CCMinutes - 10/11/04 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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C. Adoption of Resolution 4813 Authorizing Lane County to Assess Benefiting Properties Under the Jurisdiction of the City for Improvements to North Game Farm Road between Coburg Road and 965 Feet Southeast of Old Coburg Road Councilor Bettman, seconded by Councilor Poling, moved approval of the Consent Calendar. Councilor Kelly noted he had submitted corrections to the minutes electronically. Mayor Torrey deemed them, without objection, approved. Roll call vote; the Consent Calendar was unanimously approved, 8:0. 4. ACTION: Request for Contingency Funds for Police Audit Councilor Bettman, seconded by Councilor Poling, moved to authorize the expenditure of $108,000 for the purpose of hiring an outside professional organization to conduct an external review of relevant police department policies and procedures. City Manager Taylor explained that he and staff had brought together members of the International City/County Management Association and the Police Executive Research Forum to conduct a police inquiry, a comprehensive and independent review that would be forwarded with recommendations to the Police Chief, elected officials, the community, and himself after the first of the coming year. Councilor Taylor regretted that the City did not have a performance auditor that regularly audited all of the City's departments. In this way, she opined, the City would not have to spend this extra money. City Manager Taylor responded that the particular subject matter expertise of these organizations as well as the background and experience of the people who would be conducting these interviews would provide specific information that would help improve training procedures for officers. Councilor Pap~ pointed out that the council had just approved a contingency request from the Police Commission for $70,000. He asked if the commission could be talked into letting this work supercede some of what it was doing and potentially save the City some money. City Manager Taylor said this study would address the specific aspects of internal affairs as they relate to what the practices were at the time the two officers, who were now serving time in prison, were employed by the City of Eugene. He stated that the scope of work had been reduced so that there was no overlap. Councilor Kelly commended the City Manager and Police Chief's interest in conducting a thorough outside review. He averred he would have no qualms about supporting the funding request if it was within the existing department budget authority. He felt a little pressured by the way that it came before the council. He stated that the City Manager informed the press that the study would happen prior to asking for council approval of the contingency request. City Manager Taylor stressed the importance of expedience in addressing the situation. He noted that overtime expenses for the Eugene Police Department (EPD) had been inordinately high due to election MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 11, 2004 Page 6 Regular Session