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<br /> M I NUT E S <br />e Eugene City Council <br /> Council Chamber--City Hall <br /> October 12, 1987 <br /> 7:30 p.m. <br /> COUNCILORS PRESENT: Freeman Holmer, Emily Schue, Cynthia Wooten, Roger Rutan, <br /> Rob Bennett, Jeff Miller. <br /> COUNCILORS ABSENT: Debra Ehrman, Ruth Bascom. <br /> The regular meeting of the City Council of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order <br /> by Hi s Honor Mayor Bri an B. Obi e. <br /> 1. PUBLIC FORUM <br /> Mayor Obie said the Public Forum is an opportunity for people to express <br /> opinions and provide information to the council about issues that are not <br /> scheduled for council consideration. He said the council will not respond <br /> immediately to the concerns expressed in the public forum. <br /> Mike Helm, 1147 East 26th Avenue, said he lives next to the Masonic Cemetery <br /> and Hope Abbey which are located at 26th Avenue and University Street. He <br />e showed slides of the cemetery and abbey. He said the cemetery contains the <br /> graves of Eugene Skinner, Thomas Condon, Maude Kerns, George Whiteaker, the <br /> Kincaid, Harlow, Hendricks, and Patterson families and many other people who <br /> were important in the development of Eugene. He said the cemetery is still <br /> used. Thomas McChesney was buried there in 1986. <br /> Mr. Helm sa i d the cemetery is a historic resource but it is not well <br /> maintained. Many of the graves have been vandalized and the vandalism is <br /> increasing. Almost none of the old tombstones is complete and, when <br /> tombstones are broken, they are not restored. The slides displayed graffiti <br /> on the mausoleum, damaged tombstones, and an open grave. <br /> Mr. Helm said a person with a tractor and a gang mower is hired to cut the <br /> grass in the cemetery about twice a year. The mower hits and cuts the cement <br /> curbs around family plots and ripped an iron fence that surrounds a plot. <br /> Mr. Helm said the cemetery is a historic resource that is vanishing because it <br /> is not maintained. It needs regular care and restoration and the Masons do <br /> not seem interested in maintaining it. He said signs that would identify the <br /> historic features would be helpful. He said police presence in the cemetery <br /> ; s very effect i ve. If police officers arrive during a party in the cemetery, <br /> the parties decrease for several weeks. He suggested the council direct that <br /> police officers walk around the cemetery to indicate that the community cares <br /> about the cemetery. <br />e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 12, 1987 Page 1 <br />