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Councilor Poling said City Manager Taylor and Police Chief Lehner were taking the issue of racial <br />profiling very seriously and taking steps to address it. City Manager Taylor affirmed, in response to <br />Councilor Poling, that the police audit interviews were being conducted. <br /> <br />Councilor Poling recommended that people who were unable to interview personally with the <br />International City Managers Association (ICMA) auditors contact them by telephone. City Manager <br />Taylor listed the number to call: 1-866-292-4860. Councilor Poling said he took the accusations very <br />seriously and would take measures to ensure an appropriate response was made. <br /> <br />City Manager Taylor stated that the team would be taking comments through January 31 and expressed <br />hope that anyone with concerns would take the time to call. He said the ideas and issues represented at <br />the present meeting around alleged racial profiling were incredibly disturbing. He condemned acts of <br />racial profiling and indicated that he and the Police Chief were working aggressively to take steps to <br />ensure that racial profiling and bias-based policing would no longer happen in the community. He looked <br />forward to working with the Police Commission, with the council, mayor, and communities united to <br />understand better how the review process could be improved from beginning to end. He commented that <br />two years of analysis of data on racial profiling had been completed; the Police Commission was studying <br />the in-car video use and also was working to improve the timeliness and transparency of the complaint <br />process. City Manager Taylor acknowledged that further steps were necessary, but reiterated that the role <br />of the police auditor was being expanded to include inquiries as well as complaints and that he was <br />working closely with the HRC. He understood the issue of racial profiling to be complex, as it was both a <br />legal and moral issue. He looked forward to learning from the community what could be done to maintain <br />the type of community, City, and police department that everyone wanted. <br /> <br />Councilor Taylor thanked everyone who spoke and especially those who came from the Nectar Way area. <br />She felt it urgent to purchase the property. She thought the property should be purchased by the City, <br />adding that it was an "obvious place to use condemnation." <br /> <br />Regarding the external review board, Councilor Taylor reiterated her support for it. She did not feel that a <br />public entity could review itself very well. <br /> <br /> Councilor Ortiz thanked everyone for the welcoming the new councilors warmly. She expressed <br /> appreciation for City Manager Taylor's words. She wished the media had been present to capture them. <br /> <br /> Mayor Piercy wished to join the council and City Manager in the City's commitment to addressing the <br /> racial profiling issue. She stated that they would not let go of it until it was "made better." <br /> <br />3. CONSENT CALENDAR <br /> <br /> A. Approval of City Council Minutes <br /> November 8, 2004, Work Session <br /> November 8, 2004, City Council Meeting <br /> November 10, 2004, Work Session <br /> November 15, 2004, City Council Meeting <br /> November 22, 2004, Work Session <br /> November 22, 2004, City Council Meeting <br /> November 24, 2004, Work Session <br /> <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 10, 2005 Page 8 <br /> Regular Session <br /> <br /> <br />