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the reporters of hazardous substances, so that some users of such substances who fall below the quantity <br /> threshold were not reporting. She thought there was a good argument to be made that those users should <br /> also be supporting the program. That would reduce the cost to the average business by a great deal and <br /> make it more affordable. She hoped the board would look at that approach. <br /> <br /> With regard to what should be in the charter, Ms. Nathanson said the problem was putting administrative <br /> details in the charter; that made it difficult to address changes or problems that arose. She hoped further <br /> charter proposals could be implemented through existing administrative processes as had been done in <br /> other instances. <br /> <br /> Mr. Pap6 concurred with Ms. Nathanson. He said that such details should not be in the charter, pointing <br /> out that part of the amendment was found to be unconstitutional <br /> <br /> The motion passed, 7:1; Ms. Solomon voting no <br /> <br /> Mr. Poling, seconded by Mr. Meisner, moved to direct the Toxics Board <br /> to return to the council in time for implementation by the 2005 billing cy- <br /> cle, a proposal to address the fee inequity and concerns caused by legisla- <br /> tive actions and court decisions, while preserving the general intent of the <br /> voters in adopting the program. <br /> <br />Mr. Poling said the fee schedule needed to be cleaned up. He wanted to avoid possible lawsuits or <br />petitions from the citizens to remove the program from the charter. He was not opposed to the program as <br />long as it was administered fairly and equitably. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly asked Mr. Poling if he wanted the board to look at the charter amendment, taking into <br />consideration legislative actions and court rulings related to the fee schedule and the inequity in the fees <br />that resulted, and make a recommendation to the council. Mr. Poling confirmed that the review could <br />include a recommendation for an amendment to the charter. Mr. Kelly said charter changes would result <br />in an expensive political campaign. If he thought that such changes were necessary, he would support <br />that. However, the testimony the council heard about ways to broaden the fee base would not require <br />charter changes to implement. Mr. Kelly said that if examination of the charter amendment was not a part <br />of the motion, he would be able to support it. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman thought the discussion, if not the actual language in the motion, made it implicit the intent <br />was to get the program back on the ballot, and she considered that a political maneuver. <br /> <br /> Ms. Bettman, seconded by Ms. Taylor, moved to amend the motion to ex- <br /> plicitly preclude putting the amendment back on the ballot. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman reiterated her previous remark about the intent of the motion. She thought there were ways <br />to manage what the State legislature had done to the program. She said the Toxics Right-to-Know <br />Program was necessary because toxics affected people personally, and people had a right to know what <br />the chemicals in use in their community were. <br /> <br />Speaking to Ms. Bettman's remarks about the intent of the motion, Mr. Meisner said he helped Mr. Poling <br />to craft the motion. It was his intent that the board would take a broad look at the program, and if the <br />board suggested a charter amendment, the voters had the choice to amend the charter or leave the charter <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council March 10, 2004 Page 7 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />