CC Minutes - 01/24/05 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Bettman, Ms. Ortiz, and Mr. Pyror had no items. Ms. Taylor recalled that during a recent council work session on the Planning Division's work plan, she had expressed interest in a tour of the Eugene sites designated for mixed-use. She said Senior Planner Kurt Yeiter had indicated willingness to conduct councilors on such a tour. She polled other councilors for their interest in a tour; a majority indicated interest. Ms. Taylor complimented an officer of the Eugene Police Department for his excellent work in keeping the peace at a counter-demonstration during a peace demonstration at the federal building. She said she did not know the officer's name. Mr. Pap6 reported that he and Mayor Piercy toured the federal court construction site earlier in the month and he recommended the tour to other councilors. He said he would be willing to help set such tours up. Mr. Pap6 said that he had attended the opening of the new Jordan Schnitzer Art Museum and congratulated the University of Oregon and Schnitzer family on the newly expanded facilities. He thanked members of the museum board, including his sister-in-law Susie Pap6, board chair, for their work in realizing the expansion. Mr. Kelly also commended the remodeled art museum. He said the expansion preserved the integrity of the original structure while transforming the facility. Mr. Kelly called attention to a memorandum in the council's packet from Eugene Police Chief Robert Lehner on the issues around trespassing and panhandling. He supported the business owners' needs and rights to enforce trespassing by uninvited interlopers but also believed the City needed to be mindful of the State and federal constitutions as they regarded free speech. He requested a memorandum regarding recent federal or State court action on issues of free speech on public sidewalks, recalling a recent case decided by the Sixth Court of Appeals, which had ruled in United Church of Christ v. Gateway Economic Develop- ment Corp. that sidewalks in a public/private complex could be considered public sidewalks. Ms. Solomon had no items. Mayor Piercy expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to be part of the recent Martin Luther King, Jr., commemorative event. She agreed that the art museum reopening was a wonderful event and suggested the economic energy generated by that facility could be extended to the arts in downtown. Mayor Piercy noted her concern about the potential for a strike by Lane Transit District drivers, and said she contacted representatives of both management and the Amalgamated Transit Union and urged them to continue negotiations. She expressed concern about the impact of a potential strike on low-income residents who were completely dependent on mass transit. City Manager Dennis Taylor said he could not imagine a finer week than last week, when the weather was beautiful, the Martin Luther King, Jr. event went well, and the art museum reopened. City Manager Taylor called attention to a Consent Calendar item regarding the Certified Annual Financial Report (CAFR), which gave the City a good report. He commended the CAFR to the community and council as a %napshot" of the budget. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 24, 2005 Page 2 Work Session