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Mayor Torrey suggested that the City install signs downtown stating that parking at the Hult Center <br />garage after 5 p.m. was free if there was no event. He said that downtown businesses might be <br />willing to help fund those signs. <br /> <br />D.Work Session: Discussion of Charter Review Issues <br /> <br />Mary Walston of the City Manager's Office requested further direction from the council's interest <br />regarding the Citizen Charter Review Committee's charge as it related to the Eugene Water & <br />Electric Board (EWEB). <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner identified the issue of elected EWEB commissioners serving on City board and <br />commissions, and whether that constituted a conflict. He also said the issue of the board's <br />relative authority had come up during the discussion of the telecommunications measure, when <br />the EVVEB commissioners questioned if the council had the right to question the measure. There <br />were also questions related to the requirement for placing items on a ballot. Mr. Meisner said the <br />issue of EVVEB as it related to urban development seemed to be coming up more often, as <br />demonstrated by the recent discussion on innovative development. He suggested the committee <br />discuss whether it is appropriate to have two distinct public agencies in same charter. If the <br />existing structure was to continue to exist, Mr. Meisner believed it needed more clarity. He <br />thought the committee should also talk about efficiencies, legalities, issues of ethics, and issues <br />of community interest. He called for a fairly broad discussion. Mr. Meisner suggested a staff <br />search of the council minutes where EVVEB was mentioned to determine if other issues had come <br />up that should be addressed through the charter review. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman agreed with Mr. Meisner about the issue raised by the telecommunications <br />measures. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman confirmed with Ms. Walston that the committee had a public comment opportunity at <br />every meeting. She noted that there would be additional opportunity for comment at the council <br />level. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap~ concurred with many of Mr. Meisner's comments. He asked "what do we want EWEB to <br />do and how do we want them to do it?" He said that the authority of the utility was an issue for <br />him as he found the provision of water and electricity key to most citizens. He wanted the <br />committee to discuss whether EVVEB should be inside the City organization or be a public utility <br />with its own charter. If it was to be part of the City, Mr. Pap~ thought the two organizations' <br />cultures needed to be brought closer together. He noted the charter requirement that EVVEB <br />provide an annual report to the council. He did not recall receiving such a report. He said EWEB <br />did not seem to believe it was part of the municipality. Mr. Pap~ thought the charter language <br />needed to be clarified in general. <br /> <br />Mr. Johnson indicated that EWEB submitted a written annual report to the City. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly said the functional relationship between the City and EWEB was more important to him <br />than the structural relationship, although he did not object to the committee studying that <br />structure. He had an initial negative reaction to adding another department to the City. Mr. Kelly <br />wanted the committee to discuss how to better define the relationship between the City and <br /> <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 29, 2001 Page 8 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />