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Ms. Nathanson supported approval of the recommendation. City Manager Taylor preferred the motion as recommended to the council. Ms. Nathanson said this would build redundancy into the process for the Budget Committee. However, she commented that if it made the statement that there was council level interest at this time to look at this it would at least move the recommendation ahead. Mr. Pap~ asked if current staff were fulfilling what this position would do. Mr. Coyle responded that they were not. He added that the new position was interdepartmental. The motion to amend passed, 6:1; Ms. Taylor voting in opposition. The main motion, as amended, passed, 5:2; Ms. Taylor and Ms. Bettman voting in opposition. C. WORK SESSION: Overview of Approaches to Neighborhood Groups City Manager Dennis Taylor stated that the City of Eugene was "blessed with an active and engaged citizenry" and with an infrastructure that enabled it. He asked Beth Bridges, Neighborhood Services Manager for the Community Development Division of the PDD, to review the evolution of Eugene's neighborhood associations. Ms. Bridges introduced three neighborhood leaders in attendance, Charles Biggs of the Cal Young Neighborhood Association, Rob Handy of the River Road Community Organization, and Majeska Seese- Green of the Whiteaker Community Council. She noted that Mr. Biggs and Ms. Seese-Green were the co- chairs of the Neighborhood Leadership Council (NLC). Ms. Bridges provided a PowerPoint presentation on the Neighborhood Program, begun in 1973 with the adoption of the Neighborhood Organization Recognition Policy Resolution (NORP). Ms. Bettman left the meeting. Mr. Kelly expressed appreciation for the presentation. He remarked that neighborhood associations were important to him, noting his own involvement in such associations. He said there was a recurring challenge in getting additional diversity in participation. He suggested that time be set aside in the council retreat scheduled for February to consider a work plan item that would look at Attachment D, entitled IAP2 Public Participation Spectrum. He opined that neighborhoods felt that the council, at best, consulted with them and if they collaborated more it would bring out a greater diversity of people. Ms. Taylor recommended that mailings be increased. She observed that there was a direct correlation between noticing and attendance. She thought citizen involvement in decision-making made the neighbor- hoods feel their participation was important. She suggested neighbors would benefit from socializing with one another and time should be allotted for this. Additionally, she recommended that venues for meetings be convenient. Ms. Nathanson commended the presentation. Regarding Attachment D, she thought it would benefit the council to look into it and "break it down." She said, in terms of services the City offered, there were MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 10, 2004 Page 6 Work Session