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Parks and Open Space Bond language said the bond would and would not pay for. He also wished to know <br />what would happen if it was found to be allowable and it went to court and was then overturned. He wanted <br />to know what the personal liability of the councilors was in that situation. He understood, at this point, that <br />the councilors could be held personally liable for “paying the money back.” <br /> <br />Councilor Taylor was not satisfied with saying the council would discuss the language in October. She <br />averred that the council should have passed the ordinance already. She felt that Councilor Bettman’s <br />friendly amendment included a deadline for action. She expressed concern that without a deadline the action <br />could be deferred “forever.” <br /> <br />Councilor Bettman clarified that her intent was to have the revised ordinance language for review at a work <br />session in October. She said it would give time to conduct due diligence work that “others” thought had not <br />been done or “for some reason” was thought to be needed prior to taking action on the ordinance. She <br />asserted that typically the City undertook its due diligence work after an ordinance for eminent domain had <br />been passed. <br /> <br />Councilor Bettman asked how much money was in the stormwater acquisition fund. Public Works <br />Department Executive Director Kurt Corey replied that he would find out for her. <br /> <br />Councilor Bettman requested a memorandum with information on the cost of the additional acreage the City <br />was negotiating to purchase for Golden Gardens Park. <br /> <br />Councilor Bettman said the City had received a phone call from someone who felt the City should only pay <br />the amount listed on the tax rolls for the Beverly-Green properties. She related that the person made the <br />point that if the property was worth the millions that the developers might want for it, the developers should <br />already be paying taxes on that amount. She thought this was a “good point.” <br /> <br />Councilor Zelenka understood his motion to be in line with Councilor Poling’s wishes regarding any action <br />taken. <br /> <br />Councilor Ortiz supported Councilor Zelenka’s motion. She did not think the action should be taken lightly. <br />She declared that it warranted more time. <br /> <br />Councilor Clark wished to address a “mischaracterization” of Councilor Bettman’s. He hoped the council <br />would address this in a future council process session. He related that Councilor Bettman had asserted that <br />people who oppose acquiring the property hoped the process would be open ended. He felt that assumed <br />that people who wished to have an open ended process were opposed to the acquisition. He said this was not <br />true. <br /> <br />Councilor Clark stated that if language for an ordinance was to be considered at a future work session that <br />would move the City toward taking eminent domain he wished to have language prepared that would set <br />aside $3 million for a Santa Clara community park. <br /> <br />Councilor Bettman reiterated her question on what the legal standard for the worth of a property was. She <br />thought there needed to be reconciliation in terms of how the cost of the property would “end up.” <br /> <br />Councilor Taylor asked how long it had taken in the past for the City to exercise eminent domain. She also <br />wondered how long it would take for the City to exercise eminent domain over the property near Madison <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council July 9, 2007 Page 7 <br /> Regular Meeting <br /> <br />