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Home My WebLink About08/09/2000 Regular ... . . . MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2000. The Springfield City Council met in Regular Session at Springfield City Hall, City Council Meeting Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, on Wednesday August 9,2000 at 4:32 p.m., with Council President Ballew presiding. ATTENDANCE: Present were Councilors Ballew, Fitch, Hatfield, Leiken, Lundberg, and Simmons. Mayor Weathers was absent (excused). Also present were City Manager Michael Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Attorney Joe Leahy, Senior Management Analyst Rosie Pryor, City Recorder Kim Krebs, Finance Director Bob Duey, and members of the staff. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council President Ballew. BUSINESS FROM THE AUDIENCE There was none. BUSINESS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL There was none. BUSINESS FROM THE CITY MANAGER I. Ballot Title Issue. City Manager Mike Kelly was present for the staff report. He said a question has been raised as to whether the Ballot Title approved by council at it's July 24,2000 meeting should have as part of the explanatory statement "A yes vote on this measure is a vote to increase taxes." He asked City Attorney Joe Leahy to provide council with some background information on this issue. City Attorney Joe Leahy said prior to council's approval and passage of the Ballot Title on July 24th, he and Finance Director Bob Duey reviewed Measure 93 language and conferred with bond counsel attorneys in Portland, in an attempt to determine whether this additional language should be included. The opinion of bond counsel then was the measure was not certified, and was not retroactive, therefore, they felt it was not needed. Based on this information, staff presented the existing Ballot Title on July 24th, which was approved. Mr. Leahy further explained that subsequent to the passage, he instructed Kim Krebs, City Recorder to forward a copy of the approved Resolution and Ballot Title to Annette Newingham, Lane County Election's Clerk for a final review prior to filing. Mr. Leahy was then contacted by Teresa Wilson, Lane County Counsel who informed him that our Ballot Title needed the Measure 93 language included. Subsequent to receiving a response from bond counsel, and after receiving the letter from Harvey Rogers, which is Attachment B-3 in the packet, staff felt it appropriate to return to council for further direction. City of Springfield Regular Meeting - August 9,2000 Page 2 . Mr. Leahy said staff has now prepared two additional drafts, which are attached to the Council Briefing Memorandum. He said both ofthese new options are considered conservative in nature, in that they attempt to respond to the potential problems that could arise if Measure 93 passes in November. He said since Measure 93 does not specify where the language should be inserted, the only place there is room for this language is the summary because of the limited number requirements in each section of the Ballot Title. Mr. Leahy responded to questions-of council regarding the different language options. After discussion, consensus of council was to modify the language as listed below: BALLOT TITLE Caption: Springfield Five-Year Local Option Tax for General Operating Purposes Question: Shall city of Springfield impose $1.33 per $1,000 of assessed value for five years for general operating purposes beginning 2001/027 This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent. Summary: A yes vote on this measure is a vote to increase taxes. The purpose of the levy is to authorize a five-year local option tax for general operating purposes to pay for additional city services. . The funds generated would pay for the following personnel and services for public safety. It would add: eight additional police officers, increasing those available per shift from four to five; six additional police support positions for call takers and dispatcher; and six community service officers for the community policing program. It would add twelve firefighter/paramedic positions for a three-person crew to continuously staff apparatus at Station 3. It would increase library hours and allow for seven-day service, provide additional programming for children and teens, and add to the library book collection. It would also stabilize funding for certain existing services. The estimated taxes which would be raised by this levy are 2001/02- $2.78 million; 2002/03-$2.90 million; 2003/04-$3.02 million; 2004/05-$3.14 million; and 2005/06-$3.26 million, for a total of $15.1 million. . IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR HATFIELD, WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR FITCH TO MODIFY THE BALLOT TITLE FOR THE FIVE YEAR LOCAL OPTION TAX FOR GENERAL OPERATING PURPOSES TO CONFORM WITH OPTION 2, WHICH IS ATTACHMENT 3, WITH THE CHANGE OF ADDING THE PHRASE TO "PAY FOR ADDITIONAL CITY SERVICES AFTER THE SECOND SENTENCE IN THE SUMMARY SO IT WILL READ "THE PURPOSE OF THE LEVY IS TO AUTHORIZE A FIVE YEAR LOCAL OPTION TAX FOR GENERAL OPERATING PURPOSES TO PAY FOR ADDITIONAL CITY SERVICES". THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND o AGAINST. City of Springfield Regular Meeting - August 9,2000 Page 3 . Mr. Leahy clarified the purp9se of this modification and amendment is solely for the purposes of complying with Ballot Measure 93. Council President Anne Ballew introduced Steve Dial and Jason Breaux who were present in the audience to earn credit for their Boy Scout merit badges. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m. Minutes Recorder - Kim Krebs .~~ Anne Ballew, Council President .~. Kim Krebs, City Recor . .