11/26/1973 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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, Councilwoman Beal congratulated Mr. Williams on his frankness and deplored. the fact that because of economic pressures he was forced into a neutral position . on the Sign Code. She noted that Councilmembers serve without pay and the re- jection of a proposed Charter amendment providing for compensation for Council members which would have to a certain extent relieved a situation such as this. She called the cancellation of contracts or purchase orders economic blackmail and felt there should be legislation governing such situations. Mrs. Beal moved seconded by Mrs. Campbell that the City Attorney ,be requested to draft an ordinance making ita misdemeanor for any person to seek to influence or change the vote of a Council person or cause a Council person to abstain from voting'by threat of economic reprisal through financial loss or gain. Mrs. Beal in making the motion wondered whether there were State regulations covering this situation which would apply to local officials and suggested in- vestigation of that facet prior to drafting a local ordinance. She also sug- gested,that legislation should include a provision making it obligatory to record with the appropriate agency the names and circumstances of threats. City Attorney expressed concern about the authority of a political body to prevent any kind of effort such as economic boycott which might be ultimately construed as influencing the votes of Council members. He added tbat although bribery is clearly iller;;al there may be problems in defining what constitutes an economic boycott in the sense of trying to influence one's voting. HOI-fever, he said he e .would investigate and report back on what might be done in that area. Councilman McDonald referred t~ his not voting on the Sign Code issues at' the time of Mr. Williams statement and said his Board of Directors (St. Vincent de Paul) and attorneys WOuld decide how he votes in the future. He too was concerned that elective persons .could not vote under certain circumstances. Generai consensus on the intent of the motion was that the City Attorney would examin~ existing legislation, including Federal law, covering economic reprisal or retaliation, and bring back a report preparatory to drafting of an ordinance. Councilwoman Campbell remarked on the possibility of bankruptcy for small businesses were they to lose the amount of business lost by Mr. Williams' firm. She wondered how one could prove loss of an account was due to retaliation for one's voting. She ad~ed that this situation reinforced her feeling that the Sign Code should be enforced as adopted. Councilman Williams apologized for the developing controversy and agreed that prevention through legislation ~as a remote possibility. He recognized too that in a competitive economy customers properly can change allegiance, and he sup- ported tha t freedom of choice. However, he said, in this instance ~here was no doubt in his mind that the change was on the basis of his stand on the Sign Code. . And he' felt behavior of that type would force businessmen, or anyone else, in public life to seriously consider whether to continue service. He repeated his feeling that laws were not the an.!iwer, rather that the answer would be found in terms of public morality, decency, and ,understanding the political process. -- -_.-..-._-.- -- I !Mayor Anderson thought the legislative approach was worth examining and supported . i_the mot~on. Even though enforcement might be difficult, he said, it would at 'least reflect a commitment on the part of the community to recognize the problem and do something about it, plus having the effect of giving those seeking public , office and those with community business interests assurance that the communitY supports them and without fear of reprisal outside the law. Wendy Ray, KERG, suggested that official contact by the Council with the Eugene !Area Chamber of Commerce might be of some help with regard to actions in the :business community. 'Manager'to clarify intent of the motion said his understanding was that the City ,Attorney was asked to examine present laws, then examine the feasibility or :practicality of covering by ordinance any area not covered by existing laws. :Councilwoman Beal agreed with his interpretation, recognizing enforcement would :be difficult but feeling that such a law would at least be a deterrent. CO,uncil- . ;woman Campbell commented on the possibility of withdrawal of business from those ~ using retalia tion to' influence voting. Comm i 11/7 /73 ,Vote was taken on the intent of the motion as clarified. Motion carried I Approve unanimously. jCouncilman McDonald asked if he would be permitted to vote in the future on lissues having to do with the Sign Code. Mayor Anderson answered that it would be 11..z:.McDonald's choice an,~ that he shqul.E.....3et advice from the City Attorney. ~S\ 11/26/73 - 9