HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/02/1995 Work Session
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City of Springfield
Work Session
MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, OCTOBER 2,1995
The City of Springfield Council met in Work Session at Springfield City Hall, Jesse
Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, October 2, 1995, at
6:05 p.m. with Mayor Morrisette presiding.
ATTENDANCE
Present were Mayor Morrisette and Councilors Beyer, Burge, Dahlquist, Maine and
Shaver. Also present were City Manager Mike Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino
Grimaldi, City Recorder Eileen Stein, Bob McManus Lane County Sheriff and members
of staff.
1. Lane County Law Enforcement Levy
City Manager Mike Kelly introduced Bob McManus, Lane County Sheriff. Sheriff
McManus provided the staff report regarding his proposal to the Lane County Board
of Commissioners. Sheriff McManus provided handouts on the Sheriff's Office
operating levy policy development document, statistics on jail population and matrix
releases, Sherriff's recommended service levels, and tax rate projections.
Sheriff Mc Manus provided an overview of the County's fiscal health and how it
impacts the public safety budget in Lane County. Sheriff Mc Manus discussed the
services provided by the Sheriff's Department and how public safety in the cities is
impacted by the financial stability of the Sheriff's Department. Sheriff McManus
discussed jail populations, bookings and matrix releases.
He indicated the proposal is to take the Sheriff's Department out of the General
Fund completely and fund it with a separate operating levy. It would be a two tier,
three year operating levy. Sheriff McManus explained the different tiers and the
operating levy policy development document. The first tier would be paid for by
people within the urban areas of the county. The second tier involves services which
would be paid for only by people within rural areas of the county.
Sheriff McManus explained the services that would be provided with each tier. He
indicated that tier one would replace 40 Full Time Equivalent emplyees (FTE) that
have been lost over the past few years of County budget reductions. He indicated
the loss of 40 FTE has resulted in the service delays that Springfild Police
Department has discussed with the Council over the past few years.
Sheriff McManus discussed the tax rate projections handout. He indicated that the
figures are partially correct based on information from Bob Duey, and that the
millage levy was not calucted into the rate projection which would add on about 20
cents.
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City of Springfield
Council Work Session - 10/2/95
Page two
Sheriff McManus discussed what costs were incorporated into the Sheriff's
Department budget that result in the tax rate and tax rate projections that would
occur if the levy passed.
Councilor Shaver asked where the new jail inmates are going to go if the levy
passed and the resources are provided. Sheriff McManus explained they could
expand an underutilized pod at the existing jail, open and fully utilize the work camp,
and look at state funding for inmates the county will receive through SB 1145
(inmates that won't be taken into the State prison system.)
Councilor Burge asked how much money in the County General Fund would be
freed up by the levy. Sheriff McManus replied that $10.9 million would be freed up.
County Administrator Bill VanVactor stated according to the County's eight year
financial projections, future General Fund deficits could be eliminated by banking
about $5.4 million immediately for future years. The remaining $5.5 million would be
used to increase human services and District Attorney's Office budgets.
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Councilor Burge asked how the work camp was funded and if it was from a serial
levy why it was now closed. Sheriff McManus stated the money is being used for jail
operations. He commented the Board of Commissioners deliberatly made the
decision to use the money for jail operations rather than the work camp. Mr.
VanVactor commented that the ballot measure for the serial levy allowed for the levy
proceeds to be used for other purposes including jail operations.
Chief DeForrest commented on the numbers of offenders who are being released
as a result of the matrix process. He said more importantly is the increasing number
of people who don't feel safe in the community. He said what is missing is the lack
of an effective sanction, and stated 63 percent of outstanding warrants are those
issued for fail to appear charges.
Councilor Burge asked if there should there be some coordination with the
Community Coordinating Council that is responsible for the implementation of SB
1145. Sheriff McManus stated that the committee is so new and is preoccupied with
getting construction funding that it can not assist at this time, but is an excellent body
for future coordinating and policy development.
Councilor Maine asked what could be expected in terms of jail bed space and
response/release times that benefit Springfield residents. She asked what the
timeline for getting the levy on the ballot is. Sheriff McManus replied a decision
must be made by early December
Councilor Beyer commented that if the levy passes it could hamstring the other
taxing jurisdictions quite a bit.
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City of Springfield
Council Work Session - 10/2/95
Page three
Mr. Van Vactor stated the commissioners, department heads and citizen budget
committee members have been meeting on Monday mornings to discuss the levy
and invted a Springfield representative to attend as well. By consensus, it was
decided that Councilor Maine would attend the meetings and represent Springfield.
2. Basic Services Analysis
This item was postponed due to length of item #1.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Eileen Stein
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Mayor
ATTEST:
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City Recorder