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desire for “fresh blood.” He asked if this effort to replace Mr. Gaston could be because he did not “somehow fit a profile, match some characteristic … [was] not a political crony.” He felt this change was tantamount to saying to him “you serve until I find I like someone better.” He opined that this vote was political. Councilor Poling concurred with councilors Pryor and Solomon. He stated that Mr. Gaston had a better attendance record than some of the people who currently served on the Budget Committee. He averred that gender was a non-argument when serving on a board or commission. He felt it wrong to appoint someone to a committee without conducting an interview. He stated that Mr. Gaston had done a good job and deserved to be reappointed. Councilor Bettman declared that politics was the reason Mr. Gaston was appointed in the first place. She felt the Budget Committee votes had tended to be conservative because the City had a “much more conservative Budget Committee.” She averred that this was an attempt to bring a fresh perspective into the committee. She added her feeling that the gender balance was important as was the balance of having representation of all socio-economic components of the population. Councilor Taylor said the reason the council had the appointment process was to decide whether the council wanted to appoint someone. She remarked that no one was guaranteed a three-year term. Councilor Clark noted that Mr. Gaston had completed his unexpired term on the Budget Committee. He reiterated that the reason the council was having the present discussion had nothing to do with Mr. Gaston’s performance on the job; it was about politics and “who could count to five.” He did not understand on what basis one could define the Budget Committee as “even close to conservative.” He did not believe that statement could be made “in good conscience.” He preferred to seek a greater balance in the makeup of the committee. The vote on the motion was a tie, 4:4; councilors Pryor, Solomon, Poling, and Clark voting in favor and councilors Taylor, Bettman, Ortiz, and Zelenka voting in opposition. The Mayor voted against the substitution and it failed. Councilor Zelenka thanked Mr. Gaston for his service on the Budget Committee. He indicated he would support the main motion. The vote to appoint Ms. Davidson to Position 7 on the Budget Committee was a tie, 4:4; councilors Bettman, Ortiz, Taylor, and Zelenka voting in favor and councilors Clark, Pol- ing, Solomon, and Pryor voting in opposition. The Mayor voted to approve the appoint- ment and the motion passed. Planning Commission Councilor Ortiz, seconded by Councilor Pryor moved to appoint Heidi Beierle to Position 1 on the Planning Commission for a four-year term beginning November 1, 2007, and ending on October 31, 2011. Roll call vote; the motion passed, 8:0. Whilamut Natural Area Citizen Planning Committee MINUTES—Eugene City Council November 26, 2007 Page 7 Regular Meeting