Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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reason cities incorporate was to have roads and infrastructure, public safety, and education. Those were the things she wished to “bring back” and fund first. She said whatever money was left over she would choose to fund other social services and the arts. Ms. Jackson also congratulated the LEAD members, calling them fantastic. She added that she agreed with Mr. Brown regarding the need for money for public safety. Continuing, Ms. Jackson noted that Item C in the Consent Calendar was the adoption of Revised Neighbor- hood Association Charters and asked that the council “vote it down.” She said the South University Neighborhood Association, of which she was a member, experienced trouble with a lack of transparency. She related that the charter had been modified to allow board meetings, which were supposed to be public, to occur over the internet and via conference calls. She averred that not all members had access to the technology and, given that inclusiveness and being open to the public was important, she opposed adoption of the revised charter. Councilor Solomon closed the Public Forum. Mr. Kelly thanked those who spoke. He was impressed by the work of the LEAD program. He noted that a lot of detailed thinking had gone into the LEAD presentation and asked the City Manager what it would take to convene an initial meeting between relevant staff and LEAD members. He asked for a memorandum on the results of the meeting, should it be held. City Manager Dennis Taylor said scheduling such a meeting was possible. He related that he had a conversation with the Executive Director of Library, Recreation, and Cultural Services (LRCS) Angel Jones regarding the recreation aspects of the LEAD presentation. He thought it was certainly possible to bring in a Facilities Committee member to address some of the proposals they had heard. He remarked that he was impressed with the presentations given at this meeting and the February 13 City Council meeting. Regarding neighborhood charters, Mr. Kelly averred that neighborhood associations often had email conversations regarding emerging issues and this was nothing extraordinary. He said there were five charters up for review on the Consent Calendar. He acknowledged that two neighborhood associations passed a revised charter to formalize the practice of communicating via email. Councilor Ortiz thanked the youth from LEAD for speaking to the council. She said it was easy to make good choices when good choices were laid out, but it was harder to make good choices when such choices were not laid out clearly. She lauded the work of the group. Councilor Ortiz asked if the City Manager had been in contact with the school districts regarding the ruling on the levy. City Manager Taylor responded that he spoke with both superintendents immediately after the ruling and they all agreed that the ruling should be appealed. He said they were working on the details of both the impacts of it and the legal basis for an appeal. He believed there would be information for the council in the next packet. Councilor Ortiz said it puzzled her that someone would put energy into something that hurt the community’s children. She was saddened that people would work to overturn something the community obviously voted for and supported. Councilor Poling congratulated the representatives of LEAD, adding that he was proud of LEAD partici- pants and that they should keep up the good work. He noted, regarding the Youth Activity Levy, that he was going to ask the same questions Councilor Ortiz asked. Whether he agreed with the judge’s ruling, the MINUTES—Eugene City Council -- February 27, 2006 Page 5 City Council Meeting