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MINUTES <br /> <br /> Eugene City Council <br /> Work Session <br /> McNutt Room--Eugene City Hall <br /> <br /> October 22, 2001 <br /> 5:30 p.m. <br /> <br />COUNCILORS PRESENT: Betty Taylor, David Kelly, Nancy Nathanson, Pat Fart, Scott <br /> Meisner, Gary Pap~, Gary Rayor, Bonny Bettman. <br /> <br />CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION <br /> <br />Mayor James D. Torrey called the meeting to order. <br /> <br />A. Items from the Mayor, Council, and City Manager <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman had an issue regarding Metro TV as the voice of local government, and its recent <br />broadcast of a League of Women Voters panel on the West Eugene Parkway sponsored by the <br />City Club. The issue arose for her because she did not think there had been balanced <br />representation regarding the issue, calling into question whether the broadcast was neutral. Ms. <br />Bettman believed that there should be criteria for neutrality. Mr. Johnson advised Ms. Bettman to <br />direct her concerns to the Lane Council of Governments Board, which had oversight over Metro <br />TV. The City had a contract for services (broadcasting City Council and Budget Committee <br />meetings). Ms. Bettman noted that the previous week the council had allocated $20,000 for <br />education and outreach on the issue of transportation funding, and she wanted criteria regarding <br />how that information was developed and disseminated and assurances that the information was <br />neutral. <br /> <br />Mr. Rayor referred to the consultant's report for improving pedestrian crossings on Willamette <br />Street, finished the previous summer, and asked that a copy be placed in the Council Office. He <br />encouraged other councilors to read the report, saying he was very excited about the possibility of <br />improving Willamette Street pedestrian and bicycle traffic along that part of Willamette Street, and <br />enhancing opportunities for businesses through improvements to the street scape. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson reported that she had recently attended a meeting at Petersen Barn and was <br />pleased that, in spite of huge budget cuts in recreation, that community center, a permanent City <br />asset, had been able to continue operating for community purposes. She thanked staff. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor said she would like to see Amazon Community Center restored to the point where it <br />offered classes for people of all ages. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor reported on a constituent question she had received regarding Permit and Information <br />Center hours. She encouraged staff to make the center accessible to nonprofessionals who were <br />doing remodeling, such as during the noon hour. <br /> <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 22, 2001 Page 1 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />