05/09/1988 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e Councilor Ehrman said she was supportive of the message being sent to the community. She was concerned with the record-keeping aspect of the ordi- nance. She said she had been told the purposes of the record-keeping, such as ensuring minors are not purchasing paraphernalia; however, there was already statutes covering this and no one had been prosecuted. Councilor Ehrman said this was a different issue from pawnshops; the purpose of getting the name of a person at a pawnshop was because of the need to track stolen merchandise. She was concerned about this requirement and felt it went beyond sending a message. It is not illegal for people to purchase parapher- nalia. She did not want the City in the position of "Big Brother" holding a list of people's names and addresses to be randomly used for other purposes. The record-keeping was going to be time-consuming for the businesses; she understood that may be the point. If the City intends to run these people out of business, this is certainly one way. She wanted to know what was being done with the names and addresses and wanted staff to report back on what was being done with the names. The biggest problem in the community is methamphetimine use, not marijuana or paraphernalia. Councilor Miller commended Mayor Obie for his leadership in this matter. He wished the council to take PSAC.s recommendation regarding the second viola- tion. He indicated he would make this amendment at the appropriate time. He suggested that the City send on the ordinance to Springfield and Lane County with the recommendation that they adopt it as well. Councilor Bennett said this ordinance brings some risks with it and the potential of some inequities. He said that the City is trying to make it difficult for these businesses to exist. He strongly supported the ordi- nance. Councilor Bascom said she did perceive the council as coming in on a white charger to bring justice and righteousness with this ordinance, but she said the ordinance made a statement and was worth a trial. Mayor Obie addressed some of the remarks made. He felt that if this ordi- nance was a "drug hysteria" response there should be more of it. "Drug hysteria" is not the problem. Mayor Obie said he has seen drug-related problems in his neighborhood and in his schools, and felt that this ordinance tells the community how the leadership of the community feels. He pointed out that three of the speakers speaking against the ordinance came from out of the community, and they are not required to live in Eugene with the prob- lems drugs create. In regard to the record-keeping portion of the ordinance, he said people who are using drugs will be identified. Perhaps they can be helped. Mayor Obie felt this was a positive thing for the community. He thanked the staff for researching the ordinance and bringing it to council. Councilor Holmer asked if there was any objection to substituting the word "second" for the word "third" on page 9. There was none. MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 9, 1988 Page 12