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<br />e <br /> <br />Mr. Holmer expressed concern with the recent proposal to eliminate City <br />Council representation on the EAF. He pointed out that the Hult Center <br />receives substantial assistance from the EAF through endowment funds, and <br />urged the council not to sever this beneficial tie. Ms. Ehrman agreed that <br />continued representation is essential to the understanding of fund <br />allocation, and volunteered to serve as this representative. <br /> <br />F. Committee Restructure <br /> <br />Mr. Rutan indicated that in a recent memo to the council he expressed concern <br />that councilors are required to spend too much of their time serving on <br />various committees, and suggested that councilors might be able to use their <br />time more effectively if the number of committee assignments were reduced. <br />He added that because the council undertakes so many diverse activities, it <br />does not spend enough time working toward achieving its most important <br />goals, such as downtown development. Mr. Rutan recommended that each <br />councilor be appointed to a single focused area of management for which he or <br />she would serve as the council representative and make decisions based on <br />understood council direction. <br /> <br />Mr. Rutan noted that he recently had the opportunity to receive assistance <br />with his council assignments from a University of Oregon student, and <br />suggested that this type of program might be formalized and provided to all <br />councilors to assist in this effort. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Mr. Holmer agreed with Mr. Rutan that careful review should be given to the <br />entire committee structure, and said that the council should also give <br />consideration to serving on committees which would best remain as citizen <br />committees. He noted that both students and council could benefit from an <br />internship program, and said that the City should take some responsibility <br />for exposing interested students to the workings of City government. <br /> <br />Ms. Bascom also offered her support to an internship program. She pointed <br />out that while investing in a student intern might not save council members <br />time, the important benefit it provides to the student should be taken into <br />account. <br /> <br />Mr. Green agreed that an internship program with the university could be an <br />important asset to the council. <br /> <br />Ms. Schue emphasized the importance of the committee assignments in exposing <br />the council to a wide variety of information. Ms. Ehrman concurred with Ms. <br />Schue on the important educational value of committee assignments, and said <br />that it also allows councilors to communicate and interact with community <br />members. She suggested that the committee restructure issue might be the <br />sole topic of discussion at the next quarterly process session. <br /> <br />Mr. Boles described the nature of assigning multiple councilors to committees <br />as providing a necessary balance of influence on issues. Mr. Bennett agreed <br />with Mr. Boles that multiple councilor participation allows for different <br />perspectives on committees and provides an opportunity for councilors to <br />lobby their individual viewpoints as well. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council <br />Quarterly Process Session <br /> <br />February 26, 1990 <br /> <br />Page 3 <br />