CC Minutes - 07/09/01 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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IV. ACTION: Appointment to Citizen Charter Review Committee Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Kelly, moved to appoint Bob O'Brien to Position 5 on the Citizen Charter Review Committee, the position being vacated by Freeman Holmer, to serve for the duration of the ad hoc committee. Councilor Meisner said that he would not support any new member on the committee. He raised concern over the ability of a newly appointed member being able to be brought "up to speed" before the business of the committee was concluded. Councilor Nathanson, seconded by Councilor Pap~, moved to amend the motion by substituting "Susan Ban" for Bob O'Brien. Councilor Nathanson believed that there should be a replacement. She said that Ms. Ban came with a great deal of experience and was already "up to speed" because she had been following the issues of the Citizen Charter Review Committee. She said that it would not have been a burden on Ms. Ban or the committee to appoint her as a new member. Councilor Bettman opposed the amendment. She said that she would support the original motion. She noted that Mr. O'Brien had originally been voted on the committee and that he had been removed after the fact. She added that Mr. O'Brien was also current with the issues since he had also been attending the committee's meetings. Councilor Kelly said that he had been convinced by Councilor Meisner's statement. He believed that the best course to take was to reduce the size of the committee. He said that he would not support a motion for any new appointee. Councilor Pap~ supported the amendment. He said that both people in question were community- oriented people who followed the issues of the City. He opined that Ms. Ban would return balance to the committee. He noted that, although Mr. O'Brien lived within the urban growth boundary of Eugene, he did not live inside the city limits. Councilor Fart raised concern that there would not be a representative vote on the issue. Councilor Fart, seconded by Councilor Nathanson, moved to table the item. Roll call vote; the motion failed, 4:3; councilors Pap~, Nathanson, and Fart voting yes. Councilor Fart said he would support Councilor Nathanson's amendment. Mayor Torrey commented that he was disappointed with the vote. He said that the Citizen Charter Review Committee, as it was constituted even prior to the resignation of Mr. Holmer, was not representative of the community of Eugene. He said that when the council either reduced the size of the committee and took an individual off who was on one side of the political spectrum of the community or, voted someone else on the committee who was on the preponderance of the committee's side, he believed that the council was doing a disservice to the community. He said that trying to represent the committee as representative of Eugene residents when they were not was asking for a negative vote on the charter amendments when they came forward. MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 9, 2001 Page 5 Regular Session