Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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said studies around the world had proven marine reserves to be a sound investment economically and environmentally. She related that fishers that had been part of the marine reserve efforts had spoken out on the benefits of having marine reserves and environmental studies had proven the high benefits of the restorative process. She urged the City to be the first inland community to adopt such a resolution. Emma Kellaway , Student Body President for the University of Oregon and the Board Chair for the Oregon Student Association, which represented over 100,000 students across the state, conveyed the students’ message to the council urging support for the DREAM Act resolution. She said students had spoken through resolutions and letters in support of all students having access to post-secondary education. She stated that the country invested heavily in early education and 65,000 students were undocumented and had the lowest capability for attending the next level of education. She averred that this limited the country’s economy from benefiting from a highly educated population. She stated that the DREAM Act would help students who had been traditionally turned away to access higher education. She asked for the council’s support to make a very “impactful statement” by approving the resolution in support of the DREAM Act. Alejandra Gomez , 2936 Willamette Street, Apt. 6, represented Juventud Faceta, a youth group that worked to benefit the community. She noted that she was a junior in high school. She said if the country was looking to have less ignorance, the worst thing that could be done would be to deny a group of people the opportunity to be successful. As an undocumented student, she was tired of being told she could not go on to higher education. She said she was a young Latina who was trying to do what her parents could not do. She had moved to the United States with the dream of a better future and for her this had now become the DREAM Act. Evelyn McConnaughey thanked the City Council for considering the resolution to endorse the ocean marine reserves. She underscored that Oregon needed pure and healthy waters. She listed some of the organizations that supported the establishment of the reserves. Gary Roth stated that he had worked in the natural resources field for 30 years. He supported the establishment of marine reserves. Phyllis Hockley , 220 North Adams Street, #2, Co-President of Church Women United of Lane County, spoke on behalf of their board to request that the council pass the resolution in support of the DREAM Act. She said her organization was all-inclusive and supported peace and justice. She stated that the DREAM Act would help Eugene become a better place to live. Mayor Piercy closed the Public Forum. She thanked everyone for coming and speaking on “two very important issues.” Councilor Ortiz appreciated everyone coming out to speak before the council. She was glad to see their allies of the community coming out in support of the DREAM Act. She believed it was an important education issue. She said she had served on the Bethel School Board and Councilor Pryor had served on the School District 4J Board and the message to students had always been to stay in school and graduate and then they were offered jobs that could not support them in life. She supported comprehensive immigration reform and felt that the system was currently broken. She intended to support both resolutions. Councilor Zelenka had been impressed by the number of people who took a stand for what they believed in. He said both resolutions were easy to support and he intended to support both because it was the “right thing to do.” Councilor Pryor stated that he had served on the school board because he believed in the power of education. He averred that to deny education weakens people and weakens the fabric of culture. He said the DREAM Act would have a human benefit and an economic benefit, because an educated population would not only benefit itself, it would MINUTES—Eugene City Council March 8, 2010 Page 5 Regular Meeting