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<br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />within the council agenda packet is sufficient for making an informed <br />decision. If an individual councilor needs additional information, it is his <br />or her responsibility to initiate contact with staff or another councilor in <br />advance to answer any questions. <br /> <br />Mr. Nicholson pointed out that there may be times when new councilors do not <br />agree on the basic policy assumptions that guided the decision. He asked the <br />council to be tolerant of a need to discuss these policies which might <br />possibly lead the council to reject what was once status quo. <br /> <br />B. Philosophical Discussions <br /> <br />Ms. Bascom commented that sometimes the council gets bogged down in a <br />wide-ranging philosophical discussion when it needs to focus on a specific <br />goal or action. <br /> <br />In order to help the council stay on target on an issue, council requested <br />that staff provide clear direction to council about what type of decision is <br />being requested. <br /> <br />The council discussed this issue and felt that it might be beneficial to hold <br />the philosophical discussion at a different time than the action decision. <br />It reached consensus that a philosophical discussion must have the support of <br />at least two councilors prior to bringing it to the floor at a future <br />meeting. <br /> <br />Mr. MacDonald reiterated a point made earlier by Mr. Nicholson that <br />councilors need to be aware that the will of the council may have changed <br />with three new councilors. The basic philosophical assumptions that the <br />council may have relied on to make decisions may no longer be true and may <br />require review. While it is important that the council move toward action on <br />issues, it is important that the council continue to have these philosophical <br />discussions. <br /> <br />C. Personalizing <br /> <br />This issue was raised in response to recent incidences of personalizing which <br />have taken place during council meetings. Ms. Ehrman emphasized the need to <br />avoid making public those comments or criticisms which could better be made <br />in private. <br /> <br />The council discussed the different positions and personal styles that exist <br />among the council. It agreed that councilors should avoid being overly <br />sensitive to comments which were not intended to harm. <br /> <br />Mr. Boles pointed out that when councilors are making a case for an issue, it <br />is not helpful for councilors to site a large, unnamed constituency that <br />supports a particular position. Councilors agreed to make an effort to speak <br />for themselves on issues and to avoid disguising statements as questions. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council <br />Quarterly Process Session <br /> <br />January 31, 1991 <br /> <br />Page 2 <br />