Item 2F: Ratification of Intergovernmental Relations Committee Minutes

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Ms. Wilson, responding to a question from Ms. Ortiz, confirmed that there would be a Ways and Means public hearing Friday, May 1, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at the University of Oregon in Lillis Hall. She further noted that the hearing would be to discuss Attorney General John Kroger’s intention to re-establish a state civil rights division through an increase in the Oregon Department of Justice’s budget. She noted that the public hearing on the matter was designed as part of efforts to solicit public input on how to fill state budget gaps. The committee members and Ms. Wilson briefly discussed the nature of the proposed state civil rights division and how such an entity might affect civil rights protections within the City of Eugene. Ms. Wilson further commented that the proposed state civil rights division might in some way be charged with the enforcement of consumer protection laws. Ms. Piercy thanked Ms. Wilson for her recent efforts to procure stimulus funding from the Army Corps of Engineers and also for her recent efforts to meet with high-level Amtrak representatives to advocate for the implementation of high-speed rail systems in the region. Ms. Wilson appreciated Ms. Piercy’s kind words and noted that her efforts to begin high speed rail discussions with Amtrak were a result of the City Manager’s direction for staff to investigate such high speed rail opportunities on behalf of the City. Ms. Piercy maintained that the nature of federal stimulus funding mechanisms related to high speed rail generally indicated that any immediate high speed rail projects would most likely be focused on the east coast rather than the west coast regions of the United States. She further noted that the Oregon and Washington state governments would need to coordinate their efforts if they wished to see high speed rail systems make their way into the Pacific Northwest. Mr. Poling, seconded by Ms. Ortiz, moved to adopt the staff recommendation for priorities and recommendations for all bills that were not pulled for discussion for the April 29, 2009 CCIGR meeting and the committee action for all bills that were discussed and acted upon at that meeting. The motion passed unanimously, 3:0. Ms. Taylor adjourned the meeting at 2:09 p.m. (Recorded by Wade Hicks) MINUTES—Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations April 29, 2009 Page 5