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necessary tool, including locating a new hospital in Eugene and redeveloping downtown, but wanted further <br />discussion about how a charter amendment could affect future decisions. <br /> <br />Mr. Pryor opined that the general public would like to see more safeguards in place against government <br />being able to take property in what was perceived to be an arbitrary and capricious manner. He said <br />requiring a larger majority of the council would probably find resonance with most people in the community. <br />He said if the motion did not pass at this point he still wished to have the discussion in the future because <br />eminent domain was one of the most drastic actions a government could take and it should not be done with <br />a simple majority vote. He thought the benefit of a charter amendment was that it allowed the public to <br />make a final decision on that. <br /> <br />Mr. Clark commented that a recent United States Supreme Court decision created a situation that caused the <br />public great concern. He believed that creating more safeguards was a good idea. He said the community <br />was in the middle of a very contentious and unnecessary fight over the issue of eminent domain. He said it <br />was being used to solve a problem that could have been solved by people working together more effectively. <br />He thought the community as a whole was very much in favor of the council having more consensus before <br />taking major actions of that nature. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor, seconded by Ms. Bettman, moved to table the motion. <br /> <br />Ms. Ortiz stated she did not wish to terminate the conversation and asked if the item could be placed on the <br />February 11, 2008, meeting agenda as Item C. Mr. Lidz pointed out that if the item was intended for the <br />May ballot, it would need to be referred no later than February 13. <br /> <br />The motion to table failed, 5:3; Ms. Bettman, Ms. Taylor and Ms. Zelenka voting in favor. <br /> <br />Mr. Poling, seconded by Mr. Clark, moved to postpone the item to the February 11, 2008, <br />agenda. <br /> <br />Mr. Poling withdrew his motion. Mr. Clark agreed. <br /> <br />The vote on the main motion was a 4:4 tie; Ms. Taylor, Ms. Bettman, Ms. Ortiz, and Mr. <br />Zelenka voting in opposition and Ms. Solomon, Mr. Poling, Mr. Pryor, and Mr. Clark vot- <br />ing in favor. The mayor cast a vote in opposition to the motion and it failed on a final vote <br />of 5:4. <br /> <br />The meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m. <br /> <br />Respectfully submitted, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Angel Jones <br />pro tem <br />City Manager <br /> <br />(Recorded by Lynn Taylor) <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council January 30, 2008 Page 10 <br /> Work Session <br />