CC Minutes - 11/26/01 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilor Nathanson said the vote in question was different because the City Council had an incumbent member. With regard to gender diversity, she pointed out that Ms. Solomon was a woman and she was younger than Councilor Nathanson. She noted the council's receipt of a letter from four lay members of the Budget Committee requesting that Ms. Solomon be reappointed. She concurred with Councilor Farr about the need for committee representation from Ward 6. Councilor Nathanson said if the motion were to reappoint the incumbent, she would support it. She intended to vote against the motion. She commended the other candidates were also excellent, and expressed regret there were too few opportunities to involve them in City affairs. She hoped that City staff worked together to attempt to involve some of other talented and enthusiastic people who want to serve the community. Councilor Pap~ concurred with the comments of Councilor Nathanson. He said that if the council was interested in getting more socio-economic diversity on committees, it needed to have facts about that status, and not just assume what and who people were from appearances. Responding to the concern expressed by Councilor Farr, Councilor Kelly pointed out that neither wards 1 or 3 had representation on the Budget Committee. Roll call vote; the vote on the motion was a 4:4 tie; councilors Kelly, Taylor, Rayor and Bettman voting yes, and councilors Nathanson, Farr, Pap~, and Meisner voting no. Mayor Torrey cast a vote in opposition to the motion, and it failed on a 5:4 vote. Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Kelly, moved to appoint Michael Wolfe to Position 2 on the Budget Committee. Councilor Bettman expressed support for Mr. Wolfe, noting his enthusiasm, knowledgeability, and good communication skills. Councilor Nathanson, seconded by Councilor Fart, moved to substitute the motion with a motion appointing Jennifer Solomon to Position 2 on the Budget Committee. Councilor Rayor indicated support for the motion, saying he had made his concerns known. Councilor Meisner also indicated support for the motion, given Councilor Rayor's change of mind and the fact it appeared there would at best be a tie vote otherwise. He expressed concern about the growing tendency for councilors to become polarized around issues to the degree there was no convergence at the end of the decision-making process. He called for the council to find a way to come together. Councilor Meisner noted that in the past, once balloting was done, the council had generally been unanimous on such appointments. Councilor Meisner said that Ms. Solomon needed to understand that he need to know why she voted with the committee majority but thought the council did everything wrong. MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 26, 2001 Page 20 Regular Meeting