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<br />H.' :Mall Regulations - Copies of redraft of mall regulations with alternative Section
<br />4.872 attached (prohibiting use of lawn areas) were distributed to Council members.
<br />Assistant Manager explained changes from the last draft: (1) Improved language in
<br />Section 4.872 to distinguish between being upon covering structures as opposed to
<br />. entering into them; (2) Inclusion of Section 4.875 dealing with use of the fountain,
<br />/ whi ch was omi tted from the previous draft, prohibi ting the fountain's use for any-
<br />thing other than wading or viewing, and (3) Improved language in Section 4.877,
<br />paragraph 14, to more clearly state midnight as the cutting off time for permitted
<br />activities. Hopefully by next committee meeting, Assistant Manager said, a pro-
<br />posed amendment to the Code will be ready for presentation with regard to behavioral
<br />conduct which can be applied throughout the City.
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<br />Councilman Mohr asked why, when another section of the Code deals wi th behavioral
<br />conduct in public places, it is necessary to include it in the mall regulations.
<br />Assistant Manager explained that the proposed amendment has to do with that sec-
<br />tion of the Code dealing with behavioral conduct in any public place in the City.
<br />'There was some question as to whether it adequately covers the mall situation also.
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<br />'Mrs. Beal repeated her suggestion that a small free speech platform be constructed
<br />in the mall, labeled and designed so as to be readily available to any person wish-
<br />'ing to speak on any subject without benefit of amplification or prior notice. She
<br />said the City should supply a small portable microphone for those who wish to
<br />schedule use of the platform, its proposed use thereby serving as reservation of
<br />the platform. This being a political year, she said, and with so many municipal
<br />candi dates seeking offi ce wi thout pay, especi ally those who can't afford wi de
<br />.-~ advertising, the Platfo..rm would provide an. opportunity to attract no. t~.'c. e.. fr..om. the
<br />news media. She said it would serve as a reminder that the City welcomes_ Ae,w
<br />ideas and innovations ana- woul(rattract~more people to the mall. Furti;er, it
<br />would reaffirm the belief in constitutional right of free speech. Upon Mr.Hohr's
<br />suggestion that this question be set aside until regulations are decided upon
<br />for the mall, Mrs. Beal said she would like to see the regulations contain pro-
<br />vision for a place for free speech.
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<br />Mr. Williams said the suggested platform would appear to entail expenditure of
<br />funds, and that it would seem questionable whether the Ci ty woul d want to provi de
<br />an amplifier system so that persons could inflict their views upon others. Mrs.Beal
<br />replied that there is a complete amplification system available to those having
<br />large meetings. What she has in mind is provision of a small portable system to
<br />help those persons addressing small informal audiences. Manager explained that
<br />'the City does not provide any of the public address systems used in the mall by
<br />people carrying on meetings.
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<br />I The discussion turned to use of the lawn areas, Mr. Hershner repeating his posi-
<br />1 tion that those areas should not be used for walking, sitting, lying, or standing.
<br />Assistant Manager said as a practical matter if the alternative section is included,
<br />prohibiting use of the lawn areas, the grass should probably be removed and shrubs
<br />'~.- . installed. He said from staff standpoint the easiest way to administer that pro-
<br />,., ,vision would be to. remove the grass, rather than going through the hassle of try-
<br />.' ,ing to enforce "keep off the grass" signs.
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<br />Mr. Teague suggested pursuit of improvement of language in the behavioral conduct
<br />I code rather than removal of the lawn areas from the mall, with the idea that the
<br />problem could be worked out before next spring. Manager said he feels the best
<br />approach should be one of reviewing the behavioral ordinances and enforcement of
<br />.behavioral standards rather than removing the grass. Removal would be the only
<br />practical way of trying to resolve the problem from an enforcement standpoint,
<br />and its removal would detract and disturb the tone of the entire mall area.
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<br />Ruth Miller, Renewal Agency member, supported Manager's position, and strongly
<br />opposed removal of the grassy areas.
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<br />;Ed Wilson, president of the Eugene Downtown Association, said those people causing
<br />the troubles are the hangers-on and something has to be done to remove them. If
<br />they are allowed to remain, he said, business people will not renew their leases
<br />in the mall. The Association wants the mall, they believe it is an attractive
<br />I area, but those persons throwing rocks, wri ting on windows, panhandling, must be
<br />'told to stay out.
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<br />1,- Mr. MeDonal d asked if, the Ren~"'a~ Agency in renting or selling its properties in
<br />. ,the mall has trouble ~n negot~at~ons because of the problems encountered ~n that
<br />area. David Hunt, ERA director, said there have been some negati ve reactions.
<br />He said there still will be social problems not necessarily connected with the mall.
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<br />Councilman Hershner said he did not intend to move adoption of the al ternati ve
<br />'section prohibiting use of the lawn areas since he would not like to see those
<br />a!~c:~ _elimi1!at,!d ~~~q__,~~ 1l~~!l_0 _q~arre~ _ &!-o.~~-E!EbleITlE!_9Len_~orcf:!rnent_:___ He too _~__ _ ___
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<br />~ I:, 7 9/11/72 - 5
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