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Councilor Bettman opined that the language that said the council would authorize the institution of <br />proceedings of eminent domain was ambiguous because the council could not do so. She felt that the motion <br />postponed the question until then and then if there “was enough momentum on council” it would happen. <br /> <br />City Attorney Klein stated that his interpretation of the motion was that it postponed until June and his <br />advice to the City Manager would be to have it on the Tentative Agenda for that month. <br /> <br />Councilor Zelenka said while it was not possible to dictate to the council what to do in the future, the council <br />could declare its intent. <br /> <br />Councilor Bettman called this “creating an illusion” that eminent domain would occur in June. <br /> <br />Councilor Bettman offered a friendly amendment that would amend the language to read <br />that the discussion would be postponed to the first council meeting in June at which time the <br />City Manager would be directed to return to the council with the ordinances for eminent <br />domain on the Beverly and Green properties. The maker and the second accepted the <br />friendly amendment. <br /> <br />Councilor Clark said he wanted to support the motion because he wanted to have time to make a different <br />potential reality with the land that needed protection. However, he was concerned that this item was being <br />postponed to a time that seemed more politically convenient. He was not certain he could support the <br />motion. <br /> <br />Councilor Bettman found it unfortunate that the motion did not prescribe what would happen in June. She <br />foresaw, however, that the purchase could benefit from the precipitous decline in the housing market. She <br />thought the council should pursue a new appraisal based on the change in the market at that time. <br /> <br />Roll call vote; the vote was a tie, 4:4; councilors Zelenka, Taylor, Ortiz, and Bettman vot- <br />ing in favor and councilors Pryor, Poling, Solomon, and Clark voting in opposition. Mayor <br />Piercy voted in favor of the motion and the motion passed on a final vote of 5:4. <br /> <br />The meeting adjourned at 10:41 p.m. <br /> <br />Respectfully submitted, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Angel Jones <br />City Manager pro tem <br /> <br />(Recorded by Ruth Atcherson) <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council December 10, 2007 Page 20 <br /> Regular Meeting <br />