07/18/1984 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilor Obie adjourned the meeting of the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency at e 12:51 p.m. and reconvened the meeting of the Eugene City Council. VI. CONSIDERATION OF INITIATIVE PETITION ON INTERVENTION IN CENTRAL AMERICA (memo, petition distributed) City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the agenda item. City Recorder Karen Goldman presented the staff report, reviewing her July 18, 1984, memorandum to the City Council which outlined the options open to the council. She explained that the council must take some action on the measure if it wished to include it on the November 6, 1984, general election ballot. She added that the next opportunity for the measure would be the May 1986 primary election. Ms. Goldman explained that the council could call for a special election on the ballot measure at a cost of $16,000 to the City. She stated that City Attorney Tim Sercombe was present to answer any legal questions. Ms. Wooten moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to refer the initiative petition on Intervention in Central America to the voters in the November 1984 general election. Councilor Hansen, although he said he believed in the initiative petition, preferred that the council take no action because he did not feel the council should be involved in the formal movement of a petition. Councilor Ehrman said she supported the motion, stating that it was important e to the citizens involved that the measure be placed on the ballot in November 1984 rather than waiting until 1986. She felt that the council would be making a jUdgment if it chose to do nothing. Councilor Wooten agreed, stating that the council was merely part of the initiative process. She stressed that the council should not manipulate the process. Councilor Holmer stated that the process was the substance of the issue and that the council should have adequate discussion on the issue before it acted to place the measure on the November ballot. He did not think the council had been given sufficient information on which to make a decision. He said it would be a denial of due process for the council to act on the measure without a clear discussion, stating that military aid had been approved by the Congress and the present Federal administration. Councilor Schue agreed with Councilors Ehrman and Wooten, stating that the failure of the council to assist the voters in placing the measure on the ballot would be a position in opposition to the measure. She said the council has previously assisted voters in placing measures on a ballot without taking a formal position. Councilor Smith said a fine line was involved in the issue. She felt the council should focus its efforts on issues of immediate concern to the metropolitan area instead of the world in general. She said the issue will eventually be on the ballot; therefore, she did not feel that the council should spend its time debating the issue. She said she will support the motion to place the measure on the November 1984 ballot strictly as a process because the voters had fulfilled the necessary requirements. Councilor Ball agreed with Ms. Smith, stating that the action did not require e the council to take a formal position. He said the issue had raised a large MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 18, 1984 Page 7