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focused, technical, short-term problem. He suggested drafting a guideline describing the ideal <br />purpose and components of a council committee. Mr. Kelly asked that sunseted committees be <br />removed from rosters. Mr. Meisner clarified that sunseted committees were inactive but the <br />council had not taken official action. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor questioned the need for any council committees, opining that they did not necessarily <br />save the council time since decisions are made by the entire council, where the issues are <br />discussed again. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson said she was interested in Mr. Kelly's suggestion, but his descriptors were not <br />broad enough for the purposes she had in mind for committees, e.g., conduct research, analyze <br />a broad range of options, and recommend the best. Addressing Ms. Taylor's concern about the <br />final decision resting with the council, she said she trusted the work of committees and of the <br />council's representation on committees and appreciated not having to spend the time in <br />committees herself. She added that the council always had the option of rejecting or modifying a <br />committee's recommendation <br /> <br />Mr. Pap8 asked that the council ensure that committees are properly acknowledged and thanked <br />for their work. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap8 spoke in support of committees, adding their work should be recognized and <br />acknowledged, and their term not ended before final decisions are made on their products. <br /> <br />Mr. Fart agreed that committees were essential to the council's work, calling it an indispensable <br />part of the process. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner clarified that the committee that was sunseted before releasing its product referred <br />to in Mr. PapS's comments was a departmental committee. He said he did not support the <br />council standing committee system established last year but noted that ad hoc committees had <br />been very successful and he believed there was a place for them, provided their charges and <br />expectations were clear and their work outcome-oriented. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly said he agreed with comments made by both Ms. Nathanson and Mr. Meisner that <br />technical committees might be over-limiting, but asked that reports to the council reflect all the <br />work of the committee. He assumed that any ad hoc council committee was created by a council <br />vote, which served as a barrier and limited the amount of committees. <br /> <br />In response to a question from Ms. Nathanson, Ms. Walston listed as currently active standing <br />committees of the council: the Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations (CCIGR); <br />Council Committee on Homelessness and Youth (CCHY); and Council Committee on <br />Telecommunications. Ms. Nathanson said the latter committee had not been active for a couple <br />of years. She said her problem with previous standing committees of the council had been in <br />part due to the fact that they were advisory to the City Manager and staff, and the material <br />presented at council meetings was redundant. Ms. Nathanson expressed support for both the <br />CClGR and the CCHY. <br /> <br />Mr. Rayor said that the CClGR was a self-fulfilling prophecy because staff submitted bills with its <br />recommendations to that committee to assign to the City's lobbyists. He said he was ambivalent <br />about the committee but wondered if it was the best venue for "watching the City's position." He <br />added that so long as it existed, he wanted to be a part of it. <br /> <br />Minutes--Eugene City Council March 15, 1999 Page 4 <br /> 5:30 p.m. <br /> <br /> <br />