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Mr. Pap~ expressed appreciation for Mr. Farr's comments about WISTEC. He said he opposed <br />the additional payment of $60,000 that Ms. Bettman proposed the University of Oregon pay <br />WISTEC out of concern, in part, that the City would receive further requests to condition <br />development proposals on a private owner's support for a nonprofit organization. He had <br />contacted WISTEC to suggest it consider leveraging the University's proposed payment through a <br />financial institute. He did not think WISTEC had explored all the options, including more extensive <br />fund-raising. Mr. Pap~ did not think actions of the University or the City caused the closure of <br />WISTEC. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap~ referred to the letters the City received from AutoCraft objecting to the possible closure <br />of the business because of the potential location of the federal courthouse and wondered if the <br />adoption of the Land Use Code Update would create more opportunities for AutoCraft to relocate. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner said that he had been working with management on the issue of complaint tracking <br />for some time and anticipated improvements in that process as a result of a meeting he, Mr. Kelly, <br />and Ms. Nathanson had with staff. He thought staff generally did a good job, but not in letting the <br />council know about constituents' complaints or informing citizens of follow-up to complaints and <br />concerns. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner said he received confirmation he was appointed to a second term as a director of the <br />National League of Cities Leadership Training Council. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner noted he was the new chair of the Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations <br />and was working with staff and the Oregon Passenger Rail Council on a Rail Day on January 30 at <br />the State legislature. It was possible Mayor Torrey and Mr. Pap~ would also travel to Salem on <br />that day. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner shared the concerns of other councilors about potential school closures and said the <br />community decision with the most impact on how Eugene grew was the decision by the school <br />board to end the neighborhood school program. He did not want to interfere with a separate <br />jurisdiction or take financial responsibility for the schools, but thought he City had a role in the <br />school closure topic. <br /> <br />Mr. Johnson noted that Jim Croteau of the Planning and Development Department was a citizen <br />member of the closure committee, and he and the mayor had spoken with board chair Craig Smith <br />and administrator George Russell about the subject. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman wondered what would have occurred if the district put resources into a "Keeping the <br />Schools Open Committee." She liked the idea of a joint work session with the board so the <br />council could share its input about the land use and transportation issues involved. <br /> <br />Regarding the issue of WISTEC, Ms. Bettman appreciated Mr. Papa's feedback about the options <br />available to the board and suggested part of the problem was that the board was made up of <br />volunteers and science educators, not bankers. The agency had its hands full over the past years <br />attempting to negotiate with the City and University. She said that part of the problem was timing; <br />WISTEC sold its parking in January for the following season and the University did not want to pay <br />the organization until after the football season. She suggested that the manager pursue the <br /> <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 24, 2001 Page 3 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />