04/11/1977 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

1 I Springfield) would express a collective approach. John Porter, Planning Department, said more time was needed to find out a better course of action and that the report from the policy committee meeting would help in this understanding. . It was understood that more information will be presented to Council at Committee-of-the-Whole, April 6. Scott Lieuallen arrived at the meeting. Com 3/30/77 D. File Com 3/30/77 E. Approve Bikeramp Ceremony-~anager noted the ceremony would be held April 6, 11 a.m., at Alton Baker Park. He asked any Council members who wished to have bicycles provided to alert the Manager's office. Anti-fluoridation Petition-~anager noted the anti-fluori- dation petition had been received Tuesday, March 29, with 6,498 authenticated signatures. He said the legal opinion from the City Attorney's office had been distributed to Council members and that it would be impossible to schedule an election by Hay 24. Mr. Long, City Attorney's office, noted that of the alterna- tives presented to Council, many were very complex with legal problems existing. He said the easiest thing to do would be for Council to decide a date for the election and the City Attorney's office would then prepare the necessary papers. He said the city was free to call a special election on a 30-day notice, but was not required to do so. " Mr. Williams moved, seconded by Mr. Obie, to authorize the papers for an election on the fluoride issue for the May, 1978 general election. Mr. Long noted that the law was unclear as to whether the city could be compelled to place such a ballot in a special election called for another purpose. He noted that if Council would indicate a date for the election and authorize staff to prepare the papers within a 30-day period, it would not get into some very complicated legal problems regarding the 90-day filing date and the application of state regulations. He noted that the City Council could pass a special ordinance indicating that the election would be held on the first election after a certain date, but not later than May, 1978. The issue then would go on whatever ballot election occurred h0tw~en that rlate and May, 1Q78. Mr. Williams noted his reason for the motion was that a very short time ago people in Eugene (approximately 70 percent) voted to put fluor ide in the wAtp.r. H(' BAl rl t t t R known that with special elections the average turnout is between 10 and 12 percent of the voting population. He felt it improper to take p;enernl clectlon nction amI place it in 11 poaltf.on of jeopardy where very few people vote. Mr. Delay said he was not sure the City Council should try to make a decision on how many - ~<t5 4/11/77 - 16