02/15/1984 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilor Holmer asked Ms. Ehrman what she thought the least effective aspect of City government was. She responded that there ought to be a better public ... relations campaign to create citizen awareness of public spending. She ~ specifically suggested an accounting of the BATeam s $300,000 budget. Councilor Obie asked Ms. Ehrman if she could address the time commitment issue of serving on the council. She said that her employer was very supportive. Ms. Ehrman said she has a special skill for time management, has the ability to focus on what needs to be done in a limited time, and has the energy to do the job. She does not have family obligations. She serves on only one other community committee, the Lane County Advisory Committee on Corrections. In concluding, Ms. Ehrman did not have any questions to ask the councilors, except for length of the appointive term. Councilor Wooten asked Ms. Ehrman if she would be willing to step down from the appointive position (effective until January 1985) if someone else won the election in May. Ms. Ehrman said she would step down. Paul Gilbertson e Following introductions, Councilor Obie began the interview by asking Mr. Gilbertson to share information on his background, interests, and reasons for applying. Mr. Gilbertson said that he has lived and worked here all of his life and is proud of the community. He felt that we need to look at the city goals of employment, housing, education, and transportation. He said that he applied for the office because he has been involved in community affairs. He has lived in Ward 3, in two different homes, during all of his 56 years of residency in Eugene. Councilor Holmer asked Mr. Gilbertson what he envisioned as major council challenges in the next few years. Mr. Gilbertson shared a list of his thoughts on major issues and assistance. He said the issues are economic growth and diversification, maintenance and improvement, streets, sewers, Airport, City Hall centralization, bus service, the downtown area, zoning, planning, and annexation. He felt the City staff, Business Assistance Team, the Downtown Commission, and Downtown Association were resources to meet these challenges. Coordination of the public and private sector could coordinate services for the City. Assistance factors are the educational aspect available through the University of Oregon and Lane Community COllege, and the Eugene Conference Center. Councilor Hansen asked Mr. Gilbertson what changes he had seen in livability over the years. Mr. Gilbertson felt that the livability changes were due to the changes in society generally rather than to Eugene itself. In response to Councilor Ball's question on land use planning, Mr. Gilbertson said that there was a need to utilize it for the greatest citizen benefit. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 15, 1984 Page 3