CC Minutes - 01/24/00 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Torrey suggested voting on Consent Calendar items A, B, and C and then discuss item D. Councilor Meisner called for a new minutes process. He suggested that the council take action on minutes at Wednesday work sessions rather than at Monday meetings to give councilors more time for review. Roll call vote; the motion to adopt items A, B, and C of the Consent Calendar passed unanimously, 8:0. Regarding Item D. of the consent calendar, Ms. Taylor said that she had concerns over the United Front trip to Washington, DC, and the items that were planned to support. She wanted to add the headwaters of the Amazon Creek to the list of waterways that were protected. Councilor Nathanson asked Intergovernmental Relations Section staff to comment on the request. Tim Black of the City Manager's Office said that the Upper Amazon Creek from 19th Avenue to Snell Street was included in the federal agenda. He said that he was not sure if the headwaters of Amazon Creek fell within the city limits. Councilor Nathanson requested a memorandum from Steve Gordon of Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) that would clarify exactly which land was included in the federal funding request. She said that the proposals ere sequenced to match funding and congressional initiatives. She added that it would be difficult to added an extra funding proposal because it would be out of sequence. She also said that the land in question could very well be already addressed. City Engineer Les Lyle commented that the land that Councilor Taylor mentioned was beyond the scope of the upper Amazon project that was currently being worked on. He said that a document could be developed describing the characteristics of the upper Amazon Creek that could be taken to Washington, DC, to explore opportunities for funding. He added that he was not familiar with any funding source that could be used to pay for the land in question. Addressing Ms. Taylor's issue, Councilor Rayor suggested that the City's parks acquisition dollars could be used to purchase the Amazon headwaters. City Manager Jim Johnson responded that the general policy regarding the use of park acquisition dollars was reflected in the tabloid that was mailed to the voters prior to the election. Purchase of the headwaters of the Amazon Creek were not included in that tabloid. Councilor Fart said that it was difficult to work out of sequence and still expect to get positive funding results from the federal government. He added that local money was being spent on the upper Amazon. Councilor Taylor said that the headwaters of the Amazon were threatened by immediate development. She added that the area was even more threatened because of the council's failure to adopt the Key Waterways Ordinance. Mayor Torrey said that the chances of the elected officials going to Washington, DC, and placing a new issue in front of the Congressional delegation was difficult. He urged the council to follow the direction of the council committee and staff in the matter. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 24, 2000 Page 3 7:30 p.m.