CC Minutes - 04/17/06 Process Session

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Ms. Ortiz agreed with Mr. Pryor, and said she would err on the side of holding meetings as opposed to canceling them. City Manager Taylor had no objection to holding a council meeting after Budget Committee meetings, but pointed out there were some logistical issues involved and it was difficult to predict the length of committee meetings. Ms. Shepard determined the council operating agreements did not address the issue. She further determined that the council was not suggesting any changes. Councilors briefly discussed how items were postponed. Mr. Kelly noted the current language in the operating agreements, which stipulated that councilors could requests items be postponed or a vote not be taken. Responding to a question from Mr. Papé, City Manager Taylor indicated that the tentative working agenda changed on a weekly basis, depending on the action that occurred that week. He worked with the Mayor on a weekly basis to set future agendas. Mr. Papé said it sounded like the Mayor and manager had a process, but he did not know how it worked. Mayor Piercy briefly explained the process of reviewing and revising the tentative working agenda. V. Councilor Polls for Work Sessions—Timing for Getting Them on the Tentative Agenda Mr. Papé wanted criteria for how quickly items added to the agenda were scheduled for discussion, saying that he had successfully polled for a work session item and then had to advocate for it to be added. Mr. Pryor said that it appeared that Mr. Papé needed to talk to the Mayor and manager. Mr. Kelly said he had experienced such a delay in getting an item on the agenda and suggested that once a poll occurred, the item be scheduled at someplace even if the schedule had to be adjusted later. City Manager Taylor said that was what generally happened. Mr. Kelly believed what happened to Mr. Papé was an oversight. Mr. Kelly asked if the council really needed ten working days to reply to a poll for an agenda item. He suggested five days was more appropriate. Mr. Pryor suggested that even if items could not be scheduled, they could be listed at the end of the tentative working agenda. City Manager Taylor indicated that a date could be assigned. Mr. Papé asked if the operating agreements could be amended to reflect the discussion. There was no objection. The council took a ten-minute meeting break. VI. City Council/Staff Relations and Its Implications for the Organization, Council, and the Electorate Ms. Shepard called the council’s attention to the City’s Respectful Work Environment policy. Ms. Bettman recalled her e-mail correspondence with the City Manager regarding what she considered to be an offensive e-mail from Assistant City Manager Carlson. The manager indicated to her that he considered MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 17, 2006 Page 8 Process Session