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

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Rick Szekalski, 2115 Brittany, said that he was speaking to show his support for Police Chief Leonard Cooke. He asked Councilor Nathanson to take a leadership role in dealing with the inner turmoil within government leadership. Edwin Coleman, 1895 Fillmore Street, reported that he had received more messages about the resignation of Police Leonard Cooke than any other issues. He said he was concerned about the "shameless manner" in which the City Manager treated department leadership and that he was tired of "petty politics." He said he believed the City Manager should seek out the opinions of the communities of people of color. He read a poem which he said reflected his feelings about life in the City. Pat Lambert, 850 East 20th Avenue, presented what she said were the signatures of 135 senior citizens asking for the reinstatement of Jeanne Seward-Wallberg as program supervisor of the Campbell Community Center. She said a fund was being established to enable her being rehired by the City. Jerry Freeman, 1038 East 22nd Avenue, said that he was among those who signed the petition to reinstate Jeanne Seward-Wallberg as program supervisor of the Campbell Community Center. He said he was upset that the Campbell Trust Fund created by participants in senior activities at the center could not be used to pay for staff expenses. Ellen Zimmerman, 1412 Juhl Street, stated that she was a native of the City of Eugene. She said she did not believe the Campbell Community Center was the same since Jeanne Seward- Wallberg was no longer program supervisor. She described the work and benefit she provided to participants in programs of the center. Joseph D. Bradford, 139 East 17th Avenue #2, said that he supported Police Chief Leonard Cooke. He said the chief was an embodiment of the proverb that it takes an entire village to raise a child. He said he was concerned that the City Manager micromanaged the City Police Department and destroyed its vision of community policing. He reported his personal experience that police harassment of him had stopped following the arrival of Chief Cooke. Paul Prensky, 933 East 29th Avenue, said that he was a long time critic of City Manager Vicki Elmer and Police Chief Leonard Cooke. He said he believed the Chamber of Commerce wielded an inordinate amount of power and influence on the affairs of City government. He said he believed the City Manager should return the resignation of the police chief and remove herself from any influence in the department. He said he would rather have disagreements with Chief Cooke than anyone else. Ruth Duemler, 1745 Fircrest, said that she supported the efforts of City Manager Vicki Elmer to make changes in City government. She said she also understood the widely expressed feeling that the manager should be removed from office. She said she was angry that TCl had changed the channel for Metrovision because it eliminated her ability to watch City Council meetings on television. She requested that the council encourage the cable company to return Metrovision to a more accessible location. Audrey Erickson, 255 Agate Street, said that she was not able to evaluate the work of Police Chief Leonard Cooke or City Manager Vicki Elmer, but that she was saddened by the resignation of the chief. She said she hoped the resignation had not been motivated by racial issues. She Minutes--Eugene City Council January 26, 1998 Page 3 7:30 p.m.