Item 2A - Minutes Approval - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Proposals: I am making several proposals for 2005 that are aimed at improving our public process and public communication. 1. Mayor's one-on-one. I intend to move these meetings out to the neighborhoods to create more opportunity to hear from residents across Eugene, and I hope to be joined by the city councilor repre- senting that neighborhood. 2. Develop better communication tools. I will ask City staff and my colleagues to help improve the ways the City communicates with and hears from its citizens through strengthening neighborhood organiza- tions and newsletters, better web tools, and improved hearings and council meetings. 3. Create a River Road/Santa Clara advisory committee. I support the City's current efforts to strengthen positive relationships with these areas and to provide opportunity to hear from them regard- ing City proposals that affect their lives. I suppo.rt the Santa Clara/River Road residents' request for putting in place an on-going advisory committee. 4. Independent auditing of City services. I will work with the city manager and council to propose a process for independent auditing of City services that is consistent with our city manager type of government, but that also addresses concerns for transparency in how an auditor is selected, how goals for audits are determined, and how the results of audits are shared and used. The dual intention here is to identify where we can do better within our city governance and to measure our improvements over time, and at the same time to respect the fine work of our City administration and staff. Social Service Infrastructure Is everyone doing well in our community? While many are, a recent United Way status report finds that more and more of our families are struggling to be housed, fed, receive health care and to have good jobs with incomes that can cover basic needs. We have learned from recent discussions about our stellar school systems that some of our children still are not able to achieve success and that is often aligned with insufficient incomes and basic needs struggles. Although the City is not a major social services provider, I know that all things are linked. Thus, we must do what we can in collaboration with our regional partners to ensure there are good job opportunities for those who need them. We must support the provision of a sound social service infrastructure. We must do what we can in partnership and advocacy to support our schools so that our youngsters have the opportunities for success they deserve. I know this community will continue to step up to these challenges. Proposals: In 2005 I am proposing that we: 1. Work with schools, social service agencies, higher education, business and regional partners to determine how we can meet the challenges facing our social service infrastructure and schools. This would include a particular focus on the holes in our social service systems that exacerbate student achievement gaps and the role the City can play in addressing them. 2. Explore ways to connect wage and benefit standards to economic incentives. Within our legal capacity, our City should use the tools available such as enterprise zones and urban renewal districts to encourage jobs that provide wages and benefits that enable workers to feed clothe and house their families and provide them with healthcare. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 3, 2005 Page 4 State of the City