CC Minutes - 04/18/05 PS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES Eugene City Council Process Session Bascom Room--Eugene Public Library April 18, 2005 5:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: George Poling, Jennifer Solomon, Betty Taylor, David Kelly, Gary Pap~, Bonny Bettman, Andrea Ortiz, Chris Pryor. Mayor Kitty Piercy called the meeting of the Eugene City Council to order. She recognized Ms. Bettman. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Mr. Kelly, moved to change the City's position on House Bill 2608 to Priority 3, Oppose. Mr. Kelly noted his support for the motion for the reasons cited by Human Rights Program and Eugene Police Department staff. From the standpoint of public safety, he said that people in the country illegally would drive anyway and under current law had the opportunity to secure a license and insurance and must demonstrate an ability to drive. From the standpoint of human rights, he found it offensive to mandate a gatekeeper process at the Department of Motor Vehicles for a basic necessity for both citizens and non- citizens alike. Ms. Taylor indicated opposition to the motion, saying that the bill did not require a person to be a citizen to receive a license. She though people who were in the country should be here legally. Mr. Poling determined from Mr. Kelly that Human Rights Manager Greg Rikhoff and Ellwood Cushman of the Eugene Police Department recommended that the City take a position opposing the bill. Mr. Pap~ said the committee considered the staff recommendation and voted 2:1 to take a position of support with amendments that removed the element related to current citizens from the bill. Mr. Poling said driving was a privilege, not a right. He pointed out that people could use driver's licenses for other forms of identification. He agreed with Ms. Taylor that if people were to drive in the state they should be in the country legally. Mr. Pap~ indicated his concurrence with Mr. Poling. He asked about the status of the bill. Council, Public, and Government Affairs Manager Mary Walston said the bill had a hearing on March 23 but since then, there had been no amendments offered or action taken. City Manager Dennis Taylor believed the bill was dead. Ms. Solomon arrived. Ms. Ortiz agreed that driving was a privilege, but she opposed the bill because she believed it set people up to fail by stipulating they must be legal with regard to their residency status. She said people should be MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 18, 2005 Page 1 Process Session