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<br />- <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />Council consensus was that the council needs to sign off before a councilor <br />individually commits a large amount of staff time or funds to a particular <br />item. These may include research projects, additional analysis, legal assis- <br />tance, etc. A councilor can request assistance to pull information together <br />to present to the council, but early on in the process the councilor should <br />present the item to the council and ask for approval to proceed. In order to <br />proceed, one would need to secure approval of a certain number of councilors, <br />perhaps three. Council requested that staff draft a policy statement on this <br />process to be brought back at the next process session for further consider- <br />ation by the council. The City Manager's Office will provide assistance to <br />councilors. Councilors may contact the City staff directly for assistance, <br />but Councilor Hansen cautioned that staff time should be used effectively. <br />One councilor should not demand staff time without the support of other coun- <br />cilors or the knowledge of the City Manager. <br /> <br />It was agreed that citizens who want to place items on a council agenda would <br />be told to contact their councilor. <br /> <br />Council then discussed the types of items that a councilor can place on a <br />council agenda. The councilors agreed to allow any councilor the right to <br />schedule an information or discussion item on a council agenda, but the sche- <br />duling of a public hearing or action item must have the approval of other <br />councilors. Mr. Gleason indicated that staff will draft a written policy <br />statement on this for the council to consider at its next quarterly process <br />session. <br /> <br />It was noted that it would be helpful to establish the criteria on when <br />action is requested following a public hearing and when action is delayed <br />until a subsequent meeting. <br /> <br />The council reaffirmed its policy that, except in extraordinary circum- <br />stances, it does not issue proclamations. The mayor, however, may sign an <br />appropriate letter or statement in support of the event. <br /> <br />Councilors may talk to citizens or other councilors about anything except <br />issues such as zoning requests, which will be considered in a quasi-judicial <br />hearing. <br /> <br />D. Issues of Interest to Councilors <br /> <br />The councilors discussed some specific concerns in order to inform other <br />councilors of requests for information from the staff or issues which might <br />be coming before the council. Councilor Holmer is concerned about the lack <br />of a Eugene Voters' Pamphlet and is investigating the need for one. <br />Mr. Rutan is gathering information on ways to finance park projects and is <br />interested in forging an alliance with the 4-J School District. He may ask <br />council approval, but not financing, of an Enterprise Center in downtown <br />Eugene. Ms. Bascom is considering ways to let the public know that the City <br />is interested in trees. She also wants to educate the public about the <br />6th/7th Avenue widening project. Mayor Obie is concerned about the sale of <br />drug paraphernalia in the city. Councilor Miller is considering ways to <br />upgrade substandard streets everywhere in the city. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council <br /> <br />January 21, 1985 <br /> <br />Page 3 <br />