CC Minutes - 11/13/06 Work Session

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M I N U T E S Eugene City Council Work Session McNutt Room—Eugene City Hall November 13, 2006 5:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Jennifer Solomon, Andrea Ortiz, David Kelly, Betty Taylor, Gary Papé, Bonny Bettman, Chris Pryor. COUNCILORS ABSENT: George Poling. Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the meeting of the Eugene City Council to order. A. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST FROM MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER Mayor Piercy thanked voters for supporting the library and parks ballot measures. She said the City was a co-sponsor of Art Train’s recent visit and distributed information about the art exhibit. She attended weekend events in Eugene and Springfield to honor veterans and last week there was a grand opening of th housing for veterans located on West 7 Avenue. She reported that Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne visited the West Eugene wetlands area. She congratulated the Lane Board of County Commissioners for adopting a ten-year plan to abolish homelessness. She also participated in the kickoff of the MADD holiday campaign against drinking and driving. Ms. Ortiz reported she attended a Whiteaker neighborhood meeting with new Police Auditor Cris Beamud. She said Ms. Beamud also attended the November 9 meeting of the Police Commission to discuss issues related to a proposed ordinance articulating her function as police auditor. Ms. Ortiz said she had an opportunity to view plans for PeaceHealth’s Hilyard Street facility and they were very exciting. She said there were plans to involve more of the community in health care, including alternative medical practitioners. She said there would be a count of the homeless population on January 24, 2007, and Project Homeless Connect to provide outreach to veterans would be held on February 8, 2007, at the Lane Events Center. Ms. Taylor said that Lane Regional Air Protection Agency had taken a stand against field burning. She said she received a letter from a constituent regarding pollution at the Amazon headwaters from the use of planting mix. She also received a complaint about the City using leaf blowers by the river. She referred to a recent newspaper article about the City obtaining options on downtown properties and questioned whether the council should have discussed that before $24,000 to $48,000 in funds were spent. She said that a renewal of the options would double that amount. City Manager Dennis Taylor replied that Urban Renewal Agency funds within the fiscal year 2006 budget were used to purchase the options. He said the subject of West Broadway purchase options was on the November 27, 2006, work session agenda and the agenda item summary would contain detailed information. Ms. Taylor reiterated her concern that it was too easy for staff to spend Urban Renewal funds without oversight. MINUTES—Eugene City Council November 13, 2006 Page 1 Work Session