08/13/1986 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Bascom said the City Attorney indicated that the petition would have no significant effect on the Riverfront Research Park and, in that case, . she favored no action by the council today. She said the council could make a statement about the petition 1 ater but before the November election. Answering a question from Ms. Wooten, the other councilors agreed that they did not favor adopting the petition as an ordinance at this meeting. Therefore, the petition would be on the November 4 ballot. Ms. Wooten said she has worked hard for the city's economic development but she does not want to 1 ive in a city which contributes to the development or manufacture of nuclear weapons. She said passage of the petition will not have a detrimental impact on the city's economic development. Mr. Rutan said the initiative petition is much more restrictive than many other nuclear-free zones measures. He said he doubted that the existing nuclear-free cities have adopted a measure as restrictive. Answering questions from Mr. Rutan and Mr. Miller, City Attorney Tim Sercombe said he has not examined the enforceability or the con st i tut i ona 1 ity of the petition. He said Eugene measures are not included in the State Voters' Pamphlet. He reviewed the Ci ty Code provisions which would permit the council to authorize a publication similar to the State Voters' Pamphlet. Mr. Miller said the need arises quite often but the City has no vehicle to disseminate council statements about ballot measures. Consequently. . citizens must create their own campaigns. Mayor Obie said he would like to make a meaningful statement concerning fears and concerns about nuclear arms but approval of the initiative petition would make Eugene a radical, perhaps even freakish, place and the voters will not be able to read the petition on the ballot. He said he does not favor approving an elected board to ensure that a City ordinance i s f 011 owed. He does not favor annually distributing two copies of the ordinance to the heads of nations that possess nucl ear weapons, the Governor of Oregon, all US Senators and Representatives, and the State Representatives from Eugene. He does not think maintaining signs at City entrances indicating that the city is a nuclear-free zone and annually observing August 6 would be fruitful. Mayor Obie said he would prefer to send a message indicating the city's concern about nuclear proliferation. He would probably vote for the motion, but he would like an opportunity to send a proper message to world leaders. He said the petition seems to be using the City to accomplish personal beliefs. He urged continued discussion. Mr. Miller said he could support the motion if it stated that the City seeks to be a nuclear-free zone. Mr. Holmer said the initiative petition prohibits nuclear power production. He discussed the City's desire to be part of the super- . MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 13, 1986 Page 9