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Re: Page 5 and 6, improved street safety: Is there evidence that the efforts of the <br /> council to educate young people on safety, to reduce danger to other bicyclists and <br /> pedestrians, and to reduce conflicts between bicycles and automobiles had proven to be <br /> effective in a quantifiable manner? <br /> Re: the exploration of new approaches to code enforcement and the handling of <br /> complaints: How is this being handled differently? Can the increase in complaints be <br /> attributed to more public awareness or can they be attributed to staff2. <br /> <br />Mr. Carlson responded that staff would provide answers to Ms. Nathanson in writing. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly stressed that much was accomplished. He felt that when the City "does a good thing it <br />does a bad job of letting the public know about it." He noted that he had been unaware that the <br />City's fleet of 15 heavy duty vehicles was testing the use of bio-fuel. He shared Ms. Nathanson's <br />concern regarding the hillside fire danger question. He also expressed concern that the time line <br />for the Downtown Plan had "slipped." He noted that the delays that have been experienced are <br />directly attributable to staff cuts, stating that "you get what you pay for." He recommended <br />budgeting for another City planner. He also strongly recommended that more time be spent on the <br />discussion of how best to foster sustainable growth. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap6 agreed with Mr. Carlson that the council needed to establish long-term policy-level <br />goals. He stressed the importance of finding a way to measure goal achievement. He also felt, as <br />did Mr. Kelly, that the City ought to improve its public relations. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman encouraged the council to include the promotion of diversity in the larger goals. She <br />felt the exercise of goal development was a way for councilors to bring issues and strategies that <br />they or their constituents felt strongly about to the table and to gain support for them. She stated <br />that she supported, as an economic development strategy, the installation of a fixed rail "trolley" in <br />the downtown area and that this was a priority for her. She discussed the west of downtown and <br />downtown neighborhoods and the difficulties that are experienced there because the residences are <br />largely rentals. She felt that making an effort to foster permanent residence in those areas would <br />do much to further public safety and alleviate other problems that the downtown has experienced. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor commented that a place that the council had failed was in finding a source of equitable <br />revenue. She noted that the TSMF had been adopted, but she felt that it was a regressive tax. She <br />said that the City had taken some steps backwards, such as losing the River House and Sister City <br />programs. She also felt that pedestrian safety had not been adequately addressed in the downtown <br />area. She opined that revised council ground rules regarding agenda setting obstructed some <br />things from reaching the table and that shortening the public forum had made the meetings less <br />accessible to citizens. <br /> <br />Mr. Torrey supported what the City Manager said in terms of the broad approach that should be <br />taken. But, he noted that it was beneficial to the process for councilors to be able to bring issues <br />of concern to the table. <br /> <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 13, 2003 Page 9 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />