CC Minutes - 01/24/07 Work Session

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Mr. Zelenka noted that the Human Rights Commission and SBI had 15 and 16 members respectively and both bodies work very well. He said an argument in favor of having a larger group was the importance of having a diversity of opinion represented on the sustainability commission; having more ideas was better than fewer ideas. He like the concept of councilors each appointing one member and the full council appointing four members. He said if there needed to be an odd number on the commission he would propose having a 13-member body with the thirteenth member being a representative from the council. Ms. Ortiz supported Ms. Bettman’s motion. She thought it was important to reflect the larger community on the commission as the scope of work had not yet been determined and it was essential to have different passions and opinions represented. She said she could support the concept of a 13-member commission and preferred to have the council appoint members as it gave the council ownership of the sustainability initiatives. In response to a question from Ms. Solomon, Ms. Bettman clarified that the motion was to move the ordinance as written, with Mayor Piercy’s amendment regarding language in Section 2.380(1)(b), forward to a public hearing. Ms. Solomon reiterated her concern that a 12-member commission was an unmanageable size and was not certain she could support the motion. Mr. Clark supported the motion and said he could even support the idea of the mayor appointing commis- sion members. He appreciated the leadership Mayor Piercy had shown with the diverse interests involved in the SBI and would trust her wisdom in appointments. Ms. Taylor commented that Mayor Piercy had done a good job but she would not be mayor forever. Ms. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Poling, moved to amend the ordinance to establish a commission composed of seven citizens. City Attorney Glenn Klein pointed out that if the commission was changed to seven members that meant the appointment process of each councilor appointing a member would have to be changed. Ms. Taylor restated her motion as “I move to amend the ordinance to establish a commission composed of seven citizens with each councilor suggesting one or two people from the pool of applicants and the full council appointing.” Mr. Poling withdrew his second. There being no other second, the motion died. Mr. Poling said he withdrew his second because of concern that trying to make amendments “on the fly” would create problems. He preferred to send the ordinance to a public hearing as written and the council could amend it at a later date. He supported Ms. Bettman’s motion but that did not mean he supported the proposed ordinance. MINUTES—Eugene City Council – Work Session January 24, 2007 Page 3