10/07/1974 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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adopted during the'last-session ~equiring Council approval of those spe~kl;g-on \ behalf of Eugene at the Legislature. He said the process was too cumbersome to i :allow effective representation and he would like to have general direction in order i. ~ ,to be more responsive, knowing there was official support on positions taken. ~ .,' !In response to Councilman Wood's inquiry whether additional money would be needed :for funding the position, Assistant Manager noted that the recent $1000 assessment 'was Eugene's 'share in fundi~g the expanded League legislative program; $4000 was \ ibudgeted for Eugene's legislative effort. < ;Councilman Keller was of the opinion that the 'most effective procedure would be to settle on four or five major problems, the city's position on each stated in writing I before the Legislature convened to be presented by the Mayor or Council members. Mayor Anderson thought a good deal of the city's representation could rest on the good judgment of staff and the individual acting as liaison in Salem to bring con- :troversial issues back to the Council for discussion. Also, he said, the Council individually had the responsibili ty to stay abreast of issues in the Legislature and he thought it would be encumbent uP9nthem to make a personal approach when J legislation which might be objectionable to the city was involved. ! ~ i In response to Councilwoman Beal, Manager explained that a representative of the city in Salem could have general instructions from the Council on major issues, stating the position taken and speaking for the Council. That person could ensur~ legislation desired by the city was initiated in the Legislature in-proj:jer form, a then follow it through to adoption - explaining to legislators in committees the ~ ,intent of the proposed legislation and making sure it was understood when. it got to the floor, also keeping in constant touch with the League to avoid conflicts with legislative proposals of other cities. Another major function would be to report back to the Council and city administration reactions of legislators in ,the negotiation process so the city's position cou1~ be quickly adjusted if neces-j !sary. He saw a real need for individual Council member representation in hearing I isituations or even on the one-to-one basis for a more effective contact. Carom r . ---, ----.. - -- -- '.. ,',<~lO/2/74 !Further discussion centered on the desirability of some control - such as the' ~'Affirm !resolution requiring Council approval before speaking in Salem for the city - to avoid presentation of a position completely contrary to that of the Council.. I Councilman Williams said he would be willing to revise the resolu~ion to the ex- \ tent of authorizing the City_Manager to speak as manager of the c~ty, and perhaps \ conditionally extend that authorization to some legislative representative. He \ lexpressed some concern about giving a broad, free authorization for anyone to . !state any position they cared as being that of the city. ;Councilman Keller was not satisfied with past history of legislative liaison in 'Salem. And Mrs. Beal thought it would take a person with higher qualifications , !than a law student, someone who would be knowledgeable in the legislative pro-' ~ !cesses and the types of problems involved for cities. Councilman Wood said if \ .~ iEugene's goals were identified he thought staff representation would best serve ~the Council without getting into authorization for members of boards, commissions, etc., to speak for the city. , \ . , .. . \ iCouncilwoman Beal pointed out the difficulty of stat~ng one s pos~ t~on as an ~n- ; :dividual without having it construed as the Council's position; and the time con- 1 !sumed in determining Council position when action was in process in the Legislature.) i ;Mayor Anderson drew the discussion to a close with the understanding that Council- iman Wjlliams would modify the resolution requiring Council approval of any posi\ ,:tion stated on behalf of the city. -' .. .....-..~_. .#-.,...-..--......".. . ....-..'"" - . -.. ..-.' ..,. ---"'. -'-~"''-' .~._--- -'-.. .. -_..-" -.'.- '.- -." K. 'I~'~~tati~n from James Madison Jr. High - Distributed with agenda invi~ing cou~cil members to speak to a literature class about the process experie~ced ~n bec~m~ng a Council member and values and ideas about the position. Counc~l members ~n- Carom terested were requested to contact Mrs. Susan Potter at Madison Jr. High. 9/25/74 Fi~e L. MisceLlaneous . . I ~Letter fr~m National League of Cities was distributed to Counc~l members w~th laqenda concerning NLC Organizational and Program Developments~ / ..c/amm ~ 1-- ~ 9 25 74 ., 2. Letter from League of Oregon Cities was distributed to Council me~ers with If Fi1e- agenda concerning the an~~~~ convention scheduled November 17-19 ~nport1and.o -....,... 10/7/74 - 12 , "355