Item 3A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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Mr. Papé asked if the MPC could have a “special meeting.” Mr. Schwetz replied that the MPC had nothing that would keep it from convening a special meeting aside from practical issues. The vote on the amendment was a 4:4 tie; councilors Poling, Papé, Pryor, and Solomon vot- ing in favor and councilors Taylor, Bettman, Ortiz, and Kelly voting in opposition. Mayor Piercy voted in support of the amendment and the motion passed on a final vote of 5:4. Ms. Bettman observed that the process had gone on for years. She said the MPC was a “conflict resolution body” and the City of Eugene was at an impasse there. She opined that the MPC was not really interested in conflict resolution. She felt the resolution took the WEP out in name only, because ODOT would continue its work on the process. She could not support the resolution because her questions had not been answered. She opined that the research would not be neutral because of MPC and TPC oversight. She thought the resolution would put all of the pieces in place to come up with the same conclusion that the community had already “always come up with.” Ms. Ortiz expressed discomfort with having the WEP back in the project list, but she wanted to have faith that the process could reach a resolution. She reiterated her support for the resolution. She noted that she had not supported the amendment because she did not want to place time constraints on the committee as it could hamper their ability to come to a decision with full understanding. Mr. Kelly averred that the resolution represented the only reasonable plan. He did not see any path that anyone proposed within legal parameters that had a chance of addressing transportation in any reasonable timeframe. Ms. Taylor, seconded by Ms. Bettman, moved to table the item. The motion failed, 6:2; councilors Taylor and Bettman voting in favor. Ms. Bettman opined that if the resolution was a harbinger of the collaborative process it was a “bad omen.” She did not feel she had been allowed enough time to review the materials and ask questions. She said if the collaborative process would “cater to one faction and ignore another” it would not be a collaborative process. She thought the motion to table should have been approved. She opposed the resolution. Mr. Papé said he would oppose the resolution because he believed it to be counter to the will of the voters. Mayor Piercy expressed remorse that some councilors did not feel there had been a lot of collaboration “working at this moment.” She believed there had been a “tremendous amount” of collaboration. She hoped the council would have the confidence in the two Eugene representatives to the MPC and that they heard what was being said and would work on behalf of the City. She called for the vote. The motion to approve the resolution passed, 5:3; Ms. Taylor, Ms. Bettman, and Mr. Papé voting in opposition. The meeting adjourned at 1:32 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Dennis M. Taylor MINUTES—Eugene City Council May 24, 2006 Page 11 Work Session