CC Minutes - 05/19/99 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES Eugene City Council McNutt Room--City Hall May 19, 1999 5:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Scott Meisner, Nancy Nathanson, Pat Fart, Bobby Lee, Betty Taylor, David Kelly, Gary Rayor, Gary Pap~ Mayor James D. Torrey called the council to order at 5:30 p.m. CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION A. Items from Mayor, City Council, and City Manager Mr. Fart reported on the Human Rights Commission's meeting of May 18. He said that public comment at the meeting was largely focused on the judgement assessed against Hyundai for job discrimination by a California jury. Mr. Farr asked if the Board of County Commissioners had discussed the issue. City Manager Jim Johnson said yes. He said that County Administrator Bill Van Vactor met the previous day with County legal counsels Terry Wilson and Trina Laidlaw and County Tax Assessor Jim Gangle to review documents relevant to the issue, including the first source hiring agreement Hyundai had with the Southern Willamette Private Industry Council (SWPIC). Mr. Johnson said Mr. Van Vactor indicated to him in a brief communication that it was the assessor's responsibility to determine the continued eligibility of the company for tax exemptions. Mr. Gangle intended to conduct an investigation that would include review of the court proceedings, the first source hiring agreement, and consultation with the Oregon Department of Revenue. If the assessor found reason to discontinue the exemptions, he would notify Hyundai to give the company an opportunity to respond. Mr. Farr asked about possible time frames for action. Mr. Johnson did not have an estimate of the time the process would take at this time. He indicated he would share the communication from the County with the council. Mr. Fart said that the Human Rights Commission had asked him to ask the council what its role was in the process given the possibility of human rights violations. The commission would like to conduct a work session on the issue June 15. The commission also inquired into the possibility of holding a public forum on the issue. He requested direction from the council. Ms. Taylor commented that if there was nothing the City could do she did not know why there was a need for a meeting. Regarding the public forum possibility, Ms. Taylor suggested that people would raise the issue at council forums. MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 19, 1999 Page 1 5:30 p.m.