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Ms. Hutson said that 90 percent of those in attendance at the recent public hearing regarding the system had indicated opposition to the proposal to run EmX down West I V Avenue. She asked the council to take that into consideration. Josef Siekiel - Zdzienicki, 1025 Taylor Street, supported a temporary City income tax for schools with a lower threshold. He suggested that people with lower incomes had more children and should also pay the tax. Mr. Siekiel - Zdzienicki suggested that an Environmental Impact Statement done for both the West 6"'/7"' avenue and West 13` avenue options, and that the route be discussed as part of the Envision Eugene process. He expressed disappointment in the most recent Envision Eugene open house and said that after a year of work, not much information had come out. Mr. Siekiel - Zdzienicki suggested that owners of properties along existing transportation corridors should have been surveyed about what they wanted to do with their property and what they wanted in the form of transportation. He thought that would have saved money and discussion. Steve Robinson, 1755 Tabor Street, submitted and reviewed his written submission in support of the school tax because of the positive economic impact it would have on the community. Mayor Piercy closed the Public Forum. Councilor Taylor agreed with Mr. Robinson about the positive benefit of the proposed tax. She emphasized that the council was not imposing an income tax, but instead was considering whether to give the public an opportunity to vote on such a tax. She believed that small class sizes were crucial to a good education. She said even if residents did not have children they were affected by the educational system. She supported sending the tax to the voters in May 2011. Councilor Ortiz thanked those who offered testimony. She said she had been unable to attend the recent hearing on the proposed EmX extension but had viewed the hearing later. Speaking to the remarks of Mr. White, Councilor Ortiz recalled that she got involved in local politics because of the Martin Luther King, Jr. street renaming controversy and had wanted to contribute to greater understanding of the issue. She urged others to get similarly involved. Councilor Clark also thanked those who offered testimony. He said that people who supported education differed on the best approach to funding. Councilor Pryor agreed with Councilor Taylor about the nature of the decision before the council. He believed it was appropriate to let the voters decide on such a tax. In regard to the appropriate election date, he said that he had to take the remarks of the superintendents about that topic seriously. He believed in a temporary tax that was broadly based and if the council was able to resolve the structure of the tax in a satisfactory manner, he was willing to place such a tax before the voters. Councilor Zelenka thanked those who testified. He emphasized the importance of quality schools and education. He supported letting the voters decide on an income tax because it was about the future and children. The schools were important in recruiting new businesses and the tax would be good for jobs and the economy. It would be a net economic benefit in terms of jobs. He said the legislature would not fix the problem soon. He applauded those who planned to work to pass the tax and hoped for their success. MINUTES— Eugene City Council February 14, 2010 Page 6 Regular Meeting