05/18/1988 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e tional designs would not be allowed. Ms. Wooten was unsure of the distinc- tion between commercial and noncommercial murals in light of the language "decorative.11 Mr. Gleason said the debate about what the regulations will mean is important and one on which the council will spend some time. Mayor Obie observed that he did not think anyone in the community wanted to regu- late murals at all. Mr. Smith said the staff would like to research how other communities have dealt with this issue and what the relevant case law is. Mr. Holmer said that he assumed that a mural representation has as much to do with free speech as the written content of a sign. He had assumed from his reading of the interim code that murals were allowed. Mr. Sercombe said that IImuralll referred to a large representation on the side of a building. Anyone can put a mural within their allowable signage square footage under the code. The issue is, whether outside that area of regulation, the City wishes to allow broad wall paintings in excess of that and, when does that mural become something more than a mural and become a sign. Mr. Sercombe said these are subtle distinctions requiring work. The recommendation is to put this issue aside and work on the issue during the revision, meanwhile allowing for murals under the existing limitations. Ms. Wooten said she would like an expression from the council that it wishes this problem fixed before it adopts a permanent sign code. Mayor Obie said he read the proposal and felt in some areas it was less than perfect. He suggested that staff meet with the sign industry for information and coopera- tion. He felt the cou~cil should hear from these people. Mr. Smith said that staff plans to meet with industry representatives soon. Responding to a question from Ms. Wooten, Mr. Smith said the University of Oregon and Lane Regional Arts Council had not been informed of the interim sign code, and he would see that they were informed. B. Defeat of Lane County Serial Levy Ms. Wooten noted that the council members had expressed concern in the budget process over the Lane County Library serial levy, soon to appear on the June ballot, and its impact on the City's library. She suggested that the council draft a resolution supporting the serial levy. Mr. Gleason agreed to return with suggestions regarding how support could be best and most effectively expressed by council. C. Nuclear-Free Zone Referring to the previous night's vote on the nuclear-free zone, Ms. Wooten asked the council to consider adopting the minimally revised version of the ordinance. She asked that this item be placed on an agenda as soon as possi- ble. Mayor Obie noted that the community has twice indicated its support for the nuclear-free zone. He said that the only question that remained, and some would say there was no question, was which nuclear-free zone did they want? Mayor Obie suggested that the council hold a public hearing and take a vote. He believed this public hearing and vote should take place within 30 days. MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 18, 1988 Page 2