May 13, 1998
REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Following HACSA - Harris Hall Main Floor
Commissioner Steve Cornacchia presided with Commissioners Ellie Dumdi,
Bobby Green, Sr., Peter Sorenson, and Cindy Weeldreyer present. Pro Tem County
Administrator David Garnick, County Counsel Teresa Wilson, and Recording Secretary C.
Daniel Lindstrom were also present.
1. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA
Commissioner Cornacchia determined that no adjustments were required to the agenda.
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Margaret Waite, 39452 Culp Creek Road, Culp Creek, stated that she had a concern
regarding Order 98-5-13-10 to be considered as part of the Consent Calendar of the
meeting. She said she believed the property was used by the public to access the nearby
river and did not want to eliminate such a possibility. She requested that action on the
matter be postponed until she had an opportunity to investigate the situation.
Commissioner Cornacchia stated that he believed the property was not currently
dedicated as a public road. He said the item would be removed from the Consent Calendar.
He requested that Ms. Waite contact Land Management Division personnel and return to the
meeting.
3. COMMISSIONERS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Held later in the meeting.
4. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
a. ORDER 98-5-13-1/In the Matter of Appointing 5 Members to the Lane County
Human Rights and Affirmative Action Advisory Committee.
Diversity Analyst Hector Rios-Zavala stated that approval of the order would provide a
full membership for the Human Rights and Affirmative Action Advisory Committee.
Commissioner Cornacchia noted that the committee had recommended that an exception be
made to established policy to allow reappointment of Lynn Burdett to a third term. He said
he agreed with the recommendation.
MOTION: to appoint the following persons to terms expiring as noted below:
Jan Harada Term Expires 6/15/00
Elizabeth Mares Term Expires 6/15/00
Michael Henry Warren Sr. Term Expires 6/01/01
Fil Soriano Term Expires 6/01/01
Lynn Burditt Term Expires 6/01/01
Commissioner Dumdi MOVED, Commissioner Green SECONDED.
VOTE: 5-0.
5. COMMISSIONERS BUSINESS
Held later in the meeting.
6. EXECUTIVE SESSION
None.
7. COUNTY ADMINISTRATION
a. Announcements
None.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Approval of Minutes
B. Health and Human Services
1) RESOLUTION AND ORDER 98-5-13-5/In the Matter of Appropriating an Additional
$18,529 of Revenues and Expenditures in Fund 86 for Drug Court Services in the Department
of Health and Human Services.
2) RESOLUTION AND ORDER 98-5-13-6/In the Matter of Awarding the New
Opportunities Family Ally and Respite Coordination Contract for the Period 7/1/98-6/30/99
to Oregon Family Support Network; and to Delegate Authority to the County Administrator to
Sign the Contract.
3) RESOLUTION AND ORDER 98-5-13-7/In the Matter of Delegating Authority to the
County Administrator to Sign a Grant Application for Submission to the Federal Office of
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in an Amount Not to Exceed $100,000.
4) RESOLUTION AND ORDER 98-5-13-8/In the Matter of Awarding the New
Opportunities Mobile Crisis Services Contract for the Period 7/1/98-6/30/99 to White Bird
Clinic; and Delegate Authority to the County Administrator to Sign the Contract.
C. Management Services
1) ORDER 98-5-13-9/In the Matter of Approving and Ratifying a Collective
Bargaining Agreement With the Lane County Peace Officers' Association, Inc.
2) ORDER 98-5-13-10/In the Matter of Authorizing the Sale of Surplus County
Owned Real Property to Ronald F. Baldwin (Map #21-01-35-40-03700, Adjacent to 39881 Brice
Creek Road, Culp Creek).
3) ORDER 98-5-13-11/In the Matter of Authorizing the County Administrator to
Execute an Option to Purchase Agreement with Michael N. Warshafsky and John R. Carroll for
the Sale of County Owned Real Property Identified as Map No. 17-04-26-21-00800 (Adjacent
to 595 Hwy 99N, Eugene)
D. Public Works
1) ORDER 98-5-13-12/In the Matter of Approving a List of Public Improvement
Projects for the Lane County FY 98-99 Budget.
2) ORDER 98-5-13-13/In the Matter of Entering into a Revenue Agreement with
Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) for Chipsealing Sections of State Highways 126
and 58.
Commissioner Cornacchia requested that Order 98-5-13-10 be removed from the
Consent Calendar for consideration on the return of Ms. Waite.
MOTION: to approve the May 13, 1998, Consent Calendar, except for Order 98-5-13-10.
Commissioner Dumdi MOVED, Commissioner Green SECONDED.
VOTE: 5-0.
3. COMMISSIONERS' ANNOUNCEMENTS
Commissioner Weeldreyer reported on her attendance of the Association of Oregon
Counties Legislative Committee meeting. She said funds had been appropriated for telephone
equipment which would enable high quality conference calls in the future. She described
support for the "Smart Oregon" program she had developed with a representative
of the Economic Development Department and how she had worked with Lane Community College
to add public access to the Internet through the program. She said the Realignment
Committee of the association had also met and worked on its program for better
partnerships between local governments.
Commissioner Dumdi announced that she would serve as the Grand Marshal of the Junction
City Pet Parade on May 16.
Commissioner Green distributed copies of a flyer advertising the telecast of a program
entitled "Parents: The First Line of Defense in Prevention." He noted that it
would focus on youth substance abuse prevention. He said he hoped to be able to work with
Metrovision to make the program available on the area public access channel.
Commissioner Green reported on lunch meetings recently held with the Oregon Legislature
delegation from Lane County.
4. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
a. ORDER 98-5-13-10/In the Matter of Authorizing the Sale of Surplus County
Owned Real Property to Ronald F. Baldwin (Map #21-01-35-40-03700, Adjacent to 39881 Brice
Creek Road, Culp Creek).
Ms. Waite re-joined the meeting and reported that Land Management Division personnel
had informed her that the property proposed for sale in Order 98-5-13-10 was in
close proximity to the river. She said she continued to be concerned about the ability of
the public to access the river through the property.
Ms. Waite stated that she had been informed that property owners in the area of the
proposed sale had been notified, but that those with a contract for sale had not. She said
that many occupants of area property had contracts for sale and were not listed as owners.
Commissioner Cornacchia stated that action on the order would be postponed for
two-weeks and that Jeff Turk of the Land Management Division would be invited to discuss
issues related to the property in question when it was again considered.
Commissioner Cornacchia declared the meeting to be in recess until 10:40 a.m.
5. COMMISSIONERS' BUSINESS
a. RESOLUTION AND ORDER 98-5-13-2/In the Matter of Supporting the Selection by
the Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Eugene of Option 1 for Collection of Tax Increment
Revenues for the Central Eugene Project Urban Renewal District.
Co-Acting City of Eugene Planning and Development Department Director Lew Bowers
described how passage of Ballot Measure 50 had affected Urban Renewal Districts in the
State of Oregon. He explained that decisions about whether to terminate the districts,
continue them as they are currently configured, or continue them with enhanced options
needed to be made by city councils by June 1, 1998.
Mr. Bowers reviewed the traditional method of determining and collecting urban renewal
district taxes, practices as established by Ballot Measure 5, and the methods permitted by
statutes established by Ballot Measure 50. He explained that if an urban renewal district
chose one of several enhanced continuation options available ("Grandfathered
Option"), it was required to "consult and confer" and seek a resolution
regarding the choice from the county in which it existed.
Mr. Bowers reported that the Eugene City Council, acting as its Urban Renewal Agency,
had voted to accept the recommendation of its Riverfront Research Park Commission to
continue the Riverfront District with a reduced level of property taxes; and had made a
tentative decision to take steps to "grandfather" the Downtown District and use
the tax as collateral for issuing $18 million in General Obligation Bonds to construct a
new library. He said it appeared that the decision would also include proposing a Local
Option Levy for approximately $20 million to provide Operation and Maintenance revenue for
a library system.
Commissioner Green stated that he was concerned the Urban Renewal Option chosen and
Local Option Levy would raise the tax base for residents of the City very close to the $10
limit permitted by Ballot Measure 5.
Eugene City Councilor Scott Meisner stated that his council recognized the potential
limiting effect on Lane County and was committed to proposing as small a Local Option Levy
as possible. He said the Eugene Library Foundation was committed raising resources needed
for construction of a library and satellite operations beyond what would be available
through actions in connection with the Downtown Urban Renewal District. He also said that
the Council Committee on Finance was discussing potential alternative revenue sources
which could reduce or eliminate reliance on a Local Option Levy for library operating
revenue.
Commissioner Green said he believed full communication with the Board of Commissioners
and Lane County staff would be essential in the process.
In response to a question from Commissioner Sorenson, Acting Eugene City Manager Jim
Johnson explained that the chief executive officers of Eugene, Springfield, and Lane
County were cooperatively preparing a proposal for a Local Option Levy to be reviewed by
groups participating in the Public Safety Coordinating Council (PSCC). He said the
proposal would be build on programs recommended by the PSCC for inclusion in such a levy.
He indicated that the PSCC proposal and Eugene Local Option Levy proposal could either or
both be submitted to voters in either September or November elections.
In response to a question from Commissioner Cornacchia, Mr. Johnson stated that the
Eugene City Council would not consider proposing a Local Option Levy unless it agreed to
create bonded indebtedness through the Downtown Urban Renewal District. He explained that
an accurately determined level of revenue needed to operate an expanded library system in
Eugene would not be known for several weeks.
Commissioner Dumdi said she believed the proposals being discussed would reduce the tax
base revenue available to Lane County and produce none in response. She said such an
arrangement appeared to be unfair to the County because a PSCC public safety levy proposed
by the County would benefit all residents. She said she believed completion of plans for a
"universal library card" system in the County could encourage voters to approve
options related to the Eugene Library.
Mr. Johnson stated that a new library would make the participation of Eugene in a
universal library card system possible.
Mr. Cornacchia asked what the benefits would accrue to Lane County from the urban
renewal actions under consideration by the Eugene City Council. Mr. Johnson replied that
the only fiscal benefit which Lane County could receive from an urban renewal decision was
if one or both of the current districts was terminated, but that he did not believe such
an option was likely. He noted that the reduced level of tax to be gathered by the
Riverfront Urban Renewal District would partially revert to Lane County. He also pointed
out that the level of urban renewal tax under consideration for the Downtown Urban Renewal
District was not a change from that currently collected.
In response to a question from Commissioner Weeldreyer, Mr. Johnson explained that the
universal library card proposal under development would make all libraries in the County
available to all users
MOTION: To approve Order 98-5-15-2 and support the preliminary decision
made by the Eugene City Council to choose Option #1 for collection of urban renewal taxes
in the Central Eugene Urban Renewal District.
Commissioner Sorenson MOVED, Commissioner Green SECONDED.
VOTE: 5-0
b. RESOLUTION AND ORDER 98-5-13-3/In the Matter of Supporting the Veneta's Urban
Renewal Agency's Selection of Option 1 for Collection of Tax Increment Revenues and the
Recommended Maximum Indebtedness Amount; and Approving the Substantial Amendment to
Veneta's Urban Renewal Plan.
Veneta City Attorney Ken Jones stated that the Veneta City Council had tentatively
chosen Option #1 for collection of urban renewal taxes in its urban renewal district. He
said it was not intended that any increase in tax would be levied, but that it was the
council's desire to maintain the option. He described the projects of the urban renewal
district as improvement of the existing sewer system, creation of a new water treatment
and storage facility, and reduce dept on the City Hall.
MOTION: To approve Order 98-5-15-3 and support the preliminary decision
made by the Veneta City Council to choose Option #1 for collection of urban renewal taxes
in the Veneta Urban Renewal District.
Commissioner Green MOVED, Commissioner Dumdi SECONDED.
VOTE: 5-0
c. RESOLUTION AND ORDER 98-5-13-4/In the Matter of Supporting the Cottage Grove
Urban Renewal Agency's Selection of Option 1 for Collection of Tax Increment Revenues and
the Recommended Maximum Indebtedness Amount.
Cottage Grove City Manager Richard Meyers stated that the Cottage Grove City Council
had tentatively chosen Option #1 for collection of urban renewal taxes in its urban
renewal district. He said it was intended that the choice would allow completion of
capacity building projects and accelerated debt elimination for the Industrial Park
project.
Commissioner Cornacchia observed that Cottage Grove was an urban renewal success story
and that he was impressed with its work to address employment diversity issues.
MOTION: To approve Order 98-5-13-4 and support the preliminary decision
made by the Cottage Grove City Council to choose Option #1 for collection of urban renewal
taxes in the Cottage Grove Urban Renewal District.
Commissioner Green MOVED, Commissioner Dumdi SECONDED.
VOTE: 5-0
9. EMERGENCY BUSINESS
None.
Commissioner Cornacchia adjourned the meeting at 11:45 a.m. until the Afternoon Session
at 1:00 p.m.
C. Daniel Lindstrom, Recording Secretary
