Item 3A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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organization's monthly meetings. Mr. Poling noted that the mayor's monthly forum was scheduled for the following day at 5 p.m. at the Albertsons on Coburg Road. Ms. Jones reported that Eugene was competing with Sacramento, California, for the 2008 Olympic Trails. Six members ofthe site selection committee would visit Eugene the next day to review the community's assets and participate in a question and answer forum. The winner would be announced on October 14. She noted her participation in the local organizing committee, which would make a presentation to the site selection committee. Ms. Jones reminded the council of the upcoming kick-off for the Delta Ponds restoration and habitat improvement project, which was being done in partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers. The kick- off was scheduled the next day at 10 a.m. near Valley River Center. She invited the council and public to attend. Mayor Piercy recognized Ms. Ortiz for a motion. Ms. Ortiz, seconded by Mr. Papt\ moved to accept the Police Commission Annual Report of July 25,2005. Ms. Solomon asked if the report included the commission's recommendations related to the external auditor issue. Ms. Ortiz said yes. Ms. Solomon said that while she respected and appreciated the work of the commission, she did not support its recommendation for an external audit and charter amendment. She determined from Ms. Ortiz that she interpreted the motion as the council's acknowledgement of the report rather than its endorsement of the recommendations. Ms. Solomon did not want a vote of acceptance to be translated for approval of the recommendation for an external auditor; however, she would support the motion. Ms. Ortiz acknowledged Ms. Solomon's concern. Ms. Bettman asked the maker of the motion to accept a friendly amendment to "approve" the report rather than "accept" it. She maintained that throughout her years on the council, the council traditionally voted to "approve" reports and "adopt" plans. The council traditionally voted to "accept" reports and plans only when there was a significant degree of opposition on the part of council to the document, but it wanted to acknowledge the work that had gone into it. She said that councilors who did not approve of the commission's report could vote against the motion, but the council already approved the commission's work plan, which included steps to implement the report, and placed a recommendation for an external auditor on the ballot. Ms. Ortiz declined to accept a friendly amendment because she wanted to give the entire council the opportunity to thank the commission and acknowledge its work. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Ms. Taylor, moved to amend the motion by replacing the word "accept" with the word "approve." The amendment to the motion failed, 5:3; Ms. Taylor, Mr. Kelly, and Ms. Bettman voting yes. The main motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Mayor Piercy recognized Ms. Taylor for a motion. MINUTES-Eugene City Council Work Session September 26, 2005 Page 3