HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-1206 Document Submitted
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Martha Bennett
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John Stromberg Uohn@counciLashland.or.us]
Monday, December 06.20105:00 PM
Martha Bennett
Re tonight's study session
Hi, Everyone
Sorry I can't join you. Hope to be back for tomorrow night's regular session but not the
exec session.
Here are some comments I'd like to add to tonight's discussion:
1. Re Business Licenses: I think it's critical to determine a plausible reason for the
license program_from_the_point_of_view_of_the_businesses_before proceeding.
2. Re goal-setting:
A. Date: Jan. 22, We need time to prepare but don't want to get any closer to the Jan. 31
Homelessness study session, IMHO.
B. Yes to a (little) team-building, e.g, 2-3 hours of understanding each others' perceptual
and decision-making 'styles' (a la Meyers-Briggs, for example); with a facilitator for not
more that $500, Someone who really knows M-B if that's what we choose. Or ~e can always
come over to my house for burgers and beer:-)
C. I'm in favor of a different meeting room. The Forensics Lab is a nice facility but
possibly a little large. Also we may have citizen observers this year and I'm not sure that
would work at the Lab,
D. Re facilitator. I thought Martha did a good job last year and would like to have her
facilitate again.
E. Re outside input: It's too late to ask the Commissions to give us something formal but
I'd like to ask the Commission Chairs to poll their members and give us informal notes about
what's on their minds looking ahead.
Also I'd like to invite public input, in a simple way: send us an email or letter. And
perhaps some Councilors would invite thoughtful people to weigh in.
I'm assuming we'll get something from staff.
F. I would not invite the City Recorder, City Attorney, etc. to attend but_would_invite
suggestions.
G. Re next steps (after tonight's study session): I think a four-person group of Martha,
myself and two of the four continuing Councilors should finalize all the details, agenda
included, and submit their suggestions to the full Council for the Dec. 21 meeting.
H, Re content of session:
i. I would like to take
them in the Budget process.
Budget perspective.)
a fresh look at our values, in the light of how we ve been using
(I don't mean throw out the old ones, just look at them from the
,
ii. I suspect we're going to want to recast the Homelessness goal, even before the Jan.
31 study session, (I'm very aware of the complexities ~f the subject and want to make sure
we really deal with_aIl_aspects on Jan. 31 but I also.think we need to take seriously the
fact that there isn't a basic shelter option for our own genuinely homeless citizens and
that, in turn, cripples our ability to manage other aspects of the homeless continuum, like
pan-handling and camping.)
Ill. I hope the Council will join me in reviewing and possibly recasting the commission
'charters'. I feel several of the commissions are adrift and/or not on the same page with
the Council, (More later.~.)
iv. I think we should consider reworking the fiscal sustainability goal to include some
specific options such as self, insuring for medical benefits, the 6% pick-up, possibly'joining
other cities in addressing PERS problems, etc, IMHO we need to exert more leadership here
because government entities on all levels will be taking steps that will raise questions for
the public about why we're not considering similar measures.
I. After the Council finalizes its goals I assume we'll get a feasibility report from the
Departments?
J. Again, I'd invite public feedback in an informal way.
John Stromberg
Mayor
541 552 2104 (direct)
541 488 6002 (secretary)
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