12/12/1988 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Mr. Miller requested that the commission survey the rest rooms in City Hall and let the council know what needs to be done to make them accessible. E. Commission on the Rights of Minorities Randy MacDonald is a senior majoring in political science at the University of Oregon. He was president of the student senate two years ago, visited El Salvador in 1987 as part of a national student delegation, is presently serving on the Joint Social Services Advisory Committee, and is a legislative assistant to State Senator Larry Hill. Mr. MacDonald said the Minorities Commission has had a difficult year with several commission members resigning last spring. He said the commission emerged from this conflict with a commitment to using a positive attitude to achieve its goals in the City and the community. Mr. MacDonald said the major achievements of the commission over the past year included: a very successful celebration in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.; involvement in the City's budgeting process; and work with the Community Development Committee on revisions to the City's Minority Business Loan Program. Mr. MacDonald said the racial tensions surrounding Monroe Park also required much of the commission's attention. He reviewed the history of racial tensions in the park. At the time the park benches and tables were removed, the Minorities Commission sponsored a forum in the park to allow various users to express their feelings openly and to seek a constructive solution to problems in the park. Since then, the commission has worked very closely e with the Friends of Monroe Park and HONEY (Honoring Our New Ethnic Youth) in trying to facilitate positive interaction in the park. Mr. MacDonald said one good thing to come of this work was a multi-cultural event held in the park last summer. He expressed frustration that the progress has not been better, however, and predicted that controversy will continue to surround the park. Mr. MacDonald said the Minorities Commission is currently working on the 1989 celebration in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., and described a number of events that are being planned. The most significant part of the celebration will be a speech on January 16, 1989, by Martin Luther King III. Mr. MacDonald felt it is very significant that Eugene was able to attract such an important speaker to its celebration, saying it demonstrates that Eugene is a leader in civil rights. Mr. MacDonald said the Minorities Commission is in a state of serious transition. He felt there was much cause for concern as the commission devoted a lot of energy to recruitment and still did not attract many applicants. In response to a question from Mr. Rutan, Mr. MacDonald said the City should consider restructuring the commission to increase its effectiveness. He felt one way to do this is to use the commission as a forum in which groups that are already established in the community could cooperate together to facilitate a positive multi-cultural atmosphere in Eugene. Mr. MacDonald stressed the need to work closely with the existing commission in pursuing any type of reorganization. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 12, 1988 Page 5