CC Minutes - 01/26/98 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES Eugene City Council City Council Chamber--City Hall January 26, 1998 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Pat Farr, Bobby Lee, Laurie Swanson Gribskov, Scott Meisner, Nancy Nathanson, Betty Taylor, Ken Tollenaar. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Tim Laue. His Honor Mayor James D. Torrey called the meeting of the Eugene City Council to order at 7:30 p.m. I. PUBLIC FORUM Mr. Fart moved, seconded by Mr. Tollenaar, that presentations in the Public Forum be limited to three minutes each. Mayor Torrey determined there was consensus to limit presentations in the Public Forum to three minutes. He explained other established ground rules for presentations. Ray Wolfe, 1473 Luella Street, submitted copies of a letter he had written to councilors regarding his concern that property tax exemptions given to The Register-Guard were not legal. He said he believed its building recently constructed on High Street to be in violation of the City Code and State statutes. He requested that councilors direct that a response be made to a June 1997 letter containing the same allegations from Neal Hyatt and that the council explain why consideration of the allegations had not been made before approval of the exemptions had been given by the council. Henry Luvert, 2036 South Shasta, stated that he was concerned over reports that the City Manager had encouraged the resignation of Police Chief Leonard Cooke without discussions with various communities within the City. He said such actions show that connections with communities of people of color do not exist. He questioned whether the City would be a better and safer place to live after Chief Cooke left his position. He expressed hope that the council would provide leadership for the community. Fern Jacobson, 1880 Tabor Street, stated that she was a 73-year-old resident of Eugene concerned about cuts in support for senior programs. She said she believed community programs for senior citizens were a benefit to taxpayers. She urged the council to reconsider its reduction of support for the Campbell Community Center which had resulted in elimination of the position held by Jeanne Seward-Wallberg. She said funds for reinstatement of the position should be found. Charlie Toiles, 550 East 46th Avenue, stated that he had been a resident of Eugene for 50 years. He said he was opposed to establishing a police complaint external review board. He said that Minutes--Eugene City Council January 26, 1998 Page 1 7:30 p.m.