01/27/1988 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ Mr. Miller asked what the probability is that the advisory vote will have to be done on a paper ballot. Mr. Sercome said it is difficult to predict how many measures will be on the ballot. He said the filing deadline is March 17, 1988. Mayor Obie noted the City has already spent over $100,000 studying the issue. In addition, it will cost the City $40,000 annually if a broad ordinance is enacted. He said $3,000 for a paper ballot is a small amount considering what has already been spent. Mayor Obie said he is in favor of an advisory ballot, and added the council is keeping its integrity by referring the issue back to voters. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 7:0. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Mr. Rutan, that the advisory ballot ask voters to indicate whether they wish to have a nuclear free zone ordinance in effect in Eugene and, if so, to indicate a preference for either Ordinance Proposal A or Ordinance Proposal C. Ms. Bascom said what needs to be clarified is the scope of the proposal. She said she would like the scope question to be answered and not the question of the nuclear free zone itself. e. Ms. Wooten urged the other councilors to vote no on the motion because it violates the spirit of the original nuclear free zone law. Mr. Miller said the motion does not break faith with the voters, and placing such a label on the council is unfair. He said asking the voters again if they favor a nuclear free zone is a more straightforward way to question the community about what it supports. Ms. Schue said the motion before the council would be appropriate if the community had never voted on the nuclear free zone issue. But since the community has already approved a nuclear free zone, she said she will oppose the motion. Mr. Bennett said he supports the motion because voters deserve a chance to vote again on the issue in light of all the new information that has been disseminated. He said it would be doing the community a disservice not to allow it to review its earlier decision. Mayor Obie said he is also in support of the motion. He said the council is keeping faith with voters by referring the entire issue back to them. Roll call vote; the motion carried 4:3 with Councilors Holmer, Bennett, Miller, and Rutan voting aye, and Councilors Bascom, Wooten, and Schue voting nay. e Mayor Obie noted the council has always tried to achieve consensus on the issue. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 27, 1988 Page 7