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statements powerfully and promptly on this situation. He said the community climate was in need of <br />improvement. <br /> <br />Regarding Mr. Gray's testimony, Councilor Kelly said some of the spray-painted signs forbidding <br />panhandling had already been erased and the policy questions that had been raised by this action were being <br />addressed. <br /> <br />Councilor Kelly requested an update on the Nectar Way property. <br /> <br />Councilor Poling said City Manager Taylor and Police Chief Lehner were taking the issue of racial profiling <br />very seriously and taking steps to address it. City Manager Taylor affirmed, in response to Councilor <br />Poling, that the police audit interviews were being conducted. <br /> <br />Councilor Poling recommended that people who were unable to interview personally with the International <br />City Managers Association (ICMA) auditors contact them by telephone. City Manager Taylor listed the <br />number to call: 1-866-292-4860. Councilor Poling said he took the accusations very seriously and would <br />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 the <br />present meeting around alleged racial profiling were incredibly disturbing. He condemned acts of racial <br />profiling and indicated that he and the Police Chief were working aggressively to take steps to ensure that <br />racial profiling and bias-based policing would no longer happen in the community. He looked forward to <br />working with the Police Commission, with the council, mayor, and communities united to understand better <br />how the review process could be improved from beginning to end. He commented that two years of analysis <br />of data on racial profiling had been completed; the Police Commission was studying the in-car video use and <br />also was working to improve the timeliness and transparency of the complaint process. City Manager <br />Taylor acknowledged that further steps were necessary, but reiterated that the role of the police auditor was <br />being expanded to include inquiries as well as complaints and that he was working closely with the HRC. <br />He understood the issue of racial profiling to be complex, as it was both a legal and moral issue. He looked <br />forward to learning from the community what could be done to maintain the type of community, City, and <br />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 racial <br />profiling issue. She stated that they would not let go of it until it was "made better." <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 10, 2005 Page 8 <br /> Regular Session <br /> <br /> <br />