Item 2A - Minutes Approval - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Miller expressed his support for the Lane Transit District (LTD) bus drivers. He opined that they needed to be able to come to work with good benefits. Mr. Miller felt that the Nike Corporation should donate more money to the tsunami relief effort in Southeast Asia. In particular, he thought Nike spokesperson and professional golfer, Tiger Woods, should donate money. He suggested that Nike Corporation build up a small business loan bank to enable small businesses to grow. Cheryl Hunter, 5320 Nectar Way, spoke about the 38-acre parcel between Nectar Way and Dillard Road. She circulated a memorandum that described in detail the actions taken regarding this piece of land. She stated that developer Joe Green had purchased the land and then doubled the price and offered it for sale. She related that the neighborhood was tracking what was happening with the property and had elected Lisa Warnes as its representative in the process. She reiterated neighborhood concerns that the City was not fully aware of the value of the land, noting that it was included in neither the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space draft plan, nor in the Goal 5 inventory, with two small exceptions. She reported that the neighborhood had hired a wetlands consultant and it was his opinion that many sensitive and endangered plant and animal species lived on this acreage. Anita Glantz, 5055 Nectar Way, opined the land near her was priceless. She felt the City had missed the opportunity to buy the land prior to its purchase by Joe Green and now seemed like it would give up on the purchase. She said she was part of a large and active group of neighbors that was advocating for preservation of the property. She predicted that, should the City purchase the property, its ownership would be in the long-term interest of the City's residents and that the property would not require much in the way of ongoing maintenance costs. She averred that it would not be in the City's best interest to be engaged in a prolonged battle over the use of this property. She believed the property likely was home to endangered species. She submitted her testimony in writing. Jason L. Owens, 339 West 22nd Avenue, said he was new to the area, having moved to Eugene six months ago. He stated that he dedicated his service to the residents of Eugene and of the State of Oregon through his position as a district aide for the State Representative Of District 8. He wished to speak about the racial profiling issue. He moved from a large metropolitan area to Eugene to find a more wholesome life and found it appalling that he had to fear being stopped by the same people that he served on a daily basis. He noted that there were 38,000 people in his district that he watched over and cared for as a legislative aide in terms of constituency issues. He felt it was a shame that he could not move freely in the district that he served. He called it a "slap in the face" that the City Manager and Police Chief Lehner would not to address this issue. He felt the service of African-American citizens, as well as members of other minorities, to the City and the State was discounted. Mr. Owens supported the implementation of an external review board. He said his hope and his dream was, as a citizen, to walk freely without being judged based on the color of his skin. He hoped he would not be stopped because his "watch fit loosely around [his] wrist." He believed that, if the approach to stopping people was truly as transparent as it should be, then the Police Chief and the City Manager should have absolutely no problem with engaging a citizens' external review board to review the complaints. He stressed that the complaints were real and that racial profiling was happening. Pauline Itutson, 1025 Taylor Street, spoke regarding the proposed gasoline tax. She opposed diverting taxes into funding for road construction which benefited "global and mega-rich corporations." She thought the proposal that Eugene taxpayers "pick up the tab" for $11.9 million for road work to enable MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 10, 2005 Page 2 Regular Session