10/13/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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- Mayor Anderson, though feeling the existence of these refugees in this country is a great tragedy, stated that it is a fact these people ~i1l be here and will be a problem until they are resettled. If left in refugee camps, social ills can occur in greater numbers and depth than anywhere else. fIe noted that many . Cuban refugees have made great contributions to our country and that, whether it is a popular decision or not, the City should accept the responsibility and do what it can to alleviate a potentially critical problem. He would feel that any Council action could be treated as individual Council people expressing a reflection of their personal sentiment. To attempt to secure a council endorsement as a body might be going a step beyond what the individual members would like to see happen. Mr. Murray concurred with Mayor Anderson, feeling this is an opportunity to .bring people in with at least some financial and organizational resources behind them, provide employment and allow them to make a contribution to the community. Mr. Murray move~and it was seconded to endorse, as individual council Comm 10/1/75 members expressing their personal sentiment, the Viet Nam refugee Approve resettlement program. Motion carried, all Council members present voting aye except Mrs. Beal abstaining. Councilman Keller and Councilwoman Bea1 asked that the record show they abstained from voting on this item. K. Continuation of Discussion on Hearings Official for Zoning Code Amendments The Planning Department and City Attorney's office drafted two proposals incorporating the Council's concern. A memo outlining those proposals was distributed with the agenda. The memo also pointed out disadvantages if the Council were to favor a hearings committee consisting of two Council and two Planning Comrr.dssion members. Mr. Haws questioned one of those disadvantages, wondering why, after hearing, an appeal would have to go directly to the court. e Jim Saul, Planner, advised that, since two council members would be involved at the hearing level, they would be precluded from hearing qn appeal if that appeal were to go to the City Council. As City Attorney Stan Long further explained, it would be curious for people to sit in judgment of their own appeal. Problems could arise with respect to who had which information if two council members participated and then participated again. . Mrs. Beal thought the suggestion to have a hearings official was made to free the council from having to listen to the entire workout. Mr. Murray questioned the appointive authority, and Mr. Long explained that the original state hearings official law provided that council could select a hearings official. That was changed in the last legislature because it conflicted with several city charters, including Eugene's. A group of city attorneys helped draft an amendment which broadened the latitude available to cities. Eugene's charter states that all city employees are appointed by the City Manager and a hearings official would be a city employee. If the Council does desire appointive power, one possibility would be that something could be explored along the lines of creating a position under the framework of the municipal court, since one position the Council does appoint is MuniciPal Judge. Mr. Murray feels that, since Council is designated in the charter as the policy making body, appointive authority is an important question. Mr. Williams cannot see the proposal of having a hearings official as being a real grant of authority as long as Council has the right of revie:v. Too, e as regards Fasano, a zone change is an administrative function that should be made on the basis of submitting testimony and not what would be generally viewed as a political decision. 10/13/75 - 16 5~