10/23/1989 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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--- Mayor Miller questioned the propriety of making a major change in the code e when its revision was initiated in order to achieve legal compliance and not to make substantive changes. He also asked whether the moratorium would unfairly benefit some businesses at the expense of others. Ms. Nathanson said some public testimony suggested that the moratorium would give economic advantage to some, but the commission had not discussed the issue thoroughly enough to analyze the economic situation. Mr. Holmer asked whether the council, as a matter of principle and consistency, should decline to make operative the Hult Center's electronic message center. Ms. Nathanson said discussion leans favorably toward permitting those signs currently in place that may be prohibited under a new ordinance. Mr. Rutan commented that the present sign code is a very restrictive ordinance and he questioned the need for the action under consideration. He doubted that the discussion would produce a large number of reactionary applications for permits. Saying he considered all billboards offensive, Mr. Boles maintained that aesthetics drives economic development factors. Mr. Bennett said that the Planning Commission made an honest effort to address the issue comprehensively and he would support the proposed moratorium. e Ms. Schue commented that the council was told that the existing sign code was complex and difficult to administer and that legal problems with wording restrictions needed to be addressed. She recalled that direction to the Planning Commission involved those areas and did not include direction to allow more signs. Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, to consider an ordinance that would impose a six-month moratorium on the consideration of an issuance of any permits for billboards, electronic message centers, and flashing signs within the City of Eugene's jurisdiction (the area within the city and within the urban growth boundary) and request the City Attorney to prepare such an ordinance, Roll call vote; the motion carried, 6:2, with councilors Holmer and Rutan voting nay. IX. BALLOTING TO DETERMINE INTERVIEWEES FOR OPENINGS ON THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, EUGENE-SPRINGFIELD METROPOLITAN PARTNERSHIP, AND PLANNING COMMISSION Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Mr. Rutan, to reappoint Julie Aspinwall-Lamberts to the vacant at-large position and Sue Prichard to one of the vacant "pecuniary interest" positions e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 23, 1989 Page 12