Laserfiche WebLink
Councilor Kelly stated that he had previously submitted corrections to the minutes via email. Mayor <br />Torrey said the corrections had been reviewed and that, without objection, they were deemed approved. <br /> <br /> Roll call vote; the motion to approve the Consent Calendar passed by <br /> unanimous vote, 8:0. <br /> <br />4. PUBLIC HEARING and POSSIBLE ACTION: Proposed Revisions to Traffic and Ordinance <br /> Offenses <br /> An Ordinance Concerning Criminal Trespass and Interference with a Firefighter; Amending <br /> Sections 4.805, 4.808, and 4.990 of the Eugene Code, 1971; Renumbering Section 4.810 of <br /> that Code to Section 4.812; Adding Sections 4.810 and 4.941 to that Code; and Providing an <br /> Immediate Effective Date <br /> and <br /> An Ordinance Concerning State Traffic Laws; Amending Sections 5.005 and 5.990 of the <br /> Eugene Code, 1971; and Providing an Immediate Effective Date <br /> <br />Mr. Taylor introduced Marilyn Nelson, Court Administrator, who spoke to this issue. <br /> <br />Ms. Nelson explained, as heard at the January 26 work session, that the first ordinance had to do with <br />legislative updates to Chapter 4, part of which was to update language for the offense of criminal trespass <br />and to add two new offenses, that of interfering with a firefighter or emergency medical services <br />personnel and also trespassing at a sporting event. She stated that these were passed into State law and <br />should be reflected in the City Code as well. She said the other ordinance would put into City Code all of <br />the traffic updates from the last state legislative session. She added that it would also propose a new City <br />penalty section that would retain local control over the City's traffic fines. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey opened the public hearing. <br /> <br />Randy Rogers, 1980 Gilham Road, spoke as a representative of Kidsports in support of the ordinances. <br />He related that Kidsports had been successful in controlling the sporting environment. He noted that, in <br />10 years of basketball games, only three people needed to be removed by the police. He felt the new <br />measure would assist by providing more "teeth" to the process. He said Kidsports had written a <br />sportsman's pledge, which was now read before every game, to remind those present to play with <br />consideration. He stressed that the organization took responsibility for having sports events without <br />unsportsmanlike conduct very seriously. <br /> <br />Tim Laue, 124 Spencers Crest Drive, spoke on behalf of the Eugene Police Commission to testify in <br />support of the two ordinances. He stated that traffic violations in neighborhoods in this community had <br />consistently topped citizens' list of concerns over the years. He said House Bill 2759 constrained the <br />Municipal Court's ability to make penalties fit the crimes. He advocated for passage of the ordinance in <br />order to provide the court more flexibility and more local control in the adjudication of traffic offenses. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey closed the public hearing. <br /> <br />Seeing no questions or comments from the council, Mayor Torrey asked if there were objections to taking <br />action at the present meeting. There was none. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 9, 2004 Page 5 <br /> Regular Meeting <br /> <br /> <br />