CC Minutes - 06/13/01 Work Session

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"If other criteria are satisfied, it is preferable for a ward boundary to use a geographic feature, such as rivers, large open spaces, parks, and major transportation systems." Ms. Nathanson was unsure she could support the amendment given that the other criteria to be satisfied were unknown at this point. She thought each must be considered in context of the others, and the text of the amendment suggested the criterion was lower in priority than the others. Mr. Farr did not support the amendment because he thought observing geographic boundaries was crucial to redistricting. He agreed with Ms. Nathanson's summary of the impact of the amendment. He noted that all households in his ward were in the Bethel School District 52, and asked Mr. Croteau if there was any discussion of school district boundaries as a factor. Mr. Croteau said that staff considered school district boundaries, but they were not specifically named. He suggested that the development of the criteria was not an exact science, and said that along with the criteria, staff would use other tools, such as school boundaries, State legislative boundaries, etc., in developing boundary options. Mr. Farr thought it important for one councilor to represent the households in School District 52. Mr. Pap8 agreed with Ms. Nathanson and Mr. Farr, saying the amendment would put the criterion in question in priority below other criteria. The use of the words "where practicable" allowed for staff flexibility to integrate the criterion with the others. Mr. Rayor questioned whether the amendment made much of a difference. He said that the underlying concept was that wards needed to be about the same size. Ms. Bettman supported the amendment. She was also concerned about the term "practicable," which she interpreted as 'where it could be practiced," elevating that criterion in priority. She would have preferred "consider geographic features" because it gave staff the opportunity to balance those factors with the other criteria. She did not to see the river to be used as an absolute boundary between wards because she believed it would result in a north Eugene and a south Eugene, and she was concerned about rhetoric pitting the two areas of the community against each other. She wanted to preserve the diversity created by wards that crossed the river. She asked if councilors in opposition to the amendment would be supportive of the phrase "consider." Ms. Taylor said that she did not think people were that different on one side or the other of the river. She did not think the river needed to be a barrier. She liked the term "consider," and further suggested that sides of a street be considered; for example, she thought both sides of a long street such as Alder Street should be in one ward. Mayor Torrey thought that the staff recommendation already accomplished what Ms. Bettman wanted to accomplish and asked Mr. Croteau for confirmation. Mr. Croteau suggested that the "devil was in the details," noting that staff preferred "consider" to the language in the amendment. Mr. Kelly withdraw his amendment. Ms. Bettman withdrew her second. MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 13, 2001 Page 5 Work Session