CC Minutes - 09/21/05 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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C. WORK SESSION: Public Safety Task Force Update Mr. Poling, seconded by Ms. Solomon, moved to postpone the item to September 26,2005. The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. D. EXECUTIVE SESSION The council entered into executive session in accordance with Oregon Revised Statute 192.660(2)(e). Mayor Piercy recessed the executive session and called the council back into public session. Mr. Poling, seconded by Ms. Solomon, moved to extend the meeting for ten minutes. The motion passed, 7: 1; Mr. Pape voting no. Mr. Kelly, seconded by Ms. Bettman, moved to direct the City Manager to immediately be- gin a swift, high-priority initiative to discuss assignable purchase options on PeaceHealth property and that of other property owners in the vicinity of 12th Avenue and Willamette Street. The City Manager should call on the assistance of local private sector individuals with real estate expertise to expedite the process. Mr. Kelly said it was clear from the earlier discussion that the council was very interested in the site and the manager indicated steps would be taken to determine the site's suitability for McKenzie-Willamette/Triad. He said the motion did not mean the City had to take the options, but would work with McKenzie- Willamette/Triad in the near-term. He believed it was necessary to send a visible signal to McKenzie- Willamette/Triad and the physicians that the council was taking a leadership role in this situation. Mr. Klein noted the conflict of interest declared by Mr. Pryor and Ms. Ortiz during the executive session and indicated that declaration carried over into the present meeting. He further opined that, as it regarded the substance of the motion, Mr. Pryor and Ms. Ortiz had potential conflicts as opposed to actual conflicts of interest. Ms. Solomon determined from City Manager Taylor that he did not interpret the motion as authorizing him to doing more than working with the involved parties to determine if there was interest in proceeding with options. Ms. Solomon asked if that reflected Mr. Kelly's intent. Mr. Kelly said yes, pointing out that given the short time line facing the City, nothing would come to fruition in the time before McKenzie- Willamette/Triad returned. He was merely trying to get out in front of the issue. Mr. Klein added that there was nothing in the motion authorizing the manager to sign an option agreement that committed City money without council consent. Mr. Pape thought it critical that representatives of PeaceHealth be involved in any discussions and that the City secure an option from PeaceHealth first before attempting to assemble the smaller parcels around it. He asked why, if the issue was so important now, the council had not taken a similar action with regard to the EWEB property. Responding to a question from Ms. Bettman, Mr. Kelly agreed to accept a friendly amendment to change the word "discuss" to "pursue." MINUTES-Eugene City Council Work Session September 21,2005 Page 9