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the interviews of the candidates for the position of Planning Director. She hoped the council would get a <br />chance to discuss the qualifications that councilors would like to see the new director have. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor noted a complaint she received from the Eugene Garden Club, a nonprofit organization, which <br />was concerned about the $18,000 alley improvement assessment the club must pay. She hoped there was <br />a way the City could waive the assessment for the club. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor was distressed that the memoranda the council received on the recommendations of the <br />Mayor's Committee on Economic Development indicated the council voted 7:1 to accept the report, which <br />it made it sound as though the council adopted the recommendations. She said it was merely good <br />manners to accept the report. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor noted that Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority was seeking a new director, and invited <br />suggestions. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly wished departing Planning and Development Director Tom Coyle well in his new position in <br />Kansas City. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly conveyed his thoughts about the hiring of a new, permanent planning director. He favored an <br />open community process as proposed by City Manager Dennis Taylor. He said that applicants would have <br />different strengths; some would be more focused on the administrative side of the job, while others would <br />be more visionary. Mr. Kelly believed Eugene needed a visionary director who could clearly articulate <br />the council's visions and goals for the community from a planning standpoint. He quoted speakers at a <br />recent American Institute of Planning Conference, who suggested that planners must push the public to <br />think beyond today's problems and issues to consider what the public would want in ten to twenty years, <br />and that it was increasingly important for planners to look beyond land use and consider social, cultural, <br />and economic factors. The speakers indicated more civic engagement was required. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly believed the new planning director should strongly identify with the general idea of growth <br />management, and the adopted growth management policies should resonate with that individual. He <br />suggested that because the manager planned a deliberative and slow process, a work session be scheduled <br />on the topic of the future of the Planning and Development Department and the future planning director. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap~ welcomed members of the council back from spring break. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap6 said he attended a UTRACK meeting regarding passenger rail on March 18. At that time, he <br />spoke with Tom Milligan, passenger rail manager for the Union Pacific Railroad, who indicated the <br />company had no plans to change its use of the rail yards it owned in Eugene. In fact, the company was <br />considering increasing their use. He cautioned the council against spending time and energy planning for <br />the future use of the rail yards if they were not available in the near term. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap6 also welcomed back the members of the National Guard. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap6 thanked Mayor Piercy for participating in the recent Arbor Day Ceremony. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap6 indicated his intent to ask the council to discuss House Bill 3301, a bill related to the formation <br />of special districts considered recently by the Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 11, 2005 Page 2 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />