CC Minutes - 04/08/02 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Baldwin said the State had recently passed a law prohibiting similar ordinances in counties and municipalities. He urged the council to adhere to the State law. Short O'Donnell, 295 Highway 99, said that Eugene's smoking ordinance had done significant harm to his business. He noted that the State law exempted bars, taverns, bingo halls, and bowling allies and urged the council to amend the ordinance to make it more in line with that law. Mr. O'Donnell noted that there were bars and taverns outside the city a small distance from Eugene that were still legally allowing smoking in their establishments and urged the council to create a level playing field for Eugene businesses. He noted that many cities had amended their smoking ordinances to follow the State law. He stressed that Eugene businesses were suffering significant losses from the local ordinance. Jaysun Smith, 3567 Alameda Street, said he had to quit his job as a direct result of loss of business from the implementation of the smoking ordinance. Patri¢ia L. McCall, 20 Centennial Loop, spoke as an owner of two bars, one in Eugene's city limits and one outside the city limits. She submitted written material showing losses at the Eugene establishment after the implementation of the smoking ban and the simultaneous increase in business in the establishment outside of the city. She also submitted photos taken at the same time showing the volume of customers in both places. She noted that the Eugene establishment had a much lower number of customers. Ms. McCall stressed that people were traveling outside of the city to be able to smoke and that Eugene's businesses were suffering as a result. She said Eugene's ordinance was not fair to Eugene businesses and urged the council to modify the ordinance to follow the State regulation more closely. Taunya DeBoer, 1670 Patterson Street, said she could not make enough money at the bar where she worked as a direct result of the smoking ordinance. She raised concern that customers were driving while intoxicated to get to bars where they could smoke. Will Kramer, 593 Sierra Street, raised concern that the council was unaware of the severe impact that the smoking ordinance had on Eugene's businesses. He said revenues were down all over the city and urged reconsideration of the ordinance. He said smokers were still smoking and going outside the city limits to do it or just smoking at home, which was worse. Cheryl L. McCabe, 362 North 42nd Street, Springfield, stated that there had been a huge economic impact to Eugene businesses since the implementation of the smoking ordinance. She noted that sales at her establishment had "crashed" and urged the council to revisit the issue and follow the State-enacted guidelines more closely. Cynthia Adeniji, PO Box 50061, Eugene, spoke as a bartender at a Eugene business. She said that her employer was losing business as a result of the smoking ordinance and she was finding it more and more difficult to make a living wage. She urged the council to revisit the issue and make needed changes. MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 8, 2002 Page 2 Regular Session