CC Minutes - 06/24/02 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Anne Fiefield, spoke as a representative Tobacco Free Coalition of Oregon regarding the economic impacts of the City's smoking ordinance. She said she had reviewed video poker business data regarding the allegations of loss of business due to Eugene's smoking ordinance. She said the analysis focused on the third and fourth quarters of 2001 and the first quarter of 2002. She opined that the loss in business was attributable to a seasonal decline during summer months. She stressed there was no obvious trend to the data. Pat Cookson, 2350 Oakmont Way, American Cancer Society, said tobacco health risks were higher than was originally thought. She said second hand tobacco smoke increased risks of lung cancer by 20 percent. She urged maintaining steps to keep Eugene businesses smoke-free. She cited sales data for Corvallis under its smoking ordinance and concluded that there was no significant impact to local businesses. Ken Haig, Umqua Amusement, related that he lived in Albany but felt compelled to talk to the City Council of Eugene. He urged the City Council to follow the State law regarding smoking rules. He said the people should be able to choose the type of environment they recreate in. He said that more and more people were traveling to outlying areas to go to taverns where they could smoke. He added that people who pushed the law through did not patronize taverns and bars. Cheryl McCabe, spoke representing The Old Pad, cited written information submitted at previous meeting and said that customers were going to places outside the city limits so they could smoke, and added that local business owners were being severely penalized by the smoking ordinance. Mayor Torrey closed the Public Forum. II.CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of Council Minutes: May 29, 2002 Joint Public Hearing B. Approval of Tentative Working Agenda Councilor Bettman pulled Item B. Councilor Kelly, seconded by Councilor Pap~, moved to approve the items on the Consent Calendar, with the exception of Item B. Roll call vote; the motion passed unanimously. Referring to the tentative working agenda, Councilor Bettman expressed a desire to consider the parking in the downtown area at an earlier agenda time than August 12. She asked to move the discussion of downtown parking to the July 24 work session. Councilor Kelly also expressed a desire to have a broader discussion of the issue at a later time. He noted that there would not be enough time to discuss the issue at the July 24 work session. Councilor Nathanson raised concern that delaying the discussion on the Courthouse District Concept Plan might have a negative impact the City's relationship with the General Services Administration. MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 24, 2002 Page 2 Regular Meeting