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<br />e <br /> <br />examlnlng the particular circumstances of each situation. He said a variance <br />for one business does not create a precedent for granting similar variances <br />to other businesses. <br /> <br />Mr. Miller asked if there is any way to preserve the code's intent and <br />facilitate the process. Mr. Gleason said this is one of the most difficult <br />ordinances he has ever seen and staff does not want to be put in a position <br />of defending content of the code. He said staff is attempting to figure out <br />a way to get through a logical discussion of the code while it is properly <br />reviewed for the next nine months. Although staff can try, he said it is <br />impossible to make all portions of the code content neutral. <br /> <br />Ms. Wooten asked about new language in the community events sign section that <br />requires permits for signs when no practical alternative exists. She said <br />there is always another opportunity for signage. Mr. Smith said that is not <br />the case for community events which are often organized by nonprofit <br />organizations that do not have a large building on which to display signs. <br /> <br />Ms. Wooten said it was her understanding that the council needed to adopt an <br />interim sign code because of constitutional issues that required the City to <br />be content neutral. She said the interim proposal goes far beyond that <br />concern. She said the interim code is an extensive revision of the existing <br />code. <br /> <br />Mr. Gleason said the code was originally constructed based on content <br />differences. He said the code becomes totally illogical when one tries to <br />make it content neutral, which is why staff has proposed amendments to the <br />interim code. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Ms. Wooten said she is unprepared to make a final decision tonight on the <br />interim code. Ms. Schue agreed and asked, if the City has ,been operating <br />with an imperfect code for this long, why a decision should be made tonight? <br /> <br />Mr. Gleason said it is nearly impossible to give coherent answers to people <br />asking questions about the code. He said the City is now confronted with a <br />series of potential lawsuits stemming from the current legal interpretation <br />of the law. He said it is difficult to make a realistic assessment about how <br />much risk the City is currently in from lawsuits. He said staff feels <br />adopting the interim sign code is the best possible strategy. <br /> <br />Ms. Bascom said she doesn't appreciate having to adopt an interim code that <br />is still being amended on the evening it is supposed to be passed. She said <br />the requests from several of those testifying that they be included in the <br />discussion process are reasonable. <br /> <br />Ms. Wooten said she appreciates the need for an interim sign code. She said <br />she is willing to address the billboard portion of the code, although she <br />said she is not prepared to deal with the size issue. <br /> <br />Mr. Gleason said he agrees with Ms. Bascom that staff is not bringing the <br />issue before the council in a timely manner. After talking with other <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council <br /> <br />May 23, 1988 <br /> <br />Page 7 <br />