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<br /> e advance of their implementation, Mr. Boles said lower-quality solutions and <br /> angry citizenry result. <br /> Ms. Bascom said it would be difficult for the manager to deal effectively <br /> with every suggestion made by councilors and she had attempted to limit her <br /> list of suggestions to what she considered the vital few. It was her opinion <br /> that the review of the initiative and referendum undertaken during the past <br /> year was inappropriate in its extent and timing. She said she would <br /> appreciate more attention and sensitivity being shown to the larger issue of <br /> the fracturing tendency of the community. Admitting that the council and <br /> mayor provided the impetus for the review, Ms. Bascom pointed out that Mr. <br /> Gleason encouraged that decision. <br /> Referring to a comment made earlier by Mr. Holmer relating to the manager's <br /> communication with the public and whether Mr. Gleason was making use of the <br /> structure in place within the organization for working with the minority <br /> community, Mr. Green commended Mr. Gleason for his attendance at an October <br /> 25 public forum on minority issues and said Mr. Gleason now must reflect <br /> those concerns. <br /> Responding to Mr. Boles's earlier comments about achieving excellence, Ms. <br /> Schue maintained that it is unnecessary to strive for excellence in all <br /> things. She considered the City.s desire to be the best a reason for some of <br /> its problems in intergovernmental relations. <br /> e Mr. Rutan encouraged Mr. Gleason to demonstrate sensitivity to policy and <br /> policy issues; to be sure department heads know the extent of their authority <br /> and are sensitive to that limit; to depersonalize critical input, evaluate <br /> it, develop a plan of action, and then present the council with his <br /> conclusion; and to be sure that within the organization, mistakes are <br /> recognized and identified, acknowledged, and corrected. He cited the recent <br /> acquisition of a fire truck and the River Road/Santa Clara annexation <br /> strategy as examples of situations in which it took too long to realize and <br /> acknowledge that a mistake had been made. <br /> Ms. Ehrman said that Lincoln School was an example of a situation in which <br /> the City was moving in the wrong direction when several councilors approached <br /> Mr. Gleason with a request to revisit the decision. She commended the <br /> council and Mr. Gleason for recognizing the mistake and adjusting in response <br /> to the community. Mr. Bennett responded that he considered the Lincoln <br /> School development one in which an evolutionary process occurred and at no <br /> particular point was the City proceeding in the wrong direction. Mr. Ehrman <br /> replied that she felt that Lincoln School was an example of a situation in <br /> which Mr. Gleason responded to emerging community issues. <br /> Ms. Ehrman gave Mr. Gleason high marks for treating all councilors equally, <br /> regardless of whether they were experienced or new councilors, or represented <br /> the minority or majority position of the council. <br /> - MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 6, 1989 Page 8 <br />