Item 2F: Ratification of IGR Committee Actions

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contracted methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) where physicians could not definitively pinpoint the source of infection in order to determine if it was ultimately duty-related or not. Ms. Wilson noted that under HB 2577 the presumption would have allowed the officer in question to be compensated without definitive proof of the duty-related nature of the infection. Mr. Poling, recognizing the legitimate duty of a City to protect its public safety officer, recognized that it was often extremely difficult to pinpoint when and how such officers were exposed to certain diseases and bloodborne pathogens. Ms. Wilson further noted that it was the opinion of staff that the risk of contracting the bloodborne diseases specified by HB 2577 did not necessarily increase for City employees because they were also public safety officers and the bill did not provide the same protections for regular City employees as it did specifically for public safety officers. Ms. Wilson, responding to a question from Ms. Ortiz, noted that the bill had been sponsored by the Committee On Judiciary at the request of the Oregon Council of Police Associations. Ms. Ortiz concurred with Mr. Poling’s previous comments regarding the matter. Ms. Taylor recognized that public safety officers were sometimes at greater risk of exposure to bloodborne diseases than regular City employees. Mr. Poling, seconded by Ms. Ortiz, moved to adopt a Priority 2 opposition position regarding HB 2577 as recommended by City staff. The motion passed unanimously, 3:0. LC 2186 - Relating to use of land. Ms. Wilson noted that LC 2186 had been generated in response to a court case that removed immunity for public and private landowners when they allowed the use of their land for recreational purposes or the use of their land to access recreational properties. She further noted that the legislative concept would continue to provide immunity for landowners under either of those circumstances and that staff was currently recommending a Priority 3 support position as the current land use laws discouraged property owners from using their property for recreational purposes. Ms. Ortiz, seconded by Mr. Poling, moved to adopt a Priority 3 support position regarding LC 2186 as recommended by City staff. The motion passed unanimously, 3:0. 4.Items from Members and Staff Ms. Wilson, responding to a question from Mr. Poling regarding legislative issues discussed at the February 23, 2009 City Council meeting, noted that staff would in the future be happy to separate out those bill items from the IGR Bill Report that were not unanimously agreed upon so that they might be referenced more easily by the City Council members. Ms. Wilson, referring to the February 23 meeting, noted that she had not received the direction she needed regarding the legislative matters under discussion and that City Council Chair Alan Zelenka had not allowed her an opportunity to elaborate upon any of the bills being presented at that meeting . She maintained that with more opportunities to explain the votes behind the legislative matters she would be MINUTES—Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations February 25, 2009 Page 5