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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 04/08/2013 Work SessionMINUTES Eugene City Council Harris Hall, 125 East 8 0, Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 April 8, 2013 5:30 p.m. Councilors Present: George Brown, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, George Poling, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Chris Pryor, Claire Syrett. Council President Poling opened the April 8, 2013 City Council work session and process session. He noted that Mayor Piercy was in Washington DC on the annual United Front trip. CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AND PROCESS SESSION A Committee Reports and items of Interest: Councilors reported on recent activities, projects, and items for committees they represent. Highlights include: • American Airlines to offer daily flights from Eugene to Los Angeles • Integrated service system for human services agencies being developed • Jon Ruiz honored for his work /partnership with LCC to build the downtown campus • LTD working to minimize the impact of EmX project in West Eugene • Discussions are underway on high speed rail. Chief Kerns provided an update about the recent arrests of eight homeless people for illegal camping. He noted that an internal affairs investigation is underway; therefore he could not comment on the details of the arrests. He also provided an update on the investigation of the Property Crimes Unit, noting there would be updates as information became available. B City Council Process Session: Acting City Manager's Office Division Manager Alana Holmes introduced the item and led the council through the discussion. Public Speaking Time: For public forums, when 30 or more people sign up to speak, should council consider implementing a policy to reduce public speaking time to two minutes per person? Discussion: • Establish threshold so that the decision to limit speaking time doesn't seem arbitrary. • General agreement that it is difficult to revise prepared remarks on short notice. • Current system of shortening time at Mayor's discretion seems to work. • Consideration should be given to content of council agenda and time sensitivity of other items. • Suggestion to have 60- minute Public Forum, followed by council business, returning to Public Forum if time permits. • Concerns apply to Public Forum only; maintain three - minute limit for public hearings. • Update literature and processes to inform speakers that shortening the time limit is an option when warranted by large crowds. MINUTES — Eugene City Council April 08, 2013 Page 1 Work Session Adding Additional Council Meetings: Should council consider adding additional meetings to its regular schedule in order to accommodate requests for work sessions? Discussion: Jon Ruiz noted that he and his staff will work with the councilors to the degree possible to accommodate their requests both for adding meetings and noting higher priority items. Several councilors expressed support for keeping the first Monday of each month free. Most agreed that if additional meetings are scheduled, they prefer adding time prior to the monthly Public Hearings night. Boards, Committees and Commissions Recruitment: Changes are being made to the online application system to minimize confusion about recruitments and membership opportunities. Discussion: The council expressed its support for updating the website so that the online application is only available when there are vacancies. The creation of an interested parties list was suggested so that the City could notify those on the list when a recruitment is initiated, Some councilors suggested pursuing new /better /different recruitment methods and strategies to get the word out about recruitment - especially to communities of color, youth, etc. The meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm. Respectfully submitted, Michelle Mortensen Deputy City Recorder MINUTES — Eugene City Council April 08, 2013 Page 2 Work Session