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Mr. Pryor suggested the key issue was what was really constituted representation. He agreed one had to <br />"show up for the game to play," but on the other hand, if the rules were too difficult and the game hard to <br />get to, one could not show up. He thought the City made it hard for residents to get on boards and <br />commission. He had applied early in his career, had to go through many hoops, and had not been <br />successful. <br />Mr. Pryor said that people had different definitions of what constituted diversity and representation. He <br />said he did not know the right definition but suggested it was important to find something representative <br />of the community. He said many did not participate because they lost confidence that they would be <br />listened to. He said representation was a key factor but it should be meaningful and accessible and should <br />produce an outcome that people believed in. <br />Mr. Clark said many of his neighbors and friends, when solicited to become involved in City issues, said <br />"people like me are not listened to." He suggested that divide could be addressed through geographic <br />diversity. He agreed that the City's boards and commissions should be as representative as possible and <br />the council should work hard to accomplish that. However, Mr. Clark pointed to the recent Budget <br />Committee appointment process, where two qualified candidates, one from Ward 8 and one from Ward 4, <br />had been under consideration, and the council chose to appoint the representative from Ward 4. <br />Mr. Clark was also concerned about non - residents who participated on City boards and commissions. He <br />asked to what degree that was permissible. He asked if Oakridge and Springfield residents should <br />participate in Eugene issues, and called for more discussion on that topic. <br />Ms. Ortiz determined from Ms. Forrest that the recruitment materials would also be in Spanish. <br />Speaking to Mr. Pryor's remarks, Ms. Taylor said that an advisory group was just that; the council should <br />consider the advice given, but it did not have to take it. She said the council should be able to articulate <br />why it was not accepting the group's recommendation. Ms. Taylor also believed the council needed to <br />hear minority reports from its advisory groups and suggested that usually the opinions of the minority <br />were often ignored. <br />Ms. Osborn recalled the three outcomes related to the topic adopted by the council in June 2010. The first <br />called for increased diversity on boards and commissions over time. Staff was responsible for providing <br />that applicant pool. Ms. Osborn invited input on additional outreach approaches. The second outcome <br />was that the recruitment process would be fair, accessible, transparent, and civil, and Ms. Osborn said <br />staff was committed to supporting the council in reaching that outcome. The third outcome regarded <br />commission, committees, and board member development. Ms. Osborn noted the staff efforts to support <br />that outcome, which included the Neighborhood Summit, best practices training, and outreach to potential <br />boards and commissions members. <br />Ms. Taylor said she did not know the City had nonresidents on its boards and commissions. <br />Mr. Pryor agreed with Ms. Taylor that the City's committees were advisory in nature, but their input <br />should be taken seriously. Speaking to the issue of representation, Mr. Pryor believed that applicants <br />would always be self - selected and the council needed to keep that in mind when it considered how to <br />maintain diversity on its advisory groups. He said that he would like to see some new participants and <br />hoped that outreach could help with that goal. <br />MINUTES— Eugene City Council October 20, 2010 Page 3 <br />Work Session <br />