CC Minutes - 10/13/08 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilor Solomon expressed disappointment that no one had come to speak about Ballot Measure 20-145, the measure that would provide funding to fix 70 miles in city streets over the next five years. She said it was a $35.9 million bond measure that would slow the deterioration of the streets so that the “$170 million problem would not turn into a $225 million problem by allowing more streets to fall from fixable to damaged beyond repair.” She stressed that the bond measure was intentionally crafted to raise only enough money to demonstrate that it could do what it said it would do. She encouraged the voters to support the measure. Councilor Zelenka opined that Mr. Torrey was “making a mountain out of a molehill.” He asserted that they had only “cleaned up” and made consistent the transportation planning documents so that they were consistent with “reality.” He disputed the claim that what they had done would stop development in West Eugene. He believed that the West Eugene Collaborative (WEC) was the alternative effort that was being “pushed and led” by the Mayor. He averred that it was the right type of process as all of the parties were being brought together to arrive at a solution that worked and was durable. Councilor Zelenka did not believe the Police Auditor system was at issue; he believed it was the “consistent and constant” challenges to any accountability that caused the problems. Continuing, Councilor Zelenka urged the community to support Ballot Measure 20-145. He said people should just drive around and that would be the campaign for the measure. Councilor Ortiz thanked Mr. McFadden for his work. She also wanted to add her support for Ballot Measure 20-145. Councilor Ortiz related that when she ran for office she had promised her constituents that she would do something about the WEP. She averred that the WEC was working more in alignment with what she believed. Regarding the Police Auditor’s Office, Councilor Ortiz thought the council needed to agree what they wanted from the auditor. She supported holding an executive session in order to have a candid conversation. She underscored that the City Council had three employees and gave the City Manager and the Municipal Court judge clear direction, which they did not provide to the Police Auditor. Councilor Taylor thanked everyone for testifying. She agreed that both ballot measures should be passed. She opined that the Police Auditor had been prevented from doing her job in some cases. She said the council had no control over the EPD. She supported holding an executive session to further discuss the auditor’s office. Councilor Bettman alleged that the WEP had been dead long before Eugene representatives had voted against it in the Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC). She reiterated her assertion that the cost of the project had been doubled and that it had “died of its own weight.” She averred that it had been kept alive on paper and that people had wanted it to be on paper in case enough money was available, but locally people needed “money to fill potholes.” Councilor Bettman said both of the measures that had been placed on the ballot had been passed almost unanimously by the council. She noted that a lot had been said about how divided the council was. She opined that the community had been divided as well, and the council reflected the community. She felt the council had been able to come together on important issues. MINUTES—Eugene City Council October 13, 2008 Page 5 Regular Meeting