Forum Lane

 
Lane County’s Public Works Department staff asked me to answer a series of questions for inclusion an upcoming newsletter.  Here are the questions and my responses:

ON BEING A COMMISSIONER…

1.     What do you believe are critical abilities or skillsets ideal for a County Commissioner?

Experience with a broad range of public service issues.  Ability to make critical decisions in a dynamic budget and service environment.  An understanding that as information and situations change, continual review of opinions and actions are necessary.

2.     Why did you want to be a Commissioner for Lane County?

 
My experience in management of highly successful business and nonprofit organizations along with my elective service on the School Board, Eugene City Council and in the Oregon State Legislature place me in a unique position to help lead the County through its most complex and ground-breaking years.

ON PAT…

3.     4-6 words that best describe you?

 
I am a servant-leader.

 
4.     What is something people are surprised to learn about you?

 
I’ll give you a couple of choices:
1.      I am a former infantry commander
2.     I run 6-10 miles daily
3.     I find relaxation in woodworking

 
5.     What is your favorite Lane County park and what activities do you like to do there?

Orchard Point (close to my home)

Baker Bay (more distant but clearer water)

Boating and swimming and relaxing with family and friends

6.    A little about you? (1-2 short paragraphs, possibly on where have you lived; family; what kinds of work you’ve done, etc.)
I was born in Sheffield, England and moved to Tillamook County at age 11. After graduation from Cheesemaker High School (Tillamook, that is) I moved to Eugene to attend the University of Oregon.  I met my wife Debi within fifteen minutes of arriving on campus.  We have three remarkable children:  Patrick, a graduate student in the Master of Philosophy program at University of Arizona; Evan, a PhD candidate in Political Theory and adjunct professor at the University of Virginia and Hayley, former Oregon State student and a barista having the time of her life living in downtown San Francisco.

I have spent my professional years as an executive manager at Jerry’s Home Improvement Center (nearly 20 years sales, merchandise, human resource and general operations management); General Manager of Gray’s Garden Centers; Executive Director of FOOD for Lane County and as an associate of the Lindholm Company.  I have served on the Board of Directors of Oregon Food Bank and SELCO.
My elective service began with the Bethel School Board, extended through the Eugene City Council (total of 10 years over a 20-year span), the Oregon House of Representatives and continues with the Lane County Board of County Commissioners.

ON PUBLIC WORKS…

7.     What have you observed in Public Works that makes you glad to be on the Board of Commissioners?
I am pleased to be a part of the broad array of services, activities and access that are offered by the County through the Public Works department.

ON BUDGET GOALS & MORALE…

 
8.     What is your assessment of Public Works’ performance and what, if anything, do you think we should do to address the department’s budget issues?

The County and its residents are blessed to have a professional and proficient staff that works wonders with the diminished resources available through a constrained budget.

The only suggestion I have is to continue to make the public aware of how much of their every day quality of life is affected and touched by the activities of the Public Works Department.  I look forward to being a part of the effort to elevate people’s understanding and support of the work the staff does through the services they provide.

 
9.     What are your ideas to fund Lane County Public Works Department dwindling resources?

 
Once again, elevating public understanding of the importance and critical nature of the services provided.
Funding all County activities is dependent upon a robust and expanding economy.  Helping create prosperity at all levels by increasing the number and quality of jobs available will gradually help to solidify and bring back service levels.

 
10.  What are your 5 most important priorities for lane county government?

 
1. Public safety through adequate funding of the Sheriff, Youth Services, District Attorney departments.
2.     Strengthening the local economy by adding employment opportunities, using our natural resources and strengthening existing businesses while attracting new diversified employers.
3.     Working ever more closely with other jurisdictions in maximizing assets and resources.
4.     Maintaining the quality of living (the air we breathe, the water we drink and the sights we see) in Lane County by managing transportation and land use issues in a manner that ensures carefully managed growth without detracting from our natural environment.
5.     Making the working environment for the men and women who are employed by Lane County a desired destination for a career.
11.  What is your perception of the current morale of an average Lane County employee?

Most of my contact to date has been in the administrative offices and I perceive a sense of relief in having more contentious times behind us.  County wide I see a talented staff that is poised and ready to use its extensive ability and desire to excel to move into a more rewarding and productive future.  Consolidation of departments has caused, perhaps, some pockets of resistance, but overall as a sense of accomplishment and success is manifested morale is on the rise.

VIEW POINTS…

12.  What is you viewpoint on the proposed levy?

While it does not provide the ongoing stability we need to effectively deliver a well-balanced set of public safety services it addresses the most dangerously unstable element relating to release of stabbers and robbers and rapists.  I will speak publicly often and in depth in order to answer the public’s questions and build their trust in the use of the levy dollars.  I will also continue to work on a longer-term long-range set of solutions to addressing prevention, justice and youth issues.

13.  How do you feel about a sales tax in Oregon?

 
When I was in the Legislature I served on a joint Senate and House Committee which studied elements of tax reform in Oregon.  We looked at the unstable nature of Oregon’s tax system which relies heavily on income tax supplemented by property taxes and fees.  It was confirmed to be a system that will be rocked by instability of revenue as long as it exists in its current form.

Any consideration of a sales tax in Oregon would have to reassure citizens that:
1.     It would not be a net increase in tax liability for Oregon families (by reducing other existing and even more regressive taxes and fees)
2.     That out-of-state visitors would contribute to Oregon’s revenue much the same as Oregonians contribute to other states when we visit there.
3.     That it would be written into the Oregon Constitution and could not be increased without a vote of the people.

The Register-Guard printed my essay today, headlined:  ”Combine government efforts to gain efficiency.” (link here)

The text of the guest viewpoint follows:

Combine government efforts to gain efficiency

BY PAT FARR

Published: February 3, 2013 12:00AM, Today
The cities of Eugene and Springfield are in the process of merging their fire departments. Many of the same benefits obtained from the fire merger could be pursued by consolidating other local government efforts.
Reasons for the fire merger abound, including:
1) Eliminating boundaries that could hinder fire and medical emergency responses.
2) Standardizing equipment used in the field, allowing different crews to hook up to each other’s hardware as well as keeping a single inventory of replacement and backup parts.
3) Streamlining the command structure to reduce administrative overhead.
4) Ensuring the availability of life-saving services with faster response times to more addresses.
The bottom line is this: The people of Eugene and Springfield will be safer, while money spent on fire and EMT services is optimized.
Compare that approach with this recent development: The city of Eugene is embarking on creating a committee to study homelessness. The group is slated to be a standing committee of the City Council. This committee is overdue and will essentially be a clearinghouse for needed services.
Its aim will be to study homelessness in Eugene by:
1) Examining local ordinances that affect homeless individuals and families and comparing Eugene with other similar cities.
2) Keeping abreast of emerging issues.
3) Considering specific requests and recommendations from the public.
4) Providing the community an education and outreach component regarding homelessness and homeless services.
The standing committee will consist of seven to nine members who will represent public safety officials, service provider organizations, the faith community, business interests, the city of Eugene Human Rights Commission and others. It is well-intentioned work, and it will be good.
It will be good, that is, if it is coordinated with a similar committee that is being formed by Lane County. The Lane County committee is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
HUD provides Lane County with federal money for housing assistance, among other things, and in order to grant certain parts of the funding, HUD is requiring Lane County to establish a new council on homelessness. This council will have an almost identical composition and set of goals.
Both groups are in the conceptual stage. If the two committees end up duplicating efforts — or, worse, competing against each other for time and money — valuable human service assets will be wasted and the end result is likely to be compromised.
An opportunity exists for the two committees to either combine with a single charge, or to coordinate their efforts in order to complement the other committee’s work.
Additional examples of duplicated committee work exist throughout the region. In some cases, nonprofit organizations are working on a particular issue while at the same time a well-meaning government jurisdiction identifies the same concern and forms a task force, effectively duplicating the work — and perhaps doubling the cost. At other times committees are formed to study a condition that has been previously studied, needlessly replicating the work and expense. Locally we have a number of established intergovernmental commissions that are intended to consolidate and coordinate efforts. But government has not always been expert in allowing them to do so.
For instance, there is an intergovernmental Human Services Commission, which consists of elected officials from Lane County, Eugene and Springfield. One of its main functions is to effectively distribute available funds to the most effective service providers. But it is not always unilaterally supported by the represented government bodies. For instance, City Council members are often reminded that the HSC is the best way to address local human service needs.
Other commissions and committees consisting of multi-jurisdictional staff members and elected officials can be used effectively to optimize the precious, ever-diminishing resources that are available. These committees address housing needs, economic development, public safety and more. These committees are often duplicated elsewhere locally.
Additionally, the Lane Council of Governments provides services to all cities and school boards in the county. Under the leadership of its recently-appointed director, Brenda Wilson, LCOG has a chance to reach new heights in efficient service and resource use.
As Lane County and its cities enter a new year with a new mix of councilors and board members, we should also enter a new era of coordination of services. That approach will allow us to identify ways to increase efficiency and provide higher levels of service without needless duplicated spending.
Pat Farr, a former Eugene city councilor, represents north Eugene on the Lane County Board of Commissioners.

The Lane County Public Service Building, site of Harris Hall. The City of Eugene is currently leasing space in the building while City Hall is reconstructed.

On January 30, after six hours of public testimony and debate, the Board of County Commissioners instructed Liane Richardson, County Administrator, to provide draft language for a ballot measure to fund public safety.  The vote was 5-0.

Debate centered around the amount of the levy, which would be assessed as property taxes, the services to be funded should the levy pass and accountability of spending to assure the public that the money would be spent as they intended.

Draft language was provided on Friday February 1:

Caption:

For  Jail and Critical Youth Services, a five-year levy

Question:

Shall Lane County restore jail beds and critical youth treatment services by levying $0.55 per $1000 assessed valuation, commencing  2013.  This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent?

 
Summary:

Lane County proposes a five-year spending plan that would allow Sheriff Tom Turner to utilize tax revenue and open, at a minimum, 255 existing jail beds within the County Jail.  The revenue would further be dedicated to youth services for juvenile offenders, including counseling, secure treatment and detention services.  On an annual basis, the Sheriff will produce an audited report to ensure accountability.  Beginning 2013, the Lane County property tax rate will temporarily increase by $.55 per $1000 assessed valuation;  thus for the median home in Lane County, valued at $151,000, the annual tax payment to Lane County would increase by $83.  After five years, this tax rate automatically sunsets, unless re-approved by Lane County voters.  This revenue will effectively halt the revolving door at the jail for violent offenders and enable the Sheriff to hold those criminals for their entire sentences.  It will ensure that more of our community’s youth offenders receive treatment services.  The funds must be placed into a restricted special revenue fund specifically earmarked for jail and youth services.  The funds must be placed into a restricted special revenue fund specifically earmarked for jail and youth services.  The estimated tax which would be raised by this levy are 2013/14-$14,973,375; 2014/15-$15,272,843; 2015/16-$15,578,299; 2016/17-$15,889,865 and 2017/18 $16,207,663 for a total of $77,922,045.

There will be a public hearing to listen to interested parties’ opinions of the consideration Tuesday evening, February 5 beginning at 5:30 at Harris Hall in the Lane County Public Service Building.

The Board of Commissioners will then consider adopting, amending or rejecting the proposal.

The following is information from Lane County’s Communication Manager:

In order to involve the community in decision-making process; Lane County Commissioners will hold two public hearings on funding the county’s public safety structure.

Data from a recent public safety funding survey will be presented and community members will have an opportunity to give feedback.
“The board is aggressively looking at both short term and long term solutions and are taking this step by step,” said Board of Commissioners Chair Sid Leiken. “What it comes down to is what the citizens want, that’s why we’ve just done a comprehensive survey and are holding these hearings.”
The first public hearing begins at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29 in Harris Hall. The session will begin with a presentation to the Board of Commissioners followed by community input.  A second hearing is set for 9 a.m. the following morning 9 a.m., Jan. 30 at the same location. Following the public hearings on Wednesday, Jan 30, the Board will deliberate on the matter and may take action.

Crime is on the rise in Lane County while in virtually every other corner of Oregon, it’s on the decline.  Despite this rise, jail bed capacity in Lane County is less than 20% of the state average and an even smaller fraction of the national average.

The Board of Commissioners is considering whether a temporary, dedicated, property tax levy is the first step to addressing the immediate crisis, while Lane County continues to work on a long-term plan for a sustainable public safety structure.

Speakers will be asked to limit their public testimony to 3 minutes or less per person. Community members who wish to convey more information can submit their testimony to the Board in writing and then briefly summarize their views before commissioners. Those who attend as part of an organized group should consider appointing a spokesperson to address the Board on their behalf.
Those who are unable to attend either public hearing can send their written comments to the Lane County Board of Commissioners, 125 E. Eighth Ave., Eugene, 97401 or via email to publiccomment@co.lane.or.us. The Board would like to receive all comments before or during the hearings.

The cities of Eugene and Springfield are in the process of merging their fire departments into a single department.  (click here to see details.)

Reasons for the merger abound:

1.  Eliminating boundaries that could be a hindrance to overlapping fire and medical emergency response.

2.  Standardizing equipment used in the field in order to allow different crews to hook up to each other’s hardware as well as to keep a single inventory of replacement and backup parts.

3.  Streamlining the command structure to reduce administrative overhead.

4.  Making more life-saving services available to more addresses.

The list goes on.  Bottom line:  people of Eugene and Springfield are safer while the money spent on fire and EMT services is optimized.

Compare that with a recent development.  The city of Eugene is embarking on creating a committee on homelessness that is slated to be a standing committee of the City Council.  This committee is overdue and will essentially be a clearing house for needed services.  It will consist of 7-9 members who will represent different segments of the community such as:  public safety; service providers; faith community; business; Human Rights Commission, etc.  It will be good.

It will be good, that is, if it is coordinated with a similar committee that is being formed by Lane County.  A committee required by the  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (which provides Lane County with federal money for housing assistance among other things) which will have an almost identical composition.

If the two committees end up duplicating efforts–or worse, competing against each other for available resources–valuable human service dollars will be wasted and the end result is likely to be compromised.

An opportunity exists for the two committees to either combine with a single charge (set of goals) or to coordinate their efforts in order to compliment the other committee’s work.

Other examples of duplicated committee work exist throughout Lane County.  Non-profit organizations often are working on a particular issue while at the same time a well-meaning  government jurisdiction identifies the same issue and forms a new task force, effectively duplicating the work.  And perhaps doubling the cost.  At other times committees are formed to study a condition that has been previously studied, needlessly replicating the work and expense.

Locally we have established intergovernmental commissions that are intended to consolidate and coordinate efforts.  But we have not always been expert in allowing them to do so.

For instance, we have an intergovernmental Human Services Commission, which consists of elected officials from Lane County, Eugene and Springfield.  Its goal is to effectively distribute available funds to the most effective service providers.  But it is not always unilaterally supported by the represented government bodies.

We have other commissions and committees that consist of multi-jurisdictional elected officials and staff that can be used more effectively to optimize the precious and diminishing resources available.

We also have Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) which provides services to all cities and school boards in the county.  Under the new leadership of its director, Brenda Wilson, LCOG can reach new heights in efficient service.

As we enter the new year, if we also enter a new era of coordination of services, we can find ways to be more efficient and provide higher levels of service without requiring duplicated spending.

Now, that would be new.

I have been asked to participate in the State of the City program on January 9, 2013.  I would like to thank Mayor Piercy for asking me to attend.

As I leave the Eugene City Council, after a total of ten years, I am forced to reflect on the time I spent here.

I won my first election when Ruth Bascom was Mayor and Mike Gleason was the long-time City Manager.Through the years I served with three mayors: Bascom, Jim Torrey and Kitty Piercy.Through those years I worked with no less than eight City Managers and acting managers: Gleason, Linda Norris, Vicki Elmer, Jim Carlson, Jim Johnson, Dennis Taylor and Angel Jones (while I was in the Legislature) and Jon Ruiz.

The list of Councilors I served with is extensive and impressive: Jim Torrey, Tim Laue, Laurie Swanson-Gribskow, Shawn Boles, Barbara Keller, Nancy Nathanson, Kevin Hornbuckle, Bobby Lee, Scott Meisner, David Kelly, Ken Tolenaar, Gary Rayor, Gary Pape, Betty Taylor, Bonny Bettman, Andrea Ortiz, Chris Pryor, George Brown, George Poling, Mike Clark, Alan Zelenka, Claire Syrett.

Much happened to change the face of Eugene during my years of service with these 22 Councilors, including:

…We reopened Charnelton, Agate and Willamette Streets and Broadway;

…We tore down the old pedestrian mall and jack-hammered the Broadway/Willamette fountain;

…We wrote a groundbreaking Telecommunication Ordinance;

…We built a remarkable downtown Transit Station;

…We built a new Fire Station 2 and regional training center;

…We built a new Downtown Fire Station;

…We remodeled the Bethel, Sheldon and Churchill fire stations;

…We changed the WWII Memorial on Skinner Butte from a cross to a US Flag;

…We enacted changes mandated by Measure 5;

…We enacted changes in service mandated by Measures 47 and 50;

…We rode the dot-com bubble of prosperity in the ’90′s;

…We endured the budget cuts and service realignments resulting from the bursting bubble;

…We put a new runway at the airport;

…We rebuilt downtown Eugene adding the Bennett Building, an LCC Campus and facilitated renovations to 5th Street Public Market and Center Court.

…We tore down Sears, endured years of a hole in the ground and watched Lane Community College build a new campus;

…We built and rebuilt no less than eight parks in Bethel;

…We built overpasses and extended Beltline Road toward West 11th;

…We formed the Council Committee on Homelessness and Youth and redefined services to homeless families and singles;

…We added hundreds of low-income housing units;

…We conducted Envision Eugene, a vision for the land-use future of our city;

…We closed the old City Hall;

This is but a fraction of the happenings and events.  Forgive me if I missed your favorite.

I will now move on to serve on the Lane County Board of County Commissioners.  The challenges are great, ranging from natural resource use to budget management, public safety, youth and mental health services, transportation, land use and on and on and on.

My dedication to service as a Eugene City Councilor will be continued on the Lane County Board of Commissioners.

I look forward to years of increased coordination and cooperation between the cities and the County.

KLCC’s Rachael McDonald interviewed then Lane County Commissioner-elect Pat Farr on January 3, 2013.  The interview was aired on KLCC, 89.7 FM on January 4.  Topics included budget concerns, acrimony among past County Commissions, depth of Farr’s government experience, human services and public safety.  Other topics were timber harvests and use of other natural resources.

Pat Farr is sworn in on January 7, 2013

Click here to hear the interview.

Please join us for the State of the County address which features two of our very own forum lane contributors taking their oaths of office.  Commissioner-elect Pat Farr and Lane County Sheriff Tom Turner will be sworn in during the State of the County address.

Any discussion of public safety and funding for public safety in Lane County has to include, if not start with, services for youth.

The John Serbu Youth Campus at 2727 Martin Luther King Boulevard has as its centerpiece the building that many call  the Juvenile Detention Center.  The actual name for the building is the Juvenile Justice Center.

Lane County Juvenile Justice Center at the John Serbu Youth Campus.

If you were to tour the building you’d find a state of the art facility.  It contains all of the space and components necessary for operating a fully functioning and effective Youth Center.  But you’d also find that more than two thirds of the building is empty.  Empty offices, empty detention “pods,” empty classrooms, an empty (usually) gymnasium, empty hallways…

Not all the building is vacant.  Two court rooms on the second floor are regularly used, and the existing Youth Services administration and staff are present.  Notably, the commercial-style commissary is used to provide catered food for public events–the staff works with kids who not only provide excellent food but are learning all aspects of the food service industry.

Lane County voters passed a bond to build the facility which was opened in 2000.  Money to actually operate the center has gradually gone away as O&C timber harvest dollars disappeared, leaving a beautiful, almost empty building.  While the recently consolidated professional staff is doing miracles with the available budget resources, visiting the campus only serves to fuel dreams of how kids can be helped to avoid deeper involvement in the adult justice system.  Keeping kids out of trouble and jail.

While nobody is predicting any form of sudden influx of money to operate the building, the opportunity to use the facility creatively to help juvenile service may be real.

For instance, leasing some of the office space either to other government agencies or even possibly to private businesses could infuse some dollars directly into Youth Services.  One wing I toured had a dozen or more empty, clean and serviceable offices–complete with unused conference rooms and staff facilities–that are begging occupancy.

Another example is the “Salmon Pod,” named for the color of the walls.

The "Salmon Pod" at the Lane County Juvenile Justice Center

The pod has 32 beds, each in lockable rooms.  It also has a classroom, an exercise yard and never fully-used day use areas.  The commissary is nearby, down the hall, and separate entry and exit are built in.  It has secure access to the court rooms on the second floor.  While it most likely will never be used to house juvenile offenders, just touring it evokes thoughts of how it could be used to generate income for the department.  And make the streets safer.

The stated vision of the department rings true:  “The purpose of the department of Youth Services is to protect the public by reducing delinquency and improving juveniles’ ability to live productively in our community.”

Finding ways to use the facility effectively and efficiently will not only serve to use the bond money spent on the building but could also provide an influx of additional money to help the department better serve its vision.

News You Can Use, reprinted from a post by Sgt. Carrie Carver, Lane County Sheriff”s Department

When You See Lights, Pull Over Please!

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind community members to yield to emergency vehicles, including police and fire units.  Lane County continues to be one of the top ranking counties in the state for traffic fatalities. We can help emergency responders get to where they are going by maintaining awareness of our surroundings and pulling over in a safe manner to allow emergency vehicles to pass.

When you see an emergency vehicle approaching:

•         Look and signal before you yield to an emergency vehicle.

•         Pull over to the right hand lane or shoulder and STOP!  Never yield to the left.

•         Do not stop in an intersection or lane of travel.

•         Remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed. In many situations, multiple emergency vehicles are responding.  After the first emergency vehicle has passed, look for additional vehicles before re-entering the roadway.

(Running red lights and ignoring emergency vehicles seems to be epidemic).

I join the Lane County Sheriff’s Office in wishing you a safe New Year!