Author: admin

City Hall move cost even more

Posted on by admin Posted in Letter Tagged ,

In the May 1, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Ruth Duemler writes in a letter:

Thank you, Scott Bartlett, for discovering the $1.3 million annual cost of renting City Hall but that leaves out the cost of the move and remodeling plus transit and inconvenience of separate city facilities (“Gravel pit points to yes on 20-283”, April 27). We could also add the 10-year rental agreement locking in no city hall.

We need an honest and dedicated observer and that is exactly what 20-283 gives us.

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Wasted money suggests ‘Enough!’

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In the April 30, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Jayme Vasconcellos writes in a letter:

Here’s why you should vote yes on Ballot Measure 20-283:

City Hall’s original estimate: $11.5 million. Then, without notifying the council, City Manager Jon Ruiz blew it up to $18.8 million — and then to $27.85 million. Six million spent; nothing built. …

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City-hired auditor defeats purpose

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In the April 30, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Munir Katul writes in a letter:

As the first chair of the Eugene Police Commission and of the Police Civilian Review Board, I had the opportunity to interact with members of the Eugene city government and specifically the City Council members and the city manager’s office.

When the police auditor’s position was created, it was supposed to be “independent” while still reporting to the City Council.

Unfortunately, it did not turn out that way. …

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‘Elected’ not good use of money

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In the April 30, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene City Councilor for Ward 8 Chris Pryor writes in a letter:

Am I afraid of an elected auditor? Not really. It won’t affect me as an elected official.

The elected auditor has no authority over the Eugene City Council.

Actually, the auditor doesn’t really have the authority to make any changes.

Read the measure. …

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Choose ‘elected,’ not ‘appointed’

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In the April 30, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Christine L. Sundt writes in a letter:

If Measure 20-283 passes, Eugene’s voters would elect their auditor rather than having one appointed by the City Council. That means we, the people, decide who is best qualified (experience, residency, and success) from among candidates. …

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Summary of recommendations

Posted on by admin Posted in Editorial Tagged ,

In the April 30, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, the editorial board writes:

Measure 20-283: No. The measure would create an elected city auditor’s office — a potentially fruitful idea, but the proposal goes too far in terms of expense and not far enough in terms of accountability,

Measure 20-287: No. The Eugene City Council’s alternative to Measure 20-283 would create an appointed auditor’s position. The council muddied the waters by placing this proposal on the ballot.

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Appointed auditor position saves money and gives direct oversight

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In the April 29, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, Joy Marshall and Laurie Trieger, who are Eugene activists in the fields of health care, workers’ rights, public education and good government, write in a guest viewpoint:

On May 15, Eugene voters will decide whether to establish a city “performance auditor.” A performance auditor would review, well, performance; these audits, if done well, could help the city figure out ways to improve and streamline services. Here’s why we care about it. …

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Elected auditor brings transparency and accountability

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In the April 29, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, former City Councilors Paul Nicholson and George Brown, with the assistance of neighborhood leader David Monk and former City Councilor Bonny Bettman McCornack, write in a guest viewpoint:

It’s been 16 years since a Eugene city auditor was first proposed. Now it’s time to make it happen.

Ballot Measure 20-283 asks voters to “establish an office of an elected City Auditor to independently audit city operations and activities.” This measure authorizes the independent elected auditor’s office to conduct financial, compliance, performance, special studies or any other type of audit of all aspects of city government operations and expenditures. …

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Gravel pit points to yes on 20-283

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In the April 27, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Scott Bartlett writes in a letter:

Measure 20-283, for an elected city auditor, offers Eugeneans our loudest message to City Hall. Oops — well, we used to have a City Hall before it was replaced by an empty crushed concrete pit, fanning city offices throughout town at $1.3 million taxpayer funded rents per year. …

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