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Mr. Farr summarized the councilors' input. He indicated he would work with HRC staff to draft a <br />memorandum reflecting the HRC's next steps to distribute to all councilors for their input. He did <br />not think that this was an appropriate time for the council to discuss Hyundai's guilt or innocence, <br />but pointed out that the law that Hyundai was accused of breaking was not an Oregon law. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap8 endorsed Mr. Lee's remarks. He said that the HRC should be allowed to do its work and <br />the County Tax Assessor investigation to be completed. <br /> <br />Mr. Rayor suggested the City Council ask the State Attorney General and the County to report to <br />the City so it could share any information received with city residents. After confirming the fact <br />with Mr. Johnson, Mr. Lee stated that what Mr. Rayor desired was occurring. <br /> <br />Responding to a question from Mr. Kelly, Mr. Johnson confirmed that Mr. Gangle would conduct <br />an investigation specific to the court proceedings. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson believed there was general agreement among the councilors about the lack of <br />complete information. She agreed that the public should know the council is interested but she <br />did not think the council was ready to say anything about the issue at this point. Ms. Nathanson <br />believed that the City was doing the right thing now by making sure that those who should be <br />looking into the subject were doing so. <br /> <br />Mr. Lee said that it was important for the council to have the discussion. He said that there was a <br />high degree of interest in Eugene about race relations, and people were quick to act, speak, and <br />judge. Mr. Lee cautioned the council against making quick judgments or offhand remarks. He <br />believed that good things could come from the situation if it was handled gracefully. <br /> <br />Emphasizing that he was not prejudging Hyundai, Mr. Kelly indicated his intent to offer the council <br />a motion because he did not think silence was an appropriate response for the community's <br />leaders. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly moved, seconded by Mr. Meisner, that the council do two things: 1) <br />issue the following statement: "The Eugene City Council condemns any <br />instance of job discrimination in our community. With regard to alleged past <br />or present Hyundai practices, the Human Rights Commission is reviewing <br />information and legal counsel is investigating questions of a legal nature, and <br />further council and City of Eugene action will be dependent on the results of <br />those processes"; and 2) that the council schedule a work session sometime <br />in June on the Hyundai information, ideally in conjunction with the already <br />scheduled joint council/HRC work session now scheduled on June 23, 1999. <br />Mr. Meisner supported the motion, agreeing with Mr. Kelly he did not want to prejudge the <br />outcome of the assessor's investigation. However, he wanted to reaffirm the council's previously <br />unanimous stand against discrimination, and the public to be kept informed. <br /> <br />Mr. Lee said that the public would be kept aware of the situation through the press. He <br />appreciated Mr. Kelly's motion because it signaled the council's concern to the public. <br /> <br />Mr. Fart supported the motion because it represented a proactive, nonconclusionary stance on the <br />part of the council. He questioned whether the council would know much more than it did now by <br />June 23. Mr. Kelly clarified that he was attempting to target a date when information was <br /> <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 19, 1999 Page 4 <br /> 5:30 p.m. <br /> <br /> <br />