CC Minutes - 05/29/07 Work Session

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members of the council who seemed to favor changing the form of government. He was not advocating change but thought that discussion should occur early in the process. Ms. Solomon echoed Mr. Poling’s request for a discussion of the City’s form of government. She indicated she was not in favor of a change, but she agreed there was a need for public discussion of the matter and would likely request a work session. Ms. Solomon reported that she attended Public Works Day with her sons and praised the event. She said there were many activities for children and adults and she planned to attend again next year. Mr. Clark expressed his sadness at City Manager Taylor’s departure and said it had been a pleasure to work with him. He had also attended the EPD awards ceremony and was proud of the force and impressed by the caliber of the awards recipients. He had also attended a Public Safety Coordinating Council subcommittee meeting on juvenile justice and there was much discussion of how the County’s financial problems would affect those services. He said the Convention & Visitors Association of Lane County (CVALCO) was also concerned about the County’s budget problems. Mr. Zelenka thanked City Manager Taylor for his years of service in the public sector. He displayed a plastic bag and plastic drinking cup that were made from materials that were compostable and biodegrad- able. He commended Rexius Forest Products and Market of Choice for their forward thinking in using those products and encouraged other businesses in the community to do so. He hoped that was an issue that the sustainability manager and commission would explore. Ms. Ortiz announced that the We Are Bethel Celebration would be held on June 2 at the Petersen Barn. She recollected that she originally met City Manager Taylor at the same event shortly after he came to Eugene. She thanked him for his service to the community and said he would be greatly missed by employees, who spoke very highly of him, and by the council. She said that a report would be presented later in the week by Union Pacific on contamination of ground water. She said there had also been a report on the J.H. Baxter plant and whether there was any relationship to the incidence of cancer in the area. She reported that Lee Mun Wah conducted a workshop for communities of color and it was well attended by people from across the spectrum. She commented that the communities of color were a very diverse group. City Manager Taylor remarked that while there was never a good time for a transition, he would be leaving at the end of a fiscal year and many of the council’s goals and activities would be completed or well under way. He said it had been an incredible honor and privilege to serve as Eugene’s city manager and he regarded it as the capstone of his 38 years of public service. He had never worked with a more dedicated and talented workforce and was overwhelmed by the talent and generosity in the community. He would provide full measure until his last day on the job. Mayor Piercy said she would present a hiring process for the council’s consideration and would speak to each councilor regarding appointing an interim city manager. Ms. Bettman thanked City Manager Taylor for his years of hard work and wished him well. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Ms. Taylor, moved to direct the police auditor to bring forward to the council for approval at the June 11 or June 13 work session a proposal for an admin- istrative investigation of the environmental factors surrounding the prolonged criminal acts of officers Magana and Lara. The proposal will include a scope of work, timeline and cost. MINUTES—Eugene City Council May 29, 2007 Page 2 Work Session