1. ADJUSTMENTS
TO THE AGENDA
None.
2. PUBLIC
COMMENTS
Nan Osband, Florence, heard there were rumors regarding the extension of the sewers
outside of the city limits on Rhododendron Drive. She wasn’t sure they had a facility permit.
She wanted a status on what was going on.
Fleenor responded that last week the Board approved issuing Florence a
facility permit to extend a dry sewer up to its existing annexation area to Fawn
Ridge. He added the portion from 35th
to Fawn Ridge is in litigation as to whether Florence was able to legally annex.
He said Lane County provided a facility permit allowing Florence to put a
dry sewer pipe in the trench that the Alaska Cable Company is putting in up to
the city limit.
Leah Patton, Florence, asked the Board to look beyond annexation for the end result.
She said if the city is allowed to go with cherry stemming, the wetlands
will go and there would no longer be a free beach in the Florence area.
Jim Gillette, Eugene, commented that an Executive Session is like a trial without
representation. He said in 1996 when he was fined the commissioners received a
letter and it contained a wrong date. He
said if the Board could prove he lied, he would walk away and pay a fine.
He said with the current case there was no warning given to him.
He said he received a letter from Jane Burgess about the National Guard
training. He said they were on his
property and fired blanks and that is not considered firearms.
He said the staff makes mistakes.
Stewart stated he made a personal call to Gillette before the fines were
assessed. He told Gillette he would
be receiving a letter on Friday and they wouldn’t be assessing the fines until
Monday. He encouraged Gillette to
come in. Stewart told Gillette
things were moving forward. Stewart
said Gillette misrepresented what he felt took place.
Gillette thinks he has been extorted.
Stewart stated that there was an illegal cabin on the property that
someone was living in.
Zachary Vishinoff, Eugene, stated that he liked the letter and asked
the Board if they had any questions.
Spartz said he will give Vishinoff the letter and will send copies to the
city.
Sherry DeSilva, stated she was representing her membership on the
Commission of Children and Families. She
reported on their child care in the court house. She indicated that there is no
funding designated and they need to look for collaborative funding.
She hoped they could extend hours to be open five days per week.
Thomas Brandt, Marcola, stated he found another 22,000 acres
bought by Weyerhaeuser illegally. He
said he was planning to appeal the hearing official decision but the cost of the
fee is $3,490. He commented that
only people with money could appeal. He
said he can’t fight the appeal because of the cost.
Stephen Vorhes, Assistant County Counsel, indicated that Lane Manual
60.860 (2) provides the Director of Public Works or designee the authority to
reduce fees under certain circumstances. He
said that might have been available in this case.
He commented that the difficulty in an appeal situation is there is a
period of time in which the appeal needs to be filed.
He said if the issue of the appeal and waiver is not resolved, then the
time for an appeal might have run and the decision of the County might be final. He didn’t know what approach was taken .
3. CONSENT
CALENDAR
A. Approval of
Minutes:
February 5, 2008,
Work Session, 8:30 a.m.
February 6, 2008,
Regular Meeting, Following HACSA
February 6, 2008,
Regular Meeting, 1:30 p.m.
B. County
Administration
1) ORDER 08-2-20-1/In
the Matter of Moving 0.50 FTE Appropriation Within Fund 124 from the Department
of Human Resources to the Department of County Administration to Provide Staff
Support to the Lane County Commission for the Advancement of Human Rights.
C. County Counsel
1) ORDER 08-2-20-2/In
the Matter of Amending Chapter 2 of Lane Manual to Add Responses and Procedures
Relating to Public Records Requests (LM 2.150, 2.162 and 2.163).
D. Health and Human
Services
1) ORDER 08-2-20-3/In
the Matter of Approving the 2009-11 Lane County Mental Health and Addictions
Implementation Plan.
2) ORDER 08-2-20-4/In
the Matter of Awarding a Contract Amendment to Willamette Family in the Amount
of $884,763 for Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment to Parents Referred from
the Department of Human Services.
E. Public Safety
1) ORDER 08-2-20-5/In
the Matter of Delegating Authority to the County Administrator to Execute
Amendment No. 1 to Intergovernmental Agreement Between the City of Eugene and
Lane County for Adult Work Crew Services.
F. Public Works
1) ORDER 08-2-20-6/In
the Matter of the Alteration of Bernhardt Heights Road, County Road No. 1112
(18-11-15 & 16).
2) ORDER 08-2-20-7/In
the Matter of Amending Chapter 60 of Lane Manual to Adopt Fees Relating to
Special District Boundaries (LM 60.812).
MOTION:
to approve the Consent Calendar.
Fleenor MOVED,
Green SECONDED.
VOTE:
4-0.
4. EMERGENCY
BUSINESS
None.
5. COMMISSIONERS'
REMONSTRANCE
Sorenson said they
are going through the impact of the loss of federal forest funds on counties.
He said what hasn’t been discussed is the impact of the changes in
Oregon’s taxation of private timber lands.
He said they were receiving about $38 million per year from 1997 to 1999
and the revenue to the state could have been shared with the counties.
He said the revenue has now gone down to $100,000. He thought they should try to rebalance the equation where
the State of Oregon has an appropriate level of taxation on private timber
lands. He didn’t think they
should have low timber tax revenues. He
thought the leaders should be concerned about the drop in taxation.
Stewart stated that
a severance tax was eliminated about five years when they noticed the state
taxation dropped. He commented that
people are paying more harvest and revenue tax in place of the severance tax.
6. RESOLUTIONS
a. ORDER 08-2-20-8/In
the Matter of Proclaiming March 2008 as "Developmental Disabilities
Awareness Month" in Lane County.
Stewart read the
resolution into the record.
MOTION:
to approve ORDER 08-2-20-8.
Green MOVED,
Fleenor SECONDED.
VOTE:
4-0.
b. ORDER 08-2-20-9/In
the Matter of Proclaiming February 25 - March 3, 2008 Peace Corps Week.
Stewart read the
resolution into the record.
MOTION:
to approve ORDER 08-2-20-8.
Green MOVED,
Fleenor SECONDED.
VOTE:
4-0.
7. COMMISSIONERS'
BUSINESS
a.
DISCUSSION/Employee Recognition.
Stewart said
employees need a thank you and recognition.
He stated there was no program where they recognize outstanding
employees. He wanted to implement a
formal program where they recognize a couple of employees a month so it is
something ongoing. He indicated
there were different discussions on what they would award employees.
He asked if there was interest from the Board.
Fleenor thought it
would be a good idea and he would promote it.
He stated he would allocate $1,000 out of his personal commissioner
expense to fund the program. He
recommended having a variety of gift cards up to $35 instead of luggage.
Green supported the
recommendation He hoped they
could do it where it doesn’t become too politicized. He didn’t think they
recognized the employees enough for all of the hard work they do. He suggested a countywide newsletter to discuss everything
the County does for its citizens. He
thought they should move ahead.
Sorenson said they
need to back this up so people could see it as a significant award.
He thought compensation, working conditions, flexibility and respect are
factors that make people better employees and this was a way to deal with that.
Stewart stated it
was important for employees to hear that they have done a great job and to
receive recognition from this program. He
noted that time management was not recommended because they use that for the
SAVE award. He thought of a glass
award for an employee and some other type of compensation like gift
certificates.
Sorenson
recommended looking at what other organizations do.
Green commented
that publicizing it was key both internally and externally.
He was concerned that they are becoming an invisible government.
He stated that Lane County delivers critical services and they need to
make sure the employees are valued.
Fleenor recommended
an employee of the month parking spot.
Stewart indicated
that they would move forward with this.
b. Future Agenda
Item
Green brought back
from AOC a chart showing shared services between the county and cities.
He asked the Board if they could have staff compile or do an analysis of
a chart of partnerships with the city and county.
He thought a lot of the time the County is providing the service but the
general public believes it is another agency. He wanted Amber Fossen to work on
the analysis.
Fleenor supported
it. He encouraged that it be put on
the website when the project was complete.
Stewart supported
the project and asked that they use Benton County as a model.
8. COUNTY
ADMINISTRATION
a. Announcements
Spartz reported
that there is a copy of a memo from Mr. Moore at the Oregon Department of Lands
Conservation and Development that was sent to Bob Swank, LCOG.
He said Moore saw the LCOG’s methodology as developing their population
projection as legally correct and appropriate.
He said the County must end up adopting a single population number and a
range of projections is not appropriate under Oregon Rules and Regulations.
He said the County could adopt projections developed by Portland State
University. He indicated that would
give Lane County a safe harbor as there would be no legal recourse against Lane
County for adopting such numbers and if Lane County does it, it could be
expensive.
Sorenson wanted
Kent Howe, Land Management, to talk to the Board about the implications.
He thought they needed another briefing on this matter.
He recommended bringing in someone from Portland State so they could get
the best information.
Stewart recommended
Howe come back to the Board with the requested items in the letter.
Sorenson wanted to
review the memo and have staff write a letter to the Board. He wanted to know if
Portland State could be available.
b. ORDER 08-2-20-10/In
the Matter of Authorizing the Use of $25,000 of Video Lottery Funds to Defray
the Costs of County Permits for Public Benefit Community Facility Projects.
Mike McKenzie-Bahr,
Economic Development, said this has
to do with dealing with permits and requests from community organizations.
He recalled in October the Board directed staff to find funds that might
work for this and in November they budgeted 1,000 from the reserves for a
Mapleton project. He said there was a request to the EDSC that the use of funds
for this purpose would fit the lottery funds under rules of the Video Lottery
Funds: outcomes include community
developments investments. He added
the projects would benefit either tourist based businesses or direct businesses
themselves. He said the EDSC voted
unanimously to recommend to the Board to use $25,000 from the video lottery
funds. He said after this they
would still have about $1 million in video lottery funds.
MOTION:
to approve ORDER 08-2-20-10.
Green MOVED,
Sorenson SECONDED.
Green thought this
was a good idea and there could be a public benefit.
Fleenor asked if
this needed to be voted in each year.
McKenzie Bahr
indicated that this was voted in as a one-time appropriation.
Sorenson was
supportive of the motion. He wanted
to have a revolving loan fund to help people. He added they are going to be in
the position of being asked by
different community proposals for more assistance.
He thought business partners would like this.
McKenzie Bahr said
he is setting up a process.
Wilson said the way
the Board order is written, it is for facility permits, for the use of the
County’s facility. She said those
show up when there is a bridge lighting. She
said that wasn’t a revenue generator but for community good will.
Stewart thought
they took care of facility permits for bridge lighting at a previous meeting.
He said this was for a permit like the Mapleton Docks.
He said it was intended for permits for community benefits.
Wilson said they
were talking about any kind of County permit.
She said there wasn’t clear criteria as to what the funding is to be
used for. She recommended bringing
this back to the next meeting.
Green withdrew his
motion. Sorenson withdrew his
motion.
9. PUBLIC
WORKS
a. ELEVENTH READING
AND DELIBERATION/Ordinance No. PA 1238/In the Matter of Amending the
Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan) to Revise the
Goal 5 Significant Mineral and Aggregate Resources Inventory, Redesignate from
“Agriculture” to “Sand & Gravel,” Rezone from “E30/Exclusive Farm
Use Zone” to “SG/Sand, Gravel & Rock Products Zone,” and Allow Mining
on 72.31 Acres of Land Pursuant to the Goal 5 Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR
660-023); and Adopting Savings and Severability Clauses (File Pa 05-6151; Delta
Property Co.) (NBA & PM 10/18/06, 11/1/06, 12/12/06, 2/14/07 & 3/14/07,
4/18/07, 5/1/07, 5/23/07, 1/16/08, & 2/6/08).
Stephanie Schulz,
Land Management, said this is for a final decision.
Sorenson asked
about the recommendation of the Lane County Planning Commission.
Schulz responded
that the Lane County Planning Commission recommended denial.
She said it was a 5-4 decision being at the level of significance.
MOTION:
to adopt Ordinance No. PA 1238.
Green MOVED,
Fleenor SECONDED.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
3-1. (Sorenson dissenting).
b. REPORT BACK/Biggs Road.
Fleenor reported
that he, Dwyer and staff met with the neighborhood. He said they had a discussion about several aspects of the
issue. He said they broke it up
into the actual bridge design, make up and cost and how the bridge was going to
be paid for. He said they discussed
whether they wanted Option 4, the railroad bridge. He indicated the neighborhood brought in a local contractor
to give an Option 5, to build a concrete bridge using the State of Oregon
leftovers from previous bridges. He
reported that staff agreed to meet with the contractor and representatives of
the neighborhood to discuss the option. He said they considered this to be
brought before the Board if the total construction would be at or below the
$132,000. He added they would
consider a little more because the life expectancy is 20 years greater than the
railroad car. He said they would
recommend to the Board that the citizens of Lane County pay for half of the
bridge and the citizens of the neighborhood pay for the other half. He said they addressed the payment issue and indicated they
would provide them an interest rate based on the CPI index plus two percent.
He added they would provide monthly payments, semi annual payments or a
lien on their property to be paid upon sale of the property, with accumulated
interest. He noted the number of
lots used as the basis for determining the price for plot is six residences.
He added one residence is a hardship case and not a viable lot.
He indicated to the neighborhood that no decisions would be made until
all the questions are fully addressed to the satisfaction of staff and the
County. He thought most people were
satisfied moving forward.
Bill Morgan, Public
Works, indicated that they searched the tax lots and based on the analysis it is
five tax lots for assessments. With
regard to the cost estimate, he said if the County enters into this, it would be
a publicly bid project. He said until they go through the public process, he
recommended a higher cap of $150,000. He
said this is a proposal to split 50-50 with the affected property owners.
He said they would agree to share in the cost of the proposed
improvements up to a cap defined by the Board.
He explained that what makes the costs uncertain is the foundation
design. He said he would come back
with an outline at a 30 percent design level of the expected permits and the
cost and a mini design concept and an order that the affected properties be
assessed for the cost. He said
after that they would go with the process on normal assessments with the
Director’s report back to the Board and notices being mailed out so they have
an opportunity for remonstrance if they see anything within the project that
they don’t agree with. He said
they would bid the project and will get the itemized costs.
He indicated after the work is completed, they will return to the Board
for a certification of the final assessment amounts including property liens.
He said they will have to aggressively pursue the project.
Green was
supportive of the limit up to $150,000.
Morgan said in
Option 4 there are certain costs the County could easily absorb.
10. DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
a. ORDER 08-2-20-11/In
the Matter of Approving the Deadly Physical Force Plan Pursuant to Senate Bill
111.
Doug Harcleroad,
District Attorney, explained that state statute requires a planning
committee and they identify who is supposed to be on it.
He said the Sheriff and District Attorney are the co-chairs to put a plan
together that meet the statute. He
indicated they had a public hearing and only three people showed up.
He said they took their input and modified the plan.
He said this is the finalized plan.
He noted that Florence, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Junction City, Coburg
and Oakridge have already approved the plan. He added the statute requires two-thirds approval of the
jurisdictions that have police forces.
MOTION:
to approve ORDER 08-2-20-11.
Fleenor MOVED,
Green SECONDED.
VOTE:
4-0.
11. CORRESPONDENCE
TO THE BOARD
Sorenson received a copy of a letter sent by Mr. Fulkerson dated February
18. He said they are asking to look
at the recommendation that was made five years ago from the Lane County Animal
Regulation Task Force suggesting that the County institute the standard practice
of dog license information in the property tax mailing. He recommended the
County start using mailings in the property tax statement to include important
mailings. He said they haven’t
been able to connect the work of the assessor’s office with their need to do
the mailings. He added the mailings
might include overnight park stays. He wanted to find out what it would take to
do this. He planned on Assessment
and Taxation getting the full cost recovery for the mailing.
He thought they were missing an opportunity to not have the mailers
included.
Fleenor thought they should dovetail any mailing in house or with
non-profits in the property tax bills.
Sorenson indicated that Anette Spickard, Assessment and Taxation, was
opposed to this as there was additional cost.
He said under no circumstances would they call on A & T to pay for
this. He wanted to get Spickard’s
opinion.
Green was in favor of this.
Stewart wanted to put this on the agenda as a discussion item.
He wanted to know how many quarterly payments are mailed out.
He noted this is not going to renters or people who have dogs. He thought it would be better to send out a countywide mailer
dealing with animal licensing.
Green asked if there was a way to get to the cities and the elected
officials and ask them to partner and use their resources.
He wanted an opportunity to get the word out and help share the costs.
Sorenson requested that they have LCAS, Health and Human Services and the
Assessor at a Board meeting and have the Board give direction that they want
this.
Fleenor said he would be happy to field negative calls from people
regarding the inserts.
Green suggested trying different methods. He said it also takes a letter generated to city councils for
them to tell their citizens how important this is and it needs to be ongoing.
Stewart said this would go to the agenda team to schedule for March 12.
12. COMMISSIONERS'
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Fleenor announced a community dialog scheduled for Junction City tomorrow
with Sheriff Russ Burger.
Green reported that the AOC Legislative Committee met on Monday and
convened as a Special Committee. He
noted an action taken was a position on SB 1087 a competing measure with the
Mannix bill. He thought the County
will have to bear the costs on CCA dollars.
Fleenor announced he would be visiting Maricopa County in March, visiting
the tent city.
Stewart reported that he will be presenting to the Springfield City
Council next week Lane County’s prioritization list and he will inform them of
the ramifications if they adopt the no Secure Rural Schools budget.
He added next Wednesday he will present the information to the Eugene
City Council.
13. EXECUTIVE
SESSION as per ORS 192.660
Per ORS 192.660 (2)(h) for the purpose of consulting with counsel on
litigation.
14. OTHER
BUSINESS
None.
There being no further business, Commissioner Stewart recessed into
Executive Session at 11:15 a.m.
Melissa Zimmer
Recording Secretary