02/22/1988 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e e e Mr. Graham said crulslng had been and would continue to be a part of the American lifestyle. He said cruising had survived a 40-year history of ordinances designed to abolish such activities, and it would continue to survive. He said such blanket ordinances only served to disperse activity to other locations. Over its history, the best law enforcement solution to cruising problems had been the active presence of police patrols that fairly removed troublemakers through existing traffic, trespass, liquor, drug, or noise laws. When the cruising problems centers around youth, Mr. Graham said the best solution was to assign officers who had an interest in youth and who could gain their respect, with the ultimate goal of providing leadership that would encourage youth to police their own activity. Mr. Graham said cruising was an integral part of the car club activities, which were conducted not only for the enjoyment of its members, but also to preserve and share part of history with the general public. He said passage of an anti-cruising ordinance would severely restrict the club1s activities. He reported dramatic increases in interest in classic autos, and he said organized cruises in many communities had become annual events, with significant economic impact. In Roseburg, for example, he said merchants indicated that the annual "Cruise-in" was second only to Christmas in revenue produced. He also noted that every year, car enthusiasts from allover the country gathered in Eugene-Springfield and enjoyed cruising. In July 1988, he said the owners of 1955 through 1957 Chevrolets would gather in the community, attracting more than 1,000 participants for five days, and he expressed concern about the impact on tourism of an ordinance that would prohibit cruising. Mr. Graham said the members of his organization recognized the existence of problems with cruising on South Willamette and West 11th, but they did not feel passage of a blanket, anti-cruising ordinance was the answer. He said the organization was willing to offer its time, expertise, and money to work with the police department and local youth to find a viable solution to the problem. He added that he did not feel the punishment for the ordinance fit the Ilcrime." Chuck Edwards, 275 Rustic Place, said he owned an auto repair service and was co-chair of the Pacific Street Machine Association, which also was affiliated with the Inter Car Club Council and was more than willing to help in finding a solution to problems. Mr. Edwards said the problem on liThe Gut" was multi-faceted, and the problem with the ordinance was that it addressed only one symptom, rather than all of the causes that combined to create problems. Dealing with these causes, he said, would better enable dealings with people. The problem was not cars or cruising, but the people, he said, and until people were dealt with effectively, problems would not be solved but would remain. Mr. Edwards said it was a fallacy to think that stopping people from cruising would stop the problems. Mr. Edwards also said those who conducted themselves in an orderly and lawful manner on the road resented the implication that everyone was responsible for all of the problems happening on "The Gut." He said he MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 22, 1988 Page 6