Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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Ms. Taylor asked if it was possible for the City Council to place a moratorium on the use of tasers. City Attorney Glenn Klein agreed to follow up with a memorandum. Ms. Taylor spoke to the lack of flexibility in the City’s regulations regarding fences and suggested there should be exceptions for certain circumstances. Ms. Solomon arrived. Ms. Taylor observed that the council’s subcommittee on downtown parking had not met recently and had not yet brought its recommendations to the council, and she had recently learned that the City installed meters that accepted credit cards. She had not known that was happening, and had received a complaint they were so high that short people could not access them. She asked if the City purchased or leased the parking machines. Ms. Taylor observed that Nashville, Tennessee, had an art gallery in a former post office. Ms. Ortiz had also commended the Eugene State of the City event and noted her attendance at the Legislative Town Hall. She noted the upcoming Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations meeting to discuss legislative priorities on January 27. Ms. Ortiz reported on a discussion by Police Commission members on best ways to capture the conversation at subcommittee meetings and their interest in securing a video camera to record such meetings. She suggested that the council assist the Police Commission and Civilian Review Board by providing audio equipment to substitute for a lack of minutes recorders. She envisioned the funding would come from the Council Contingency Fund. She would have more information about cost later. Mr. Brown commended Ms. Ortiz’ suggestion, saying he had been hearing similar concerns from those groups and some members of the public about the lack of a record. He reported on his attendance at the recent Use of Force Committee meeting, and said the committee was taking its time to carefully review the taser policy. He also noted his attendance at the recent Human Rights Commission retreat and reported it had been a good grounding session for the eight new members. Mr. Brown said he met that day with two citizen members of the Budget Committee and Planning Division staff to discuss some of the remaining concerns and questions about the Beam project. Mr. Poling also had attended the EPD press conference and anticipated the new approach would allow officers to be more efficient and to focus on particular areas. He noted the upcoming Chamber of Commerce and Lane Council of Governments award dinners. Mr. Zelenka noted that the meeting was his last as Council President and thanked the council and staff for their support during his tenure. He too had attended the State of the County and two State of the City events, and particularly commended the Wildish Theater, which had been the venue for the Springfield event. He said that Springfield had presented a very well-done slide show that encapsulated 2009 events in Springfield. Mr. Zelenka noted that he had attended the last Civil War basketball game between the University of Oregon and Oregon State University to be held in MacArthur Court and reported that progress on the new arena was steady. He looked forward to seeing the Police Commission’s recommendations MINUTES—City Council January 11, 2010 Page 2 Work Session