05/14/1990 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e helping others secure a larger market share. She urged the council to reexamine its goals for revising the Sign Code. Cheryle Hawkins, 1350 Bailey Avenue, maintained that the proposed revisions, particularly as they apply to billboards, would adversely affect her means of livelihood as an independent subcontractor. She urged consideration of the code's impact on jobs and suggested that subcontractors legislated out of the market should be compensated. Ms. Hawkins recommended that an ad hoc committee be formed, with industry representation, to further consider revisions to the Sign Code. Michael Armstrong, 50 Highway 99N, identified himself as the vice president of Pacific Petroleum. He said that his industry has attempted to consolidate signs and eliminate clutter and voiced concern about excessive restrictions that could harm business. Al Johnson, 767 Willamette Street, Suite 203, distributed a memorandum on behalf of National Advertising Company. Mr. Johnson concurred with comments made by previous speakers in support of a content-neutral sign code that is more workable. He identified several legal issues in need of resolution and expressed particular concern regarding amortization. Mr. Johnson urged the council to more carefully consider the proposed reduction of billboard size from 300 square feet to 200 square feet. Randy Prince, 1819 Columbia Street, spoke on behalf of Common Ground. He said that if compensation is to be paid for value lost, then created value must be collected. Mr. Prince maintained that whenever privileges are assigned by governments, it is difficult to apply regulations to affect everyone equally. He suggested charging a fee for the privilege of displaying signs. Mr. Gardner submitted a letter from Larry Anderson for the record. There being no additional requests to speak, Mayor Miller closed the public hearing. Mr. Chenkin requested additional time for staff to prepare a written response to the issues raised during public testimony. Ms. Schue commented on the importance of fairness in public hearings and suggested that some speakers may not have been given adequate time to express themselves. Mayor Miller indicated that the public hearing could be reopened. Councilors agreed to defer their decision on this ordinance until after it has been considered at a work session. They asked that specific concerns relating to billboards, automobile dealerships, gas stations, sandwich boards, amortization, and shopping center districts be addressed in that discussion. Individual councilors agreed to provide staff with lists of additional issues. MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 14, 1990 Page 4