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<br /> progressing and accomplishing workplans. She said she thought council <br /> interviews helped the council to stay in touch with the commissions. She said <br />e she wanted the council to consider further staff preparation for consolidation <br /> of commissions. Ms. Wooten said she was concerned about an organization that <br /> would cause competition for funds between human rights and economic <br /> development lobbying efforts. Mr. Gleason said administrative service cuts in <br /> the organization were not intended as recommendations for cuts in human rights <br /> programs. He said he had held discussions with the County administrator and <br /> the school superintendent about changes in State law. He said the City's FTE <br /> and resource commitment to human rights was the same as it had been for the <br /> past four years, and it was intended to continue unless changed by the City <br /> Council. He said five commissions required more staff support than they now <br /> were receiving. Mr. Gleason said he wanted to increase the commissions' <br /> capacity for work, which he proposed to do through realistic dialogue among <br /> the City Council, the human rights commissions, and Lane County. He said, for <br /> example, that State law regarding youth had changed and that the County soon <br /> would assume responsibility for juvenile programs. He said he thought a <br /> commission was needed to deal effectively with $10 to $12 million in State, <br /> Federal, and local commitments to issues of youth at-risk. <br /> Ms. Bascom noted that human rights commissioners at the jOint meeting with the <br /> council had expressed recognition that the shift of human rights programs from <br /> the City Manager's Office to Intergovernmental Relations had not been <br /> negative. <br /> Mr. Gleason said metropolitan coordination was needed among courts, Skipworth <br /> Juvenile Center, job training, police, the school district, etc. He also said <br /> many seniors' programs were available in the area, and he thought metropolitan <br />e coordination would make the existing programs more effective. He said City <br /> human rights staff then could address other issues, involving women, <br /> minorities, and persons with disabilities. He added that no recommendation <br /> would be made for radical changes to those commissions. <br /> Ms. Ehrman said she thought metropolitan coordination would offer a greater <br /> range of applicants for commissions. <br /> Mr. Miller said he saw a need for coordination and resources. <br /> Mr. Holmer said he was surprised and disappointed to have read about the human <br /> rights issue through a staff statement in the newspaper rather than having it <br /> brought to the attention of the City Council. Ms. Wooten agreed, and Mr. <br /> Gleason said he had been surprised as well. <br /> Mr. Miller asked whether the City Council was willing to address funding. Ms. <br /> Bascom said she thought a better process should be examined to prevent staff <br /> frustration and burnout. <br /> Mr. Rutan asked about the level of community invovlement and interest in <br /> serving on commissions. Ms. Wooten said some commissions were more effective <br /> than others, but resource and staff constraints also may have limited their <br /> effectiveness. She asked how a metro-wide program would be paid for without <br /> grants for more intensive sta ffi ng. She said she was concerned about <br />e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Process Session September 21, 1987 Page 6 <br />