CC Minutes - 02/23/98 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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one position had been upgraded from management analyst to senior management analyst and that one position had been eliminated. She said that the overall reorganization of the City Manager's Office had resulted in a reduction of 5 Full Time Equivalent positions and produced a savings of $354,000. Mr. Lee said that he believed the reorganization placed Eugene either on the cutting edge of city administration practices or was moving it backward. Ms. Elmer replied that she believed the changes she had instituted allowed the City to be more responsive to citizen requests for information, provided increased outreach, and pulled operational functions together in a unifying way. Mr. Lee asked if Ms. Elmer did not consider the previous operational system to be adequate. Ms. Elmer replied that she believed the previous operational system had served the previous council well, but that the new council needed a different way of operating. Mr. Tollenaar said he believed the questions of Mr. Lee to be appropriate, but reminded the council that the City Charter gave responsibility for organizational structure of the City to the City Manager. He said he was surprised that so many concerns had been raised about a relatively minor function of the City, but that none had been raised about the major reorganization which had dissolved the Department of Public Safety. He said he was aware that most cities in Oregon did not operate recorder and financial officer functions as Eugene had until the reorganization instituted by the City Manager. Ms. Nathanson suggested that the council hold the scheduled public hearing and then further consider issues raised in a later work session, as proposed in the agenda of the meeting. Mayor Torrey opened the public hearing on the ordinance concerning separation of City Recorder and Finance Officer. Mayor Torrey determined there was no one present wishing to testify in the public hearing. Mayor Torrey closed the public hearing and adjourned the meeting at 9 p.m. V. WORK SESSION: CONTINUED DISCUSSION OF EUGENE CELEBRATION Mayor Torrey reconvened the meeting of the council in the McNutt Room at 9:05 p.m. He reminded the council of its action on February 16 to postpone consideration of a motion regarding the Eugene Celebration to the current meeting. He read the motion, as follows: Mr. Fart moved, seconded by Mr. Tollenaar, to direct the Eugene Celebration staff and Steering Committee to explore privatization of the event either by developing a relationship with an existing nonprofit organization with goals that support the ongoing production of the event, or by forming a new nonprofit organization; and to direct the staff and committee to return to the City Council during the month of May with a specific request for one-time transition dollars for the event. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 23, 1998 Page 9 7:30 p.m.