CC Minutes - 02/14/11 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES Eugene City Council Council Chamber —City Hall 777 Pearl Street — Eugene, Oregon February 14, 2011 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Betty Taylor, George Brown, Andrea Ortiz, George Poling (via speakerphone), Mike Clark, Alan Zelenka, Chris Pryor, Pat Farr. Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the February 14, 2011, regular meeting of the Eugene City Council to order. 1. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Piercy reviewed the rules of the Public Forum. David Sweet, 2024 Emerald Street, advocated for a City income tax to fund schools. He then went on to speak of the merits of children and the love they provided to others without thought of return. He said that citizens must work to help Eugene became the great city it could be, one that was built on a foundation of love. He advised the council that the love of money was the root of all evil while the love of love was the root of all good. He said citizens knew the difference. He suggested that the councilors Who supported an income tax for schools would be recalled in the future as people who remembered the children. John Brown, 101 East Broadway, represented the Eugene Water & Electric Board commissioners. On behalf of EWEB, he thanked the council for accommodating the commissioners in taking their oaths of office at the State of the City event. He hoped it was the beginning of a new tradition. He also thanked the council for its support of EWEB's water contract to Veneta, which he believed created a win -win situation for all. The board would discuss future water rights during its upcoming strategic planning meeting to continue the momentum on the topic. Mr. Brown shared some positive outcomes from EWEB's Customer Cares Program. He invited the council to EWEB's Centennial Celebration on March 11, 2011, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thomas Grimsley, 299 Sterling Drive, representing the Eugene Education Association as the teachers' bargaining chair for the Bethel School District, spoke in favor of a City income tax to support schools. He noted the budget reductions that had already taken place and described the concessions already made by Bethel district bargaining groups, which included reductions in wages and benefits, reductions in school days, and reductions in personnel. He said this would be the third consecutive year that employees were discussing reductions with'the district. Mr. Grimsley asked the council to place a measure establishing a tax for schools on the May 2011 ballot so voters could decide the question. He then submitted testimony in support of the proposed tax from Tom Diliberto, bargaining chair for the 4J School District. MINUTES— Eugene City Council February 14, 2010 Page 1 Regular Meeting