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she was not certain that this was possible. She underscored her feeling that the properties were an <br />asset for all of Eugene and not just south Eugene. <br /> <br />Roll call vote; the substitute motion failed, 6:2; councilors Bettman and Taylor vot- <br />ing in favor. <br /> <br />Councilor Pryor commented that under normal circumstances he would be willing to postpone the <br />discussion until the opportunity to try different approaches to resolve the purchase of the property <br />without eminent domain had been exhausted. He said the reason he could not support Councilor <br />Zelenka’s motion was that it included an authorization for proceedings of eminent domain. <br /> <br />Councilor Clark asked if it was the intention of the maker of the motion that condemnation <br />proceedings would begin at the deadline or that the council would reconsider those actions at that <br />point. Councilor Zelenka responded that his intention was that should the parties not be in <br />agreement by June the council would authorize the eminent domain proceedings at that time. <br /> <br />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 <br />the motion postponed the question until then and then if there “was enough momentum on <br />council” it would happen. <br /> <br />City Attorney Klein stated that his interpretation of the motion was that it postponed until June and <br />his 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, <br />the council 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 <br />read that the discussion would be postponed to the first council meeting in June at <br />which time the City Manager would be directed to return to the council with the <br />ordinances for eminent domain on the Beverly and Green properties. The maker <br />and the second accepted the friendly amendment. <br /> <br />Councilor Clark said he wanted to support the motion because he wanted to have time to make a <br />different potential reality with the land that needed protection. However, he was concerned that <br />this item was being postponed to a time that seemed more politically convenient. He was not <br />certain he could support the motion. <br /> <br />Councilor Bettman found it unfortunate that the motion did not prescribe what would happen in <br />June. She foresaw, however, that the purchase could benefit from the precipitous decline in the <br />housing market. She thought the council should pursue a new appraisal based on the change in the <br />market at that time. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council December 10, 2007 Page 23 <br /> Regular Meeting <br /> <br />