Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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Mr. Pryor felt that implementation of public policies using the WEC recommendations could be highly beneficial to the community. He further commented that it would be advisable to let the public know that the initiatives touched on by the WEC recommendations would have a healthy amount of flexibility with respect to the kinds of projects that might be executed under those initiatives. Mr. Zelenka supported the initiatives described in the staff memorandum and further suggested that the staff might provide more specific information as to the City of Eugene's role in the execution of those initiatives. Mr. Zelenka commented that the staff timeline regarding the WEC Eugene Planning Initiatives had been very helpful in illustrating the long-term and inter-related nature of the initiatives. Mr. Inerfeld, responding to a question from Mr. Zelenka, noted that the WEC did not generally address issues related to the westward expansion of LTD's EmX service as such matters were better addressed by the Corridor Committee for the West Eugene EmX expansion which Mr. Pryor and Ms. Solomon served on. Mr. Inerfeld further noted that both LTD and the Corridor Committee had been attempting to identify additional business owners along West 11th Avenue for further input and feedback. Mr. Inerfeld noted that representatives from LTD would be presenting to the council on September 30, and were expected to present further information regarding public involvement on the west Eugene EmX extension at that work session. Mr. Zelenka said it would be important for the City leaders, LTD and the West 11th Corridor Committee to focus on the community benefits provided by western EmX expansion with regard to public participation efforts. Mr. Inerfeld, responding to a question from Mr. Zelenka regarding a study of Highway 126 towards Veneta that had been sponsored by State Senator Prozanski, and Representative Holvey, commented that the study had not received funding during the most recent legislative session. Mr. Inerfeld further noted that Lane County had requested funding for the Highway 126 study as part of the reauthorization of the federal transportation bill. Mr. Brown thanked the members of the WEC for the material in their report and appreciated that certain portions of that report specifically addressed the environmental restoration and protection of local wildlife habitats. th Mr. Brown requested further information regarding the membership of the West 11 Avenue Corridor Committee and asked which agency was responsible for any expansions in the membership of that Committee. Mr. Inerfeld answered that LTD did a certain amount of recruiting for the Corridor Commit- tee, but that they endeavored to keep the membership as balanced as possible between business and community interests. th Mr. Brown maintained that many members of the public felt “shut out” of the West 11 Avenue Corridor Committee process and hoped that the WEC, the Corridor Committee and other similar groups would work to include a broader cross-section of community members. Ms. Piercy commented that the WEC and other groups continually struggled to maintain adequate community representation within their memberships. MINUTES—Eugene City Council August 12, 2009 Page 6 Work Session