Commissioner Peter Sorenson presided with Commissioners Bill Dwyer,
Bobby Green, Sr., Anna Morrison and Cindy Weeldreyer present. County Administrator Bill
Van Vactor, County Counsel Teresa Wilson and Recording Secretary Melissa Zimmer were also
present.
1. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA
None.
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Wayne Phelps, 95010 Marcola Rd., Marcola, requested the commissioners stop use of the Rogers’ track and to enforce the ordinance that a race track (not a track used for commercial purposes) not be used on private property. He noted that because it was built without approval, Rogers is in violation of the ordinance. He requested the track be dismantled. He noted if the Board refuses to take action on the matter, they will seek court litigation against Rogers and the Lane County Board of Commissioners. He stated they wanted an answer from the Board within three weeks before they proceed with litigation.
Cherie Goodwin, 40069 Log Creek Road, passed around an aerial photo. She said she didn’t want to go to civil trial. She thanked the Board for their help to the community.
Ed Cunliffe, 39843 Howard Road, noted that part of his property is in the aerial photograph. He said he lives in close proximity and echoed the previous remarks. He said there is an echo at the end of the valley and the bikes can be heard from four miles away. He stated he couldn’t enjoy a good quality of life with the noise.
Weeldreyer noted she met with 25 people in Goodwin’s home and the same amount at the Rogers’ home. She said she wasn’t taking the side of a minority. She said it was an issue of countywide significance and the Board had taken a position that they will enforce the noise ordinance. She noted that Rogers said he would not ride his bike until it could be monitored. She said if he cannot comply with the noise ordinance, he will not use his track. She asked the people who testified to be patient and the situation will be resolved.
Dwyer disagreed. He said the Board needed to be more forceful. He said the track needs to come down since Rogers’ property was not zoned for motorcycles.
Sorenson said he was optimistic that something positive would come out of it.
Green said he spoke with Goodwin and he suggested monitoring the situation. He noted if compliance is not met that government will take a heavy-handed approach. He wanted to see neighborhood conversation to solve their problem.
3. RESOLUTIONS
a. RESOLUTION Proclaiming the Month of April Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Karen Van Tassel, Children and Families, thanked the Board for the resolution. She added it is their wish to have the needs of the children and families in Lane County recognized.
MOTION:
to approve the RESOLUTION.
Dwyer MOVED, Green SECONDED.
Sorenson read the resolution into the record.
VOTE: 5-0.
b. RESOLUTION
AND ORDER 00-4-5-2 Proclaiming the Week of April 3-9, 2000 as
Public Health Week.
Sorenson read the resolution into the record.
Karen Gillette, Health and Human Services, stated they were acknowledging
staff’s work. She passed out buttons for
the commissioners.
MOTION: to approve ORDER 00-4-5-2.
Green MOVED, Dwyer SECONDED.
VOTE: 5-0.
c. RESOLUTION
00-4-5-3 In Support of a Natural Gas Pipeline Extension from Coos Bay, Oregon to
Florence, Oregon.
Sorenson read the resolution into the record.
Morrison urged that this go forward, as the coastal area is limited to resources on
infrastructure needs. She noted this would be
an advantage for economic development in the future.
She added it would give them an opportunity to expand.
Morrison MOVED, Weeldreyer SECONDED.
Dwyer stated he was in support as long as Lane County didn’t have to give
money to provide the private sector for gas.
Sorenson stated he would support the resolution.
VOTE: 5-0.
4. EXECUTIVE SESSION as per ORS 192.660
To take place after the meeting.
5. COMMISSIONERS' BUSINESS
a. ORDER
00-4-5-4 Accepting Jones & Roth, Certified Public Accountants,
Independent Auditors' Report on the County's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the
Year Ended June 30, 1999 and Associated Management Letter.
Dean Stephens, Internal Auditor, reported this was a completion of the 1998/99
Audit of Lane County’s financial statements.
Mike Lewis, Jones & Roth, reported they met on two occasions with the Finance
and Audit Committee to review the financial statements in detail. He added they had a follow-up meeting with
personnel to come to an agreement about implementing the comments.
Lewis reviewed the financial statements.
Green asked what they would suggest that Lane County do differently.
Lewis responded there were different systems operating in different departments and
he wanted them coordinated better. He added that the old software didn’t allow some
procedures to be done. He noted the fact that
the software change will facilitate some the things.
He reported they also have identified the federal finance systems and grant
programs.
Stephens noted he would be looking
into more grants as part of his work plan for next year.
He added the Finance and Audit Committee approved it.
Morrison stated that one of her primary concerns is how federal monies are
administered and how monitoring would be taking place so Lane County would be in
compliance.
Forest Arnold, Jones and Roth, replied there were fourteen compliance areas, and monitoring of subrecipient funds was one of them.
Sorenson asked what Lane County could do to be brought into balance.
Arnold responded the system had certain systems and projected benefits to be paid
out. He noted actuaries would project the total costs even though some are not funded at
the present time. He added that PERS also had
affected the system.
Morrison asked what they thought about consolidation of accounting systems because
Lane County is so decentralized.
Arnold recommended training within each accounting department, getting consistent information and procedures to
the Finance Department.
MOTION: to accept Jones & Roth’s
independent auditor’s report.
Dwyer MOVED, Morrison SECONDED.
VOTE: 5-0.
b. UPDATE Facilities
Capital Improvement Projects (no material).
David Suchart, Management Services, reported on the Juvenile Justice Center. He said they postponed the demolition of the
detention part of the old Skipworth building. He
reported the bus barn sprinkler system had been installed. He added there will be
discussion of expansion of the day care center. He noted they have been working on the
electrical distribution in the courthouse and RIS. He
said there are three roofs that he is currently working on: the courthouse, adult
corrections and the Alma work camp.
Weeldreyer asked about the OSU extension building roof.
Suchart responded there will be a discussion with Mike Gleason, Fair Grounds. He said there is a boiler and a roof that need
replacing.
Suchart reported that Health and Human Services had moved and Children and Families
will move downstairs. He said he would then
make changes with Development Disabilities and possible changes in County Administration. He noted he is getting estimates for the
Courthouse Plaza incorporated with the Wayne Morse foundation with a grant with Oregon
Community and Economic Development Department.
Sorenson asked what was happening with the Public Health building site.
Suchart said he made a request from the State of Oregon about the state office
building. He said if he gets a bid that is accepted, he would move most of the functions
from the Public Health into a remodeled, rebuilt state office building. He added if there is no movement on the
state’s part, there are over $700,000 in repairs to the annex, just to make it
habitable.
Weeldreyer said if they are able to use the state office building, if the annex
property could be an option to erect a parking garage to gain revenue.
Suchart responded it was an option.
Van Vactor said after they take care of Mental Health (which is the highest
priority) public health would be the next priority.
Jackie Mikalonis, Public Works, reported that request for proposals were sent out
to lists of vendor on the week of March 20. She
noted that it took longer to put the RFP together. She
passed out an adjustment plan (copy in file.) She
said they are hoping to have someone in the cafeteria by June.
6. COUNTY ADMINISTRATION
a. Announcements
Van Vactor passed out a copy of Senate Bill 1608.
He reported it will go to the floor of the Senate.
He noted the changes made were closer to the House Bill.
b. ORAL DISCUSSION County Administrator Task Force on Lottery Funds.
Van Vactor reported there is a significant amount of unexpended lottery funds. He added because of the recent resignation of
Stephanie Schulz, it was time to review the economic development program as it relates to
the lottery funds and to develop strategies. He
said an option could be to create a Board of County Commissioner Committee with citizens
in a formal meeting process. He added another
alternative would be for the County Administrator to appoint a task force that could be
more informal.
Weeldreyer stated she was very interested in participating.
Dwyer concurred with Weeldreyer.
Tanya Heaton, Budget Analyst, reported there is approximately $800,000 per year in
video lottery funds. She noted the
limitations of use are for economic development and education.
Sorenson stated the commissioners were interested in having the task force move
forward with the use of lottery funds.
Weeldreyer said that she was specifically interested in being involved with the
committee that formulates a recommendation to the Board.
Green commented that everyone has an influence in where the money goes. He wanted an open process, not from the
organization viewpoint but how these funds could best benefit the public in a long-range
plan.
Sorenson reported that a task force would be created with Weeldreyer, Dwyer,
Morrison and the public.
Weeldreyer reported that there were several members of the Rural Community
Improvement Council that had leadership roles. She
noted the council had not met for a long time, waiting for the strategic plan for the
future use of lottery monies. She said they expressed interest in being involved. She said she wanted to poll the members to see who
was still interested.
Sorenson stated that Van Vactor would come back to the Board with a recommendation
to form a lottery funds task force, involving the public, the Board and members of RCIC.
Weeldreyer asked how the County was going to project the use of lottery dollars for
the next fiscal year.
Heaton reported the budget was given out as a status quo budget with little growth
and the departments that had video lottery funds in the past, have it at the same level.
Sorenson suggested continuing the present instruction and not changing anything.
Green supported Sorenson’s suggestion
7. PUBLIC WORKS
a. DISCUSSION Car
Rental Tax Alternatives.
Bob Keefer, Parks, explained they are determining if changes should be made in the
car rental tax formula. He noted the car
rental tax was originally created in 1985 for parks and it had increased from a base
amount of five percent to ten percent and it had been for improvement of park funds. He added it helped them get out of the general
fund and provided 40% of the general operating budget.
He said that 86% of the tax collected goes to parks and the other 14% goes to the
general fund. He reported that the tax over
time has increased seven percent every year until the last few years, where it stabilized
or came down.
Keefer reported the way the taxes are coming in this fiscal year, he anticipated an
$80,000 shortfall in the parks operating budget this year.
He noted that will increase to $110,000 next fiscal year based on the Parks 2005
projections. He stated in 95/96 the Board
changed the exemptions that were in the ordinance for vehicles that were less than $20 per
day. He said the rationale was people renting
cars because they had to, not because they wanted to.
He noted that in 95/96, it was changed to be vehicles for replacement. He said it had impacted the gross rent that Lane
County was receiving. He explained from 1995
to 1999, the gross rents had increased from $7 million to $11.3 million, or a 60%
increase. He added that exemptions had grown
from $1 million to $3.3 million in 1999 and part of the exemption is the temporary vehicle
part.
Dwyer said there is no sales tax in Oregon and the trouble with exemptions is there
is no way of knowing if the exemption is legitimate.
He said he liked Alternative 1.
Keefer noted that whatever is done, there needs to be an audit process to
understand why there are so many exemptions. He
discussed the different alternatives. He
suggested restricting exemptions to people who do not receive a reimbursement from an
insurance or third party. He added they have
to look at the van exemption and could receive dollars from that. He noted the only alternative that would reduce
money would be Alternative 3. He recommended
Alternative 1, to proceed with an ordinance change and
they would notify the car rental agencies of the proposed change and will set a date to do that.
MOTION: to start the process on Alternative 1.
Dwyer MOVED, Morrison SECONDED.
