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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1995 <br />and functions; (4) annexation by cities; (5) merger between a city and <br />county to become a consolidated county; (6) merger between a city and <br />county to become a consolidated city; (7) the creation of twin cities; <br />(8) the establishment of a "tier city"; (9) the reversion from city to <br />town status; and (10) the surrender of a city charter to become an <br />urban service district within a county. <br /> <br />Dr. Lacy cited the following issues which must be addressed in making <br />any change in the forms and structures of city/county relationships: <br />fiscal impact, cost/benefit, ensuring that any change is "win/win" <br />(advantageous to both parties), the four "E's"--efficiency, economy, <br />effectiveness and equity, pride of the citizenry, fear of change, and <br />the attachment which citizens feel toward their locality (referred to <br />by Dr. Lacy as "spatial attachment"). Key concepts discussed by Dr. <br />Lacy with regard to forms and structures included cost escalation, <br />economies of scale, containing the tax burden, calculating the net <br />fiscal impact, the achievement of a "critical mass" in a service area, <br />the efficiency and quality of service delivery and the quality of life. <br />Several cost control strategies were discussed by Dr. Lacy including <br />cost reduction, cost maintenance, cost avoidance, and cost containment. <br /> <br />The next item on the agenda was to be a status report on the process <br />for possible merger of the City and County Social Services Departments. <br />However, County Administrator Robert P. Lawler, Jr. stated that a <br />report would not be presented at this meeting, as time had not <br />permitted a cost analysis of the merger to be completed prior to the <br />meeting. The Board and Council noted that this matter would be <br />discussed at their next joint meeting. <br /> <br /> <br />