CC Minutes - 11/18/98 Work Session

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Ms. Swanson Gribskov pointed out that the Police Forum was a departmental group and it was up to the department head to decide whether to continue it. Ms. Nathanson said that as long as two or three years ago, she expressed great interest in the issue of policy level review, which the proposal speaks to. When the ERAC was appointed, she continued, she was interested in hearing what the options were for external review. The proposal presented to voters was just one of the ways to do external review, she said, and when there is a subsequent discussion, she hoped it would include the concept of external review. Ms. Nathanson made the following suggestions on the ordinance: 1) the commission membership representing the HRC be "a member from the HRC or one of its permanent subcommittees"; 2) eliminate "one member from the citizen review board" (Mr. Johnson noted a clarification on the second page. Ms. Swanson Gribskov suggested simply adding the phrase "if in existence"); 3) listing sequentially items 1 and 5 under "Powers and Duties" as they are very similar; and, 4) clarify what is meant by "reviewing revenue measures" in 2 under Powers and Duties. She added that she had previously recommended that the citizen members of the Budget Committee do that type of oversight on a rotating schedule. Mr. Johnson pointed out that budget review is usually done by the Budget Committee or a subcommittee. Mayor Torrey said he was opposed to have a revenue strategy developed by the same group identifying needs. Mr. Meisner expressed the same concern. Mr. Johnson noted that item 3 under Powers and Duties gave the council the authority to assign to the commission whatever it wants so it was possible to have the group work on revenue measures or alternative strategies. Ms. Swanson Gribskov suggested rephrasing item 2 to read: "Provide input on service and resource needs for community safety." Mr. Tollenaar reminded the council that the public hearing would generate public input to consider and address in the final ordinance and he was inclined to listen carefully to public input before deciding. Responding to the suggestion that the issue of the Police Forum versus a Police Commission be left to the new permanent chief, Mr. Tollenaar said it was a difficult first step for the new leader and the council should address the issue at the same time it finalized the question of the commission. He expressed concern that the Police Department would end up with too many groups to staff. Mr. Laue cautioned the council against making decisions about departmental committees. Regarding revenue issues, he said he did not believe the intent was to have the commission develop measures but rather review them. He supported moving forward with the public hearing. Minutes--Eugene City Council November 18, 1998 Page 4 11:30 a.m.