Item 4: Request for Funds for Police Auditor Recruitment

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ATTACHMENT A THE COMMUNITY Home to 146,160 153,690 people, Eugene is Oregon’s third second largest city. The community covers 41.53 square miles, with the Willamette River running through the heart of the City and the McKenzie River joining the Willamette just north of town. The City is surrounded on three sides by hills, is midway between the Pacific Ocean and the snow-capped Cascade Mountains, and offers residents an outstanding quality of life and a wide variety of recreational opportunities nearby, including rafting, fishing, golfing, hiking, skiing, and beachcombing. Eugene’s climate, with an average of 53 degrees, is one of the City’s attractive features. Eugene is well-known as the home of the University of Oregon. With 20,000 students and over 6,000 employees, the University plays a major role in the community, as does Lane Community College. The employment base has become increasingly dominated by services, trade, and government, and less reliant on the timber industry. Eugene has a well-educated labor force with nearly 35% of the adult population having completed four or more years of college. Eugene is a friendly, progressive community with residents who are active and concerned about quality of life issues. The University brings a more cosmopolitan feel to the community, and the collegiate teams have contributed excitement and pride on a regional basis. The City’s Hult Center for the Performing Arts, recognized as the finest facility of its type in the state, brings renowned entertainers to the community throughout the year. It is home to seven resident companies: Eugene Symphony, Opera, Ballet, and the internationally acclaimed Oregon Bach Festival. Many residents are health and fitness oriented, and Eugene was recently awarded the Olympic Trials for Track and Field in 2008. Overall, Eugene is an attractive community with quality schools, a beautiful environment, a temperate climate, and a diverse, dynamic culture. THE ORGANIZATION In 1944, the citizens of Eugene adopted a council/manager form of government. In this form of government, the City Council develops legislation and policies to direct the City. The City Manager, hired by the City Council, oversees City of Eugene personnel and operations and caries out the City Council’s direction. The Mayor serves as the City’s political head and chairperson of the eight-member Council. The Mayor, elected by the city at large on a nonpartisan ballot for a four-year term, is the formal representative of the City. The Mayor presides over City Council meetings, and votes in the case of a tie vote of Council members. The Mayor can veto any decision, but can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the Council. Councilors are elected by ward on a nonpartisan ballot to four-year staggered terms. Eugene has over 1,400 employees and a $450 million total budget. The City of Eugene provides services through six departments: • Central Services • Fire & Emergency Medical Services • Police • Library, Recreation and Cultural Services • Planning and Development • Public Works