CC Minutes - 11/23/09 Public Forum

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benefits that the resources should provide for years to come. He said they were at a key crossroads because the Department of Fish and Wildlife was selecting advisory members for the remaining four near - -shore sites that were forwarded for further review to be implemented as marine reserves. He averred that this key commitment by the state agencies assured that fishermen like himself were seated at the table working in collaboration to ensure they were moving forward with an ecologically significant designation without causing significant economic harm to the communities that depend on these resources. He hoped that the City of Eugene would j oin other communities such as Cannon Beach, Yachats, and Lane County in declaring public support for the collaborative process and to embrace the nearly unanimous support that House Bill (HB) 3013 received in the State. Legislature. Dennis Gabrielson, 360 South 1 o th Street, Creswell, had wanted to rebut City Manager Jon Ruiz' assertion, made at the meeting held two weeks earlier, that a $250,000 savings had been achieved at the library. He was not going to dispute his figures, but he still believed that the $100,000 job that Was being posted externally could have been avoided. He believed that all Mr. Ruiz had to do Would be - to appoint another exempt employee to fill that position until they knew the position would be needed. Guadalupe Quinn, 3820 Greenwood Street, asked the council's support for forwarding a resolution in support of federal legislation called the Dream Act. She explained that the legislation would create an opportunity for undocumented immigrants to be able to continue their education and, With some criteria, to adjust their status. She said they were asking the council to join hundreds of other organizations that have signed on for this. She understood that immigration was a hot issue in this country and this community, but she wanted the councilors to consider the request for support of the Dream Act as a way to invest in the future of the country's young people. She underscored that the people that this would help were people who had only known this country and community as their home and had lived nowhere else since coming to the country and who would hopefully be able to be contributors to the community in the future. She left some information regarding the Dream Act for the council's review. Joy Marshall, 5166 Alpine Way, thanked the councilors for their service on the council. She spoke regarding the Ballot Measures (BM) 66 and 67, which she said were small revenue measures that were very seriously needed. She related that School District 4J had cut $20 million from the budget "just to keep the doors open." She said the Bethel School District had to cut $9 million from its budget. She stated that her daughter had come home with a chemistry problem that she was unable to answer and she had been unable to get her teacher's help because the classroom was crowded with 40 students. She noted that a friend's math classroom contained 56 students. She averred that this was hurting the quality of life in the community. She, asked the councilors to help get the word out. She underscored that the budget cuts also impacted the University of Oregon and Lane Community College (LCC) as well as cutting millions from human services and public safety. She said the first measure would only impact the top 2.5 percent of Oregonians and the, second measure Was in two parts and would ask people to pay a little bit more. She asserted that presently the $10 minimum corporate income tax was being paid by two - thirds of corporations. She said they were asking them to step up and pay the extra $150 per year. She noted that her family's business taxes would be increased from $10 to $150. She added that the most profitable businesses would experience a 1.3 percent tax increase on profits over $250,000 and most of the tax increase Would be temporary and in the year 2013 would go to profits over $10 million. She called the ballot measures modest, fair, and "incredibly necessary." She hoped the council Would consider endorsing a measure to get the word out to the community. Debbie Schlenoff, P.O. Box 51347, conservation coordinator for the Lane County Audubon Society, spoke in support of establishing a network of marine reserves off the coast of Oregon. On behalf of the Audubon Society, she encouraged the City of Eugene to adopt a resolution of support for Oregon's marine reserve system and to support the evaluation and potential designation of Cape Perpetua as an important component of that network. She said they were fortunate to live close to the coast and recognized the importance of ocean health on its citizens' environment, economy, and public health. She stated that research had shown that the decline of ocean health negatively impacted the success of bird populations. She averred that marine reserves acted as an insurance policy MINUTES Eugene City Council November 23, 2009 Page 2 Regular Meeting