CCMinutes - 08/09/04 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Torrey called for council comments and questions. Councilor Bettman indicated her likely intent to move to table the motion to a time certain to allow for more council discussion about the scope of work and for the inclusion of the roundtable's recommendations. She had concerns about the scope of work being proposed by Lane Metro Partnership Director Jack Roberts, such as his recommendation that the firm EcoNorthwest perform the study and that a technical advisory committee made up of public and private entities be formed to oversee the study. She noted that Mr. Roberts had suggested, in response to a question from Commissioner Bill Dwyer, that public funding was needed to ensure the study was not biased. Councilor Bettman opposed the participation of people representing private industry on the technical committee as she believed their presence would bias the study. Since all agreed on the need for the study to be credible, she thought the council should consider the scope of work to ensure that the study had not only the appearance but the substance of being factually unbiased. Responding to a question from Councilor Pap6, City Manager Taylor said the study was estimated to cost a total of $50,000 to $60,000. Councilor Pap6 expressed appreciation for the recommendations of Mr. Roberts but shared Councilor Bettman's concerns the study did not appear to be biased. He advocated for the issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) to ensure the individual conducting the study was not biased. Planning and Development Department Director Tom Coyle clarified that Eugene would not be responsible for the ultimate consultant contract, which was a multi-jurisdictional contract. Councilor Pap6 suggested the council could condition the City's participation in the study on an RFP. Mr. Coyle concurred. He said on occasion there was cause for a sole-source contract. He said the contract was relatively small, and to conduct a full bidding process for such a contract had its advantages and disadvantages. He had not analyzed that approach. Councilor Pap6 asked if staff had considered whether the study would be more acceptable to the public if it was overseen by local government rather than the Metro Partnership. Mr. Coyle likened the contract to the one the City had with the cattery, through which it did not dictate operational issues, but suggested that was a policy decision for the council. Councilor Pap6 wanted an unbiased study that was information-based, and said the community must perceive that was the case. Mr. Coyle noted that the State had established standards through the Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) for how such studies must be conducted. That fact was key to the Mayor's committee's recommendation regarding the issue. Responding to a question from Councilor Pap6, City Manager Taylor indicated the Land Conservation and Development Commission's guidelines regarding such studies, provided by Mr. Duncan, would be made available to the council. Councilor Pap6 shared Councilor Bettman's interest in a council review of the scope of work. Councilor Kelly indicated his tentative support for the concept of tabling the motion to a date certain, suggesting a date in September, soon after the recess. He believed the council needed to have an understand- ing of what the study would consider. He wanted to review the scope of work and the other materials the Board of County Commissioners had already reviewed, as well as the information provided by Mr. Duncan. He agreed credibility was a key to the success of the proposed study. He noted that the Mayor's committee had suggested that study examine both vacant and underutilized land; while he agreed that was critical, and MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 9, 2004 Page 10 Regular Session