CC Minutes - 06/09/08 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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M I N U T E S Eugene City Council Regular Meeting Council Chamber—Eugene City Hall June 9, 2008 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Mike Clark, Andrea Ortiz, Betty Taylor, Jennifer Solomon, Alan Zelenka, George Poling. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Bonny Bettman, Chris Pryor. Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the regular meeting of the Eugene City Council to order. 1. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Piercy reviewed the rules of the Public Forum. Carol Berg-Caldwell , 2510 Augusta Street, wished to speak about the recently held press conference that sought to “address growing concerns about police/community relations.” She related that the conference had called for more public input to the Mayor, City Council, and the Police Chief regarding the Police Auditor’s office. She said, when asked, Mayor Piercy had reiterated her support for the program. She noted that mayoral candidate Jim Torrey had also indicated his support for the program but had expressed a preference for its administration to be handled by the City Manager’s Office. She noted that her group did not support the latter position. She listed the conference speakers and underscored their feeling that everyone needed to act together to “raise the bar on dialogue on police review.” She stated that as a result of this conference other community groups were planning their own projects to raise that bar. She thanked Mayor Piercy for attending, Mr. Torrey for responding and Councilor Ortiz for her support. Drix , West 14th Avenue, welcomed City Manager Jon Ruiz to Eugene. He reviewed the history of Oregon to the point at which Eugene had become a lumber capitol. He said now the trees were gone the people needed to figure out something else to do. He reminded everyone that Eugene would be seen by the eyes of the world during the Olympic Trials. He suggested that when people see others from out of town they should wave and smile at them and make them feel welcome. He felt that running was a non-violent way to communicate with other countries. Kimberly Gladen , 361 West Broadway, averred that the police union was engaged in “cyber-bullying.” She was offended by the cartoon caricature of Councilor Bettman that its website had featured. She did not believe the cartoon was free speech; she believed it was a cruel attack meant to marginalize an elected official “and the women and liberals” of the community. She declared this to be unethical, immoral, anti- Christian, and behavior unbecoming of a police officer. She opined that an attitude that it was “okay to marginalize women” was the root of the scandal brought about by the two officers who committed criminal MINUTES—Eugene City Council June 9, 2008 Page 1 Regular Meeting