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e some members of the council were in Washington, DC, last spring, people were lobbying against this legislation because they felt it went too far, specifically in relation to transit authorities, etc. Ms. Barnhart said she did not feel the legislation was comprehensive enough. She said changes have been made to the Act which have weakened it. She said she had recently talked to a disabilities rights activist who said he hoped the Act did not pass because it has been so weakened. Ms. Barnhart said many businesses and transit authorities oppose the legislation because they are afraid it will be very expensive for them. She suggested it might be a good compromise to pass the Act. Ms. Barnhart said that the Americans with Disabilities Act is like much legislation, in that it tells local authorities what to do but does not give them any money with which to do these things. She compared it to legislation which told school districts that they must educate disabled children, but had provided only scant funds to do so. She pointed out that although the act would cost money, it would also make money because as more businesses are opened to the disabled they will spend their money in more places. However, Ms. Barnhart said she did not feel a price could be placed on social justice. Ms. Ehrman said the City's Voter's Pamphlet is linked to the initiative process. She said because of the initiative process the council had created its own voter's pamphlet to educate the public about the initiative measures because they could not be attached to the State Voter's Pamphlet. She asked if the commissions had evaluated the pamphlet. Ms. Dunn said this issue e could be put on the commissions' agenda. Mr. Miller thanked the presidents for their efforts during the past year and for those which they planned for 1990. He said the City Council is looking at human rights and various issues represented by the five presidents of the human rights commissions. He said he appreciated the fact that the presidents were tenacious and were not afraid to disagree with the council, but were also prepared to help find solutions to problems. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m. Respectfully ,?-::,,~- ,/ ,#f> ~. ~ ta-~ Mic eal Gleason City Manager (Recorded by Kris Bloch) MNCC 112089 e MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 20, 1989 Page 11 Dinner/Work Session