The Eugene City Council: Eight councilors and Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy discuss and legislate almost every issue affecting our city. Each member represents a different segment of the city; for instance, David Kelly represents Ward 3, the University area. During a 2003 council debate on whether the University’s Department of Public Safety officers should have expanded power in issuing citations, Kelly offered an amendment to put the issue on hold until students could give input.
The City Council has the power to enact ordinances, adopt budgets, create new municipal programs and so on. In 2004, the council approved a housing standards ordinance to make sure that safe, affordable housing is possible for all and that laws related to such a goal are enforceable.
Besides executive sessions, the community is well integrated into the council through attendance at public meetings, work sessions and hearings. This June, Mayor Kitty Piercy attended a public hearing about the Eugene City Code and its treatment of transgender identity and discrimination. Piercy, along with the community, listened to testimonials and concerns from each side of the debate. A city council work session on the issue will likely occur this fall.
Eugene City Council goals for 2005-06 include emphasizing safety in the Eugene community, making sure that sustainable development occurs so that resources will still be available to future generations and engaging in a municipal government which is effective and accountable.
City Council members, including Piercy, frequently appear at community events, such as this summer’s Big Duck Walk-A-Thon. Mayor Piercy also holds one-on-one conversations each month, wherein she sits down with community members at local markets and discusses issues and answers questions.
The eight councilors are: Bonny Bettman, Betty Taylor, David Kelly, George Poling, Gary Pape, Jennifer Solomon, Andrea Ortiz and Chris Pryor.
Bettman is the councilor for Ward 1, central Eugene, and is considered a liberal voter within the council. Some of her past actions include supporting the expansion of Department of Public Safety officers and speaking out in favor of adequate housing standards.
Taylor, for South Eugene’s Ward 2, is also considered a liberal or progressive voter. In 2002, Taylor was strongly in favor of a city-wide resolution opposing the USA Patriot Act.
Kelly represents the University area, Ward 3 in East Eugene.
Significant votes include a no on using money for city services to build a new police station in 2004 and a yes this year on paving alleys near the University.
In Northeast Eugene, Ward 4, Poling is usually a conservative voter. He has voted against imposing a moratorium on big box retailers, such as Wal-Mart, in Eugene.
Pape, for Ward 5 in Northwest Eugene, describes himself as a conservative voter. However, Pape became the pivotal vote in Eugene’s resolution decrying the Patriot Act.
Solomon is councilor for Ward 6 in the Bethel area. Solomon usually votes with a conservative slant; in May of this year, Solomon opposed a symbolic resolution to preserve old growth forests from logging in the McKenzie River Watershed.
Ortiz represents the Whiteaker/River Road area, Ward 7. Earlier this year, Ortiz gladly approved a resolution that spoke out against the use of torture by the U.S. Government.
Pryor, for Ward 8 in West Eugene, ran unopposed in 2004. Pryor voted in 2005 to consider using city funds to maintain tourism facilities.

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