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Referring to the resolution proposed by Mr. Lee, Ms. Nathanson asked if it could be made sufficiently broad to be adopted by the City's intergovernmental partners. She asked what process the City would use to make presentations to the other local governments about the definition, and requested a staff recommendation on process. Ms. Nathanson suggested that if the staff presentation was shown in other places or on Metrovision, which she thought it should be, she wanted one change. She pointed out that there were several examples of costs, generally listed as "cons," that raised the issue of life cycle costs for her. Ms. Nathanson pointed out that while it might cost 30 percent more to build a certain type of street, that street required less long-term expense than a street built to a lesser standard. She said that the initial costs were not the only costs to taxpayers to worry about. Mr. Meisner liked the idea of the resolution, which could be forwarded to the other jurisdictions with the presentation. He said that the definition could be supported with findings and goals. Mr. Meisner suggested staff be directed to write a definition of sustainability based on the council's discussion. He added he found none of the definitions in the staff memorandum objectionable and believed many of the concepts discussed by councilors could be incorporated into the definition. Mr. Lee cautioned against a definition that was Eugene's alone, and said it was important the definition be a shared product to avoid politicizing the topic. He said that ultimately, a discussion of sustainability was a discussion of changing the community's values and behavior. Mr. Lee said that the definition must also have public ownership, not just the support of politicians. Responding to Mr. Kelly's comments regarding the United Nations definition's reference to development, Mr. Lee referred to Canada's approach, Ecological Sustainable Development. He said that the approach was overseen by a branch of government assisted by merchants and environmentalists who provided policy input. He indicated he would provide Mr. Kelly with information about the Canadian approach. Mr. Lee said that as the resolution went forward, the City needed to be able to defend its rationale and explain its reasons for adopting the definition to the public. He suggested that an op-ed piece in The Register- Cmard would be useful, and stressed the article should take an academic, educational approach. Mr. Johnson appreciated the council's level of enthusiasm for the topic. He said that staff wanted clear direction but he cautioned that he could not promise that the council's direction would be implemented overnight given the current staff resource and workload. Mr. Johnson said that whether the council passed a resolution or he signed an administrative order, telling someone to do something different was not the correct approach. People needed to be convinced of the rightness of an approach. Education was necessary. Mr. Johnson said that the definition could lead to the development of a comprehensive program that takes time and requires money. Mr. Johnson cautioned that the City would need to share more information with the other governments than just the resolution; he suggested the subject was very appropriate for an intergovernmental meeting. Ms. Taylor endorsed an intergovernmental meeting focused on the topic. She also endorsed staff presentations about the topic to neighborhood associations. MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 8, 1999 Page 6 5:30 p.m.