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Numerous other projects are underway, each with the potential to strengthen downtown's role <br />as the center of the community and the region. On the western edge of downtown, construction <br />is underway on the WestTown on 8th affordable housing development, which will provide 102 <br />rental units affordable to those earning less than 60% of Eugene's median income and nine <br />market-rate units. Discussions with Eugene Water & Electric Board about new uses for <br />waterfront property are ongoing, and transportation improvements to connect the emerging <br />Courthouse District with downtown are under construction. The city. is actively engaged in <br />planning for a new City Hall. The community as a whole is growing more focused on the goals <br />of sustainability and livability, and our thoughtful citizenry remains active, involved and <br />committed to revitalizing the heart of our community. <br />No additional funds are included in the FY08 budget to support the Downtown Initiative at this <br />time. Once the council approves specific development proposals, a work plan and budget will <br />be established to carry out the .City's commitment... <br />Police Initiative <br />Increase police staffing with a special focus on supporting community policing and reducing <br />property crime. <br />The FY07 budget included partial-year funding for an additional increment of the police <br />staffing initiative, which included five officers, two detectives, and two support positions. The <br />FY08 budget provides full-year funding for these positions which were added mid-year during <br />FY07. The FY07 budget also funded the second of three phases of the police accountability <br />initiative, including a lieutenant to command the Office of Professional Standards and a support <br />position. <br />The FY08 budget adds a sergeant position for police policy development and completes the <br />final phase of this three-year police accountability initiative, programmed in response to the <br />recommendations of the ICMA-PEKE report to improve police accountability. <br />No additional funds. are available at this time to -fund further efforts to meet the anticipated <br />staffing recommendations of the Magellan Study and upcoming police staffing plan. An <br />additional $195,000 is allocated in FY08 to add a sergeant position to develop and maintain the <br />police policy management system and complete the third and final year of the police <br />accountability initiative. The request includes $57,590 in one-time start-up costs. <br />Transportation Initiative <br />Develop mechanisms to adequately fund our transportation system for cars, trucks, bikes and <br />pedestrians including maintenance and preservation and capital re-construction. <br />Work on finding locally controlled and sustainable funding sources for our transportation <br />system was begun nearly a decade ago, when the value of state gas tax revenues and resources <br />from the federal timber payments revenue-sharing agreement with Lane County began to <br />decline. Today, the pavement preservation backlog exceeds $100 million and the operations <br />and maintenance budget has a $2 million shortfall. In 2002, the council approved a 3-cent-per- <br />gallon business license tax on motor vehicle fuel dealers. A 2-cent increase to that tax was <br />approved in 2005 with a sunset date of February 2008. In January 2007, the council formed a <br />subcommittee to study transportation options and agreed to look at a repeal of the sunset date. <br />8 <br />