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downtown was contiguous with the neighborhoods that surround downtown. Councilor Bettman said those neighborhoods were the natural support system for downtown, and downtown relied on those neighborhoods. She thought whoever represented downtown should also represent the portion of those neighborhoods in the city center. Councilor Rayor also supported the motion, saying that the Violet A scenario provided logical geographic boundaries for Ward 1 and gave the population of the south hills ward representation that they did not get under the other alternatives. He also preferred the Violet A scenario because it ensured that the River Road/Santa Clara areas were in one ward. Councilor Nathanson opposed the motion. She supported the alternative scenario, Indigo D. She said that currently, City representation was unfair and had been so for some years. Six councilors lived south of the river, one councilor lived north of the river to serve the entire Ferry Street Corridor area, and one councilor served far west Eugene. Acknowledging her own residence south of the river, Councilor Nathanson said that it still did not seem fair to her. She believed four councilors were too many councilors representing the interests of south Eugene. Councilor Nathanson said she was trying to keep in mind the long-term best interests of the city, and called for a plan that more fairly divided the city. She said that points of views and attitudes about how the city's growth and commercial activity should be managed in support of residential neighborhoods varied, but they all needed to be represented. Speaking in support of the motion, Councilor Taylor thought population equity could be achieved without the drastic changes represented by the Indigo D scenario. She said that if Indigo D was adopted, large numbers of voters would no longer be represented by the councilor they elected. She believed that was an important consideration. Councilor Taylor said that in addition, the reassignment of wards necessitated by the adoption of the Indigo scenario meant that wards that had just gone through an election would have to go through another one. She believed that was a hardship for those who worked on behalf of their councilors to get them elected. Councilor Taylor thought the Violet A scenario more fair because it resulted in as little change as possible. Councilor Kelly also supported the motion for the reasons stated. He said that while both scenarios provide numerical equity, he agreed with the rationale stated by councilors Bettman and Rayor. Councilor Meisner said he could not support the motion. He also supported the Indigo D scenario. He said that none of the options presented to the council were ideal or close to what he preferred. However, it was incumbent on him to gauge the scenarios on the basis of the council's adopted criteria, primarily that of equity of population and communities of interest. In terms of his own ward, Councilor Meisner said there was no scenario before the council that made sense to him. None of the scenarios created, preserved, or even permitted communities of interest to unit. Councilor Pap~ agreed with a speaker in the public forum that everyone in the city needed representation. He thought that could be best accomplished by the Indigo D scenario. Councilor MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 26, 2001 Page 14 Regular Meeting