CC Minutes - 09/24/07 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Councilor Zelenka agreed that the council should have had a work session on the issue. However, he was not convinced having more flexibility to vote earlier had much of an impact. He said the practice the City used to count the signatures for the gas tax was a long-held City practice changed by a judge, and only then did the petroleum operators have enough signatures to challenge the ordinance. He considered the council was fixing a technical error. Speaking to the economy issue, Councilor Zelenka said that the ordinance gave the council an opportunity to save money by avoiding a one-issue election. City Manager pro tem Jones reminded the council that she had recommended the council move forward without a work session because the ordinance reflected past practice and because of the economies of scale that were realized. She wanted the council to have the option to decide when something went on the ballot. Councilor Bettman said the council had the ability to schedule a later election, and her amendment did not compromise that. Mr. Lidz concurred. Councilor Bettman said that the economies were achievable with her amendment. Councilor Pryor recalled that the council had intended to fix the problem raised by the last referendum and he wanted to fix that problem without getting into discussions of the other issues without the benefit of a work session. Mayor Piercy asked if Councilor Pryor wished to separate the motion. Mr. Lidz clarified that would be Option B in the Agenda Item Summary. Councilor Bettman indicated willingness to withdraw her motion and defer the related issues to a work session. With the consent of her second, Councilor Taylor, Councilor Bettman withdrew her motion. Councilor Bettman, seconded by Ms. Taylor, moved to delete the reference to Section 2.981 in the caption, delete Section 2, and renumber Section 3 to Section 2. Councilor Zelenka suggested the economy issue cut both ways. The council might want to have an earlier election that saved more money rather than later. That was why staff included the text “earlier or later.” It made sense and that was why he supported it. He encouraged the council to oppose the amendment as the council could face an election in the near future. He supported Option A. He added that he did not like the process the council went through to get here. Councilor Taylor agreed the council should hold a work session. She suggested that the council take minimal action and then discuss the pros and cons of the issues involved. Roll call vote; the motion passed, 4:3; councilors Solomon, Pryor, Taylor, and Bettman vot- ing yes; councilors Poling, Clark, and Zelenka voting no. The meeting adjourned at 9 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Angel Jones MINUTES—Eugene City Council September 24, 2007 Page 8 Regular Meeting