06/13/1988 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

e Brad Stewart, 292 N. Grand Street, said he is opposed to the Minimally Revised Version (MRV) of the nuclear free zone. He said he owns a socially conscious, local business that manufactures software and alternatives to pesticides. He said the MRV threatens his business and is written so subjectively that anything that has to do with defense is suspect. He said the MRV will hurt the entire community because businesses do not like areas that have excessive regulation. Paul Lantz, 721 West 5th Avenue, #1, said he is disgusted and appalled by the City Council and its attempts to sabotage the democratic process. Because both mayoral front runners, Mr. Miller and Ms. Schue, are opposed to the nuclear free zone, he said he has great doubts about the quality of leadership in the community. Dick Briggs, 80 West 23rd Avenue, said the City Council should remember two things: 1) moderation is important because Eugene does not want bombs and does support peace; and 2) the City does not need to spend any more money on nuclear free zone discussions. He urged the council to support version B. Charles Strong, 1080 Patterson Street, #307, said the City Council is not qualified to pass judgement on the legal issues in the existing nuclear free zone ordinance. He said administration of the ordinance should be handled like any other City budget item. With regard to economic diversification, he said the voters are responsible for the effect of the ordinance. He said this is not a responsibility of the City Council. He recommended that the e council administer the ordinance as directed by the voters to the extent that funds are available. He recommended that as an alternative the council adopt version A with the following amendments: 1) omit the food irradiation provision; 2) omit the reference to the City Manager; and 3) omit the reference to the State and Federal governments. Vicki Dietmeyer, 44 West Broadway, said she is testifying on behalf of the Eugene/Springfield Metropolitan Partnership. She said nobody argues the intent behind the ordinance. However, she said the council should carefully review the specific language of the ordinance and its implications on the local economy. She said the business community is concerned most with language on remote sensing, electronic communications, and their supporting hardware and software components. Ms. Dietmeyer said a recent survey by the Chamber of Commerce showed that over 50 percent of the responding firms believe the ordinance would be detrimental to their business and would not locate in Eugene because of it. She said the types of firms surveyed are the same ones the Metropolitan Partnership is attempting to recruit, She said existence of a Nuclear Free Zone ordinance would harm the local economy and show that Eugene is against business. Glen Carpenter, 123 Thomason, said being in favor of a Nuclear Free Zone does not mean one is against business. It means one is against nuclear business. He said Eugene is a unique and different place to live. He said the people e MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 13, 1988 Page 4