CC Minutes - 05/26/09 Work Session

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spoke to students at Cascade Middle School and attended an EmX ceremony in Springfield. She noted the City received $63,450 from the Youth Conservation Corps to be used for parks and employment of youth. She congratulated those who participated in the bike commute program and thereby prevented 33,000 pounds of carbon emissions. Mr. Clark said he and Mr. Zelenka continued to provide supervision to the Police Auditor and had preliminary discussions about the transition period to a new auditor and addition of members to the Civilian Review Board (CRB). He reported on the Eugene Police Department’s (EPD) report to the Police Commission on the taser pilot project. He attended a joint elected officials meeting on economic develop- ment and a Lane Metro Partnership board meeting at which potential businesses for the area were discussed. He thanked Planning Director Susan Muir for her assistance responding to inquiries from his ward regarding development of a residential treatment center. He spoke at two cemeteries on Memorial Day and thanked the Musgrove family for its contributions. He said the next two joint elected officials meetings would deal with jurisdictional issues and ambulance service areas. Mr. Brown commented that the Human Rights Commission had elected new officers and discussed use of Community Development Block Grant funds for the removal of barriers and improving accessibility. He proposed to the Willamette Valley Sustainable Food Alliance surveying small businesses and presenting the results to the joint elected officials’ economic development task force. He attended a meeting of the Downtown Neighborhood Association and the Taser Town Hall. He said some people at the town hall spoke bitterly about the police, but overall a wide range of opinions and perspectives was presented. Mr. Poling said the City had just completed its budget process and he was pleased with the work of the Budget Committee. He extended his appreciation to staff and the citizen members of the committee for their efforts. He had received several calls from constituents and commended staff for their responsiveness when he forwarded concerns to them. Mr. Pryor concurred with Mr. Poling’s remarks about the Budget Committee, its citizen members and the staff. He said cutting $12 million from the budget had been done as effectively and respectfully as possible. It was the most efficient budget process he had experienced. As a councilor, he took the advice of the Budget Committee to heart. Ms. Ortiz agreed with Mr. Poling and Mr. Pryor about the effectiveness of the budget process. She met with citizens concerned about the Seneca bio-mass co-generation plant. She said there were no resolutions, but those present listened and shared information. She attended the Taser Town Hall, but because the City did not officially participate she felt another forum should be organized, perhaps by the City Club. She announced that the We Are Bethel celebration would occur June 6 at the Petersen Barn. She participated in a candidates’ forum in which representatives of communities of color were able to discuss those issues that were important to them and participated in an event organized by the University of Oregon and Chamber of Commerce to discuss contracting with women- and minority-owned businesses. Ms. Taylor supported the idea of a City Club-sponsored Taser forum. She recommended the play Suicide Weather at Lord Leebrick Theater and the Farmer’s Market as local events of interest. She remained concerned about charging the Farmer’s Market for parking. She said Crest Drive area street improvements remained a problem and 14 people at a neighborhood meeting had voted to delay the project. She questioned how many people constituted a neighborhood. She asked if there was a way to gather the opinions of those who would be assessed and whether the project could be limited to Crest Drive and not include Storey MINUTES—Eugene City Council May 26, 2009 Page 2 Work Session