CC Minutes - 10/14/98 Work Session

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ask for the approval of the council to use the funds as an incentive for commercial/industrial landowners to provide sites for the remaining homeless campers. The City would act as a partner in this attempt to solve the problem. The money would be spent for rental fees for portable toilet. Mr. Johnson noted that if the council had no concerns, the request could be processed as part of the supplemental budget. Mr. Laue asked for staff to look at traffic problems in the area of the new post office at 33rd Avenue and Willamette Street. He commented on the Sheldon Fire Station opening, and noted that when he came to the council four years ago there was no fire service in that area. Ms. Taylor voiced a concern about having council meetings at sites other than City Hall due to safety, access, and transportation issues. She objected to the length of the breaks in the proposed 1999 council calendar, and said the schedule should be decided by the new council. Ms. Taylor asked the council to take a stand on the building on forest lands issue being heard by the Lane County Board of Commissioners, or for the members to attend as individuals. The next point she made was that Farmers Market needed more space, which the council should approve since the market contributed to bringing people downtown. She said speeding had been an ongoing problem in her neighborhood. Lastly, she had a concern about recreation opportunities and wanted to discuss a business income tax or a tax on high-income individuals to cover those costs other than using property taxes. Mr. Lee congratulated Alan Pittman of The Eugene Weekly on his new baby girl. Mr. Fart responded to an editorial in The Register-Guard entitled "Council Turns its Back on Trees." He stressed that the statement was incorrect and that the council had not and would not do so. He said the aerial view of Eugene showed that there were many trees in Eugene, and the councilors' individual records on maintaining the urban forest was very clear. Mr. Johnson distributed the City Voter's Pamphlet. He asked for the council's direction regarding Ms. Taylor's concern about outside meeting locations. He said the intent had been to hold the Budget Committee meeting in the community, particularly in northwest Eugene. Mr. Fart said there had been prior council discussions about having council meetings in the community, and he understood that the logistics needed to be a consideration. The Petersen Barn location has a bus stop in the parking lot, and he felt meetings should be held in the community. Ms. Nathanson said it was beneficial to have occasional meetings in the community or in the alternative to schedule public information forums to communicate with and get input from citizens. She said it was important that the councilors be aware of what was going on in the entire community. Mr. Meisner agreed that it was valuable to be in the community occasionally, but items with a citywide focus like the budget hearings should be held at City Hall, and topics that were more neighborhood-specific could be in the respective area. He agreed that it was important for the councilors to be in all areas of the city, but citizens should know where to find the council. He stressed that all meetings should be broadcast. In response to Mr. Lee's questions, Mr. Johnson said the Petersen Barn meeting had been advertised, and he was not aware of any complaints. Ms. Taylor said some of her constituents had objected. Mr. Johnson suggested making this a process issue for the new city council, and continue meeting at City Hall. Ms. Taylor said she would like to schedule informational meetings with residents for exchanges of ideas. MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 14, 1998 Page 2 11:30 a.m.