04/19/1989 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e himself. Referring to budget issues presently being faced by the City, Mr. Bennett urged care in allocating substantial funds to a regulatory board. He encouraged the council to seek consensus and questioned the value of a split vote on the council over this issue. While he appreciated the work of Mr. Bennett and the task force, Mr. Boles reiterated that consistency with the instructions of the voters was the primary issue, not cost or content of the ordinance. Mr. Green shared concern regarding costs, but he concurred with Mr. Boles that the intent of the voters must be followed. Mr. Green alluded to the humanistic aspect of the issue and said taking action now will help avoid a greater cost later. Mayor Miller suggested that the only way of curtailing board costs would be by narrowly defining the scope of the boardls activities. Mr. Holmer reminded the council that he and Ms. Ehrman had voted to implement the measure passed by the voters in 1986, but they were overruled by a majority vote of the council. He said the ordinance that was adopted identifies the community sufficiently to attract an international convention. Affirming his belief in the initiative process, Mr. Holmer urged the council to refrain from attempts to distort or modify that process by intervening to enact a new ordinance at this time. e Mr. Ehrman recalled that the task force forwarded both the MRV and Bennett proposals with the same vote (seven to six in each case, according to Mr. Potter). Responding to Ms. Bascom1s request for comments regarding the board's cost to the City, Mr. Gleason said a sanctioned body of the City must operate under certain legal constraints. A board with investigative powers is required to adhere to stringent statutory restrictions. He recalled a situation involving human rights commissions and said City staff and boards should always receive legal advice before investigating in the areas of civil liberties and free speech. Mayor Miller summarized the direction the council appeared to be moving as being toward a board with appointments made according to the criteria of the MRV, and with limited expenditures made possible by the board being more educational and promotional. Mr. Gleason pointed out that expenses would be reduced by the boardls authority not involving difficult legal issues and by the council adopting a work program for the board. Ms. Bascom suggested appointing, through council interview and by the criteria established in the MRV, a seven-member nuclear free zone board. Ms. Ehrman suggested designating two of the seven members as representatives of the Sister City and human rights commissions. Ms. Bascom responded that this restriction of appointments could make it difficult to appoint a working board. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session and Meeting April 19, 1989 Page 3