CC Minutes - 06/15/98 Work Session

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Ms. Nathanson expressed appreciation to Mr. Johnson and City staff for their courtesies in scheduling recent briefings. Ms. Swanson Gribskov said she believed the council should instruct the Intergovernmental Relations Committee to consider placing on the City's Legislative Agenda support for having the State "kicker" statute rescinded and using excess revenue to support programs for youth. Ms. Swanson Gribskov expressed appreciation to the staff and police for their work performed in connection with the visit of President Clinton to the area. Ms. Taylor stated that she agreed with the comments of Ms. Swanson Gribskov. She said she believed that a teen center was needed in Eugene, but that it should be located in the downtown area, not on Coburg Road. She said she also believed that all children were "at risk" and that a full recreation program should be provided for them by the City; that the council should schedule another work session on City legal services, including consideration of options for action which would provide in-house services; that a "City Government Academy" as described by Mr. Johnson would be positive and lead to increased involvement of citizens; and that the staff had too much influence in development of City policy because of the Council/Manager form of government. Mr. Meisner said that he also supported holding an additional council work session on City legal services which could consider specific information about cost. He said he agreed with the comments of Ms. Nathanson regarding the Public Forum and the comments of Ms. Swanson Gribskov regarding the work of staff and police. He requested that a report be prepared on the status of depositing of material excavated from City construction projects in Alton Baker Park. He said he received many citizen comments that indicated it might be time for the council to study the issues related to the Council/Manager form of city government. Mayor Torrey stated that he believed compliments made for recent work of staff was justified. He asked the City Manager to consider special public recognition for the work of the Police Bomb Squad. Mayor Torrey said that he believed the council should deal with issues related to a symbol on Skinner Butte before an initiative petition would set a divisive ballot measure before voters which could eliminate reasoned consideration of the issues. Mayor Torrey invited members of the Executive Management Team and other staff present to comment on the process followed in the work session of the evening. There was agreement that the process had been a positive one. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, James R. Johnson City Manager Pro Tern MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 15, 1998 Page 9