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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 04/11/11 Work SessionMINUTES Eugene City Council McNutt Room —City Hall 777 Pearl Street — Eugene, Oregon April 11, 2011 5:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Betty Taylor, George Brown, Andrea Ortiz, George Poling, Mike Clark, Chris Pryor, Alan Zelenka, Pat Farr. Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the April 11, 2011, work session of the Eugene City Council to order. A. ITEMS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS: Human Rights Commission, Travel Lane County, Human Services Commission, Lane Council of Governments, Metropolitan Policy Committee, Public Safety Coordinating Council, Sustainability Commission, Lane Workforce Partnership Mayor Piercy reported on the Arbor Day Celebration held on April 9. She said that West University area residents and City staff, as well as members of Alpha Beta Psi, the Eugene Tree Foundation, NeighborWoods, and University of Oregon students participating in the Student Day of Service in Campus Neighborhoods took part in the event. Trees were planted at West University Park and other neighborhood locations. Mayor Piercy had accepted the City's 31 consecutive Tree City USA award from Western Lane District Forester Dave Lorenz of the Oregon Department of Forestry. Mayor Piercy reported that she testified on rail at the legislature the previous week and had attended a meeting of the Oregon Department of Transportation's Flexible Funding Committee meeting. She also attended the ground breaking for the new Bennett building downtown. Mayor Piercy and Mr. Poling had attended the opening of "Camas Country Mill," a former grass seed farm that was now raising winter red berry wheat for milling. She said the company's approach fit into the City's food security planning. Mayor Piercy said that a student delegation from Eugene's Sister City Kakegawa recently visited Eugene. Mayor Piercy noted the upcoming ceremony for awarding of the French Legion of Honor to resident Edgar Peara on April 14 at 2 p.m. at City Hall. The French government considered Mr. Peara symbolic of the valor of all American troops in France during World War II. Mayor Piercy concluded her report by clarifying for the benefit of the public that the City Council had not decided to raze City Hall at its March 16 work session, but rather decided to examine several options with the goal of staying on the present site. Mayor Piercy called on the council for committee reports and other items of interest. MINUTES — Eugene City Council April 11, 2010 Page 1 Work Session Mr. Farr reported that the Human Rights Commission was going through some changes in the way it addressed its charge and the actual charge itself. He noted the scheduled May 18 annual meeting between the Human Rights Commission and City Council. He said that over the last few years, the HRC had completed the Human Rights City Framework training as well as other trainings. He reminded the council of the City Manager's summary of the commission's accomplishments, distributed earlier that day. Mr. Farr reported that the City Manager had proposed a series of listening sessions to further refine the commission's role. He believed the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) was a key component of that evaluation and said the commission took the social equity element of the TBL very seriously. Mr. Farr reported that the commission would soon have six vacancies, and three commissioners had applied for reappointment. He reminded the council of the HRC's council liaison system and circulated the assignments. Mr. Farr said he had attended and enjoyed the farewell event for the Kakegawa delegation. Mr. Poling referred to Camas Country Mill and said the biggest hurdle the company faced in opening was the City's permitting process. The owners recommended the City establish a business ombudsman for new businesses going through the permitting process for the first time, and he asked City Manager Jon Ruiz to consider designating someone in the Planning Division to work with representatives of such businesses. Mr. Poling reported that Travel Lane County had adopted a non- partisan endorsement process for travel - related issues at the local, state, and federal level. A supermajority of the board of directors must approve any endorsements. A referral form had been developed for those requesting that Travel Lane County take a position on an issue. Mayor Piercy asked Mr. Poling to share with Travel Lane County that there was a danger the annual Truffle Festival could move to another community due to a lack of local capacity. Mr. Poling agreed. Ms. Ortiz reported on the work of the Human Services Commission (HSC). She said the HSC was concerned about the City's reallocation of funding to CAHOOTS because of the ramifications of that action on agencies being funded through the HSC. The HSC was also discussing a possible community benefit fee and its concerns about the funding outlook, including the commission's inability to fund Centro LatinoAmericano, which was controversial for some. Mayor Piercy, also a member of the HSC, added that the amount of federal funding that the HSC depended on was unsettled. It was possible a local summit might be scheduled to discuss the overall funding structure and the impacts of less funding. Ms. Ortiz reported on the work of the Public Safety Coordinating Council (PSCC), saying it was having a similar discussion about funding shortages. The PSCC had also discussed the subject of Disproportionate Minority Contact. Ms. Ortiz said the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency ( LRAPA) held its first budget committee meeting on March 28. The Budget Committee had discussed employee pension contributions and declined to recommend the restoration of the amount previously contributed to pensions to the board of directors, which was desired by employees. She observed that this would be the third year that LRAPA had not received an increase in its contribution from member organizations. She said that committee members were pleased with the air quality report and the quality of the work the agency did in general. MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 11, 2010 Page 2 Work Session Ms. Ortiz had attended a joint meeting of the Santa Clara and River Road neighborhood organizations and heard a presentation on their Strategic Neighborhood Assessment and Planning (SNAP) grant, which appeared to be a "go." Lane County commissioners Jay Bozievich and Rob Handy had also been in attendance. Ms. Ortiz reported that she also attended a Lane Transit District outreach event at Plaza Latina targeted at the Hispanic community to discuss the West Eugene EmX route. Ms. Ortiz noted the recent retirement of Ron Chase of Sponsors and bid him farewell and good luck. She also wished good luck to his successor, Paul Solomon. Ms. Ortiz concluded her report by noting that the Cascade Medical Team was holding a clinic on April 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1 ] 62 Willamette Street on April 14 for those without access to insurance or medical care. Mr. Pryor distributed his report on the Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) Board of Directors meeting and highlighted LCOG's work on improving communications both to the public and its members. LCOG was contemplating an approach based on the United Front concept dubbed the Regional Voice to represent the jurisdictions in Lane County before the State Legislature. That work was proceeding in a deliberate way because of the differing interests and views of the many jurisdictions involved. He suggested that the Regional Voice could serve as a clearinghouse for information as well. Mr. Pryor said the board also discussed the potential impact of federal budget reductions on Senior and Disabled Services, which served a very vulnerable population. Mr. Pryor had participated in an event greeting the Kakegawa student delegation and said he was impressed with how bright the students were. He had also attended Project Homeless Connect, which was very successful and broke all past records in terms of the number of attendees and volunteers. Mr. Zelenka reported that the Sustainability Commission was currently focused on examination of the West Eugene EmX route and the Seven Pillars of Envision Eugene. The Sustainability Commission had joined with the Planning Commission to form the Comprehensive Land Use and Transportation Advisory Committee, and that group had also reviewed the West Eugene EmX project. The commission would hold its annual work planning retreat soon. Mr. Zelenka said the Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC) was also reviewing the West Eugene EmX project. The MPC held a public hearing on the issue on April 5 and would meet on April 14 to vote on the final route option. Mr. Zelenka said that the committee had two new Lane County commissioners, Sid Leiken and Jay Bozievich. Hillary Wylie of Springfield was the new chair of the MPC. He said the MPC had an active citizen advisory committee that would have some openings soon. The MPC had approved the renaming of the I -5 Bridge to the Whilamut Passage. In addition, the MPC had commenced its periodic review of local transportation planning efforts, which would take about 1 -1/2 years to complete. Mr. Zelenka reported that the Target Rule Making Advisory Committee, of which he was a member, had forwarded a target for greenhouse gas reduction to each Oregon metropolitan planning organization. Mr. Zelenka concluded his report by announcing that the Riverstone Community Health Center in Springfield was having its groundbreaking ceremony on April 22 from 10 a.m. to noon. Ms. Taylor reported that she had welcomed the regional meeting of the Zonta Club on behalf of Mayor Piercy and had learned about the many good things the organization did for women. She had learned that human trafficking was also a local problem and recommended the book "Renting Lacey." MINUTES — Eugene City Council April 11, 2010 Page 3 Work Session Ms. Taylor had attended the retirement party for Ron Chase of Sponsors and commended the many things he had done for the community. Ms. Taylor reported on the work of Lane Workforce Partnership, saying that the organization had relocated to 2510 Oakmont Way. The partnership was collaborating with Lane Community College, the State Employment Office, the Job Corps, and Lane Independent Living Alliance. The partnership was ready to help its clients with a variety of things, such as r6sume writing and job searches. She found the facility welcoming and its employees eager to help and commended the fact that the partnership was focused on getting people ready for the jobs of the future. Ms. Taylor said the partnership also had youth internships and offered job retraining and skills assistance. Ms. Taylor said she and Mayor Piercy attended the opening of the Jazz Station, a cooperatively operated jazz performance venue run by the Willamette Jazz Society. City Manager Jon Ruiz reported he would make his annual budget presentation on April 27. City Manager Ruiz encouraged residents to review the most recent edition of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce's Open for Business magazine, which was about arts and business. He noted that the magazine mentioned www.eugenea,oao.com a new web site dedicated to listings of community events sponsored by the Lane Arts Alliance. Mr. Clark reported that he had lobbied in Salem on behalf of the City's bill to create alcohol impact areas. Mr. Clark said he continued to work with Mr. Poling on the issue of dividing the Cal Young neighborhood organization. He had been unable to attend the joint meeting of the River Road and Santa Clara neighborhood organizations but had worked with the two groups on ideas for the SNAP grant. Mr. Clark had attended the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce's Regional Prosperity Initiative on April 1 as well as the groundbreaking for the downtown Bennett project. Mr. Clark announced that the House and Senate Committees on Redistricting would hold a public hearing on legislative and congressional redistricting in Eugene at 10 a.m. on April 16 at the Knight Library at the University of Oregon. Mr. Clark concluded his report by saying he had also attended a town hall meeting held in the Santa Clara area by Senator Chris Edwards and representatives Nancy Nathanson and Val Hoyle. B. WORK SESSION: City Manager Evaluation Follow -up The council was joined by Human Resources Director Alana Holmes and Performance and Development Manager Denise Smith. Ms. Holmes noted the distribution of an amended Attachment C, First Amendment to Employment Agreement. Ms. Smith called the council's attention to the revised City Manager Proposed Performance Review Ratings (Attachment A) and City Manager Performance Review Compensation Adjustment (Attachment B). Councilors asked questions clarifying the information reflected in the attachments and voiced general support for the work done by staff. MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 11, 2010 Page 4 Work Session Ms. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Brown, moved to approve the ratings definition in Attachment A, the compensation amendment to the City Manager's contract in Attachment B, and direct the Council President to sign the amendment to the City Manager's contract, attached as Attachment C. Ms. Taylor believed the City was paying the manager enough money to expect excellent work, which should not automatically result in a raise that was larger than the cost of living. The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Ms. Smith referred to the options prepared by staff for evaluations of the Police Auditor reflected on page 8 of the meeting packet. She noted the current six -step structure now in place for the Police Auditor's compensation as well as for other executives' compensation. The council agreed to use the same ratings definition for the Police Auditor as it used for the City Manager, but to retain the six -step structure for the Police Auditor. Mayor Piercy adjourned the work session at 6:46 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ;t� JQ,-,,t Beth Forrest City Recorder (Recorded by Kimberly Young) MINUTES — Eugene City Council April 11, 2010 Page 5 Work Session