06/09/1983 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. e e M I NUT E S City Council Work Session Studios B & C, Hilton Hotel June 9, 1983 7:30 p.m. PRESENT: Gus Keller, Mayor; Freeman Holmer, Cynthia Wooten, Betty Smith, Brian Obie, Dick Hansen, Mark Lindberg, Emily Schue, John Ball, Councilors; Mike Gleason, City Manager; Don Murray, Facilitator; Dave Whitlow, Assistant City Manager; Marge Beck, Director of Council and Community Services; Pat Lynch, Council Administrator; Mark Matassa, Register Guard; Fred Webb, KUGN Radio. Mr. Murray began by explaining that the purpose of the meeting was to consider the agreements under which the City Council works, and to fine tune them. He distributed the results of the previously completed council process questionnaire (copy appended to these minutes). After councilors had had an opportunity to study the questionnaire results, Mr. Murray prepared an agenda of issues to be discussed, which included items from the questionnaire together with the follow- ing additional suggestions from councilors: (1) the question of legitimate norms for the council in an election year; (2) goals session process, and (3) the role of subcommittees vis-a-vis the whole council. Mr. Keller opened discussion of the first item ("We are open, direct and candid in the council forum. We believe that conflict should be open.") by expressing concern that the results of the questionnaire showed that councilors thought they achieved this only "to some extent." Ms. Schue noted that as elections approached councilors were more likely to make comments for the benefit of the press and public. Mr. Lindberg commented that it was valuable to present a united front on a heated issue, but stressed the educational value for the public of discussions representing different points of view. Mr. Obie said that he was comfortable with the effort to avoid conflict. Mr. Ball agreed with Mr. Lindberg that though it was valuable to achieve consensus by prior discussion it was a problem when issues were not debated in public. Mr. Lindberg said it was legitimate to go out on a limb sometimes despite pressure to conform when one felt strongly about an issue. Mr. Keller then moved to discussion of item F ("We avoid disguising a statement as a question."), noting that it was important to distinguish between the section of the agenda for addressing questions to staff and the time for councilors to make comments and state their positions on an issue. Mr. Hansen asked for clarification of the process. Mr. Keller replied that, after the closing of the public hearing and staff response to testimony, there was a period of time for councilors to ask questions of staff and -- with the mayor's permission -- testifiers. After this, it was time for council discussion. Mr. Obie asked the mayor to be more clear about distinguishing between these two portions of the agenda. MINUTES--City Council Work Session June 9, 1983 Page 1