12/13/1982 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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.. Ms. Beck responded to a question raised by Councilor Obie at the December 8 council meeting regarding the fiscal implications of the restructuring. She said that the present budget for the human rights program included $7,800 for commission service activities, $4,000 for minutes recording, and salaries for the human rights staff positions in the City Manager's Office. She noted that the human rights staff members would be assuming new responsiblities including oversight of fair housing and employment practices mandated as a part of the Community Development Block Grant program. Ms. Beck sai d that the new structure would be somewhat less expensive in that the number of commissioners would be reduced to 35 from 45. She said the supervisory role to be executed by the President's Council and the adoption of specific performance criteria would make the role of the commissions clearer and reduce the demands on staff time. Councilor Lindberg asked for more information on the funding structure for human rights commissions' servi ce to the community. Ms. Beck said that sometimes the commissions themselves perform direct services to the community, and sometimes they provide funding to other groups providing services. She said that funding guidelines were used in making decisions on funding allocations. Public hearing was opened. Ann Bunnenberg, 29U2 Metolius, said she was president of the Human Rights Counc i 1 . She said commission members and staff had worked for approximately six months to develop the proposal before the council. She said they had worked for more effective operation of the commissions within the City structure, for closer ties to the goals adopted by the City Council, and for more efficient . use of staff resources. She fel t that the proposal to have the Human Rights Presidents' Council supervise the work of the commissions, using specific performance criteria, was an excellent one. She fel t that the seven-member commissions would provide a good working size while still allowing adequate representation of subgroups represented by the commissions. She favored a three-year term for commissioners. Robin Casey, 450 East 30th Avenue, said she was the president of the Women's Commission. She said that group supported a three-year term for oommissioners as providing more continuity and efficiency of operations and allowing development of new leadership. G. G. Goldthwaite, 2310 Van Ness Street. said he was the president of the Aging Commission. He said that group unanimously supported retaining three-year terms for commissioners. He commended Ms. Beck and human rights staff members Chris Mahoney and Kent Gorham for their work on the restructuring proposal. There being no further testimony. publiC hearing was closed. Council or Hamel noted that commissioners desiring longer terms on the commission could always reapply for second terms. Ms. Beck said it was the hope of those involved in the restructuring that reappointment to commissions would not be automatic but would be dependent on the quality of a member's previous service. . MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 13, 1982 P ag e 5