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goal should be to enable a safer climate in the City and promote human dignity. He thought it was <br />reasonable for the council to step in with a sensible amount of regulation of an unregulated sport that could <br />hold another dozen or more events before any legislation took effect, possibly resulting in lifelong injuries to <br />participants. He thought that administrative rules could be put in place with minimum effort and he would <br />probably move to schedule the ordinance for action at a future meeting. He pointed out that a requirement <br />for medical insurance was missing from the ordinance and he would move to amend to include that <br />provision. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy asked for the City Attorney’s response to Mr. Kelly’s proposal to require medical insurance. <br />Mr. Lidz said he was aware that some promoters had provisions for health insurance but was not certain <br />whether that was limited to professional fights or included amateur fights. He noted that testimony during <br />the public hearing indicated that such a requirement was reasonable. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor was concerned that regulating something that was barbaric condoned its existence. She asked if <br />it was possible to have a moratorium and ban extreme fighting until the legislature acted. Mr. Lidz said a <br />moratorium was not possible but the council could ban the activity and then repeal the ordinance if the <br />legislature acted. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor stated that was her preference. She pointed out a provision of the Nevada rules that allowed <br />kicking an opponent who was on the ground, which she found unbelievable and asked if those were the rules <br />the City would adopt. City Manager Taylor said the City would begin with those rules and refine as <br />necessary. <br /> <br />Ms. Ortiz said she favored directing the City Manager to monitor legislative action to regulate amateur <br />mixed martial arts fighting at the State level and report to the council at the end of the legislative session. <br />She said that cultures differed on what was acceptable and while she did not personally wish to observe the <br />fighting or have her sons involved, she recognized that for young men in her community being involved in <br />extreme fighting was a badge of honor. She was reluctant to tell people they could not be involved and <br />noted that participants were fully aware of the risks. She was also concerned with enacting another <br />ordinance that would put people in jail when the system was already overburdened. <br /> <br />Mr. Poling asked how far the City could go in establishing regulations such as requiring medical insurance <br />or identifying the minimum qualifications of onsite medical personnel. Mr. Lidz replied that the council <br />could be that specific. He said if the council wished to move forward with the ordinance it would be brought <br />back for adoption as the public hearing had been held; if adopted, the City Manager would proceed to <br />develop rules to implement the ordinance. He said the Nevada rules were offered as an illustration of rule- <br />making and not as proposed rules. <br /> <br />Mr. Poling supported moving forward with an ordinance and making whatever adjustments might be <br />necessary in the event there was legislative action. <br /> <br />Mr. Pryor asked how many fights were held annually. Mr. Lidz said there had been three or four since the <br />council first discussed the matter. <br /> <br />Mr. Pryor estimated that five or six fights might occur before the legislature acted and someone might be <br />injured or killed at any one of them, which was why he was reluctant to take no action. He wanted some <br />form of regulation in place to protect public safety, not to address cultural or moral issues, and was <br />comfortable with the direction of the ordinance as drafted, strengthened by Mr. Kelly’s proposed amend- <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council November 27, 2006 Page 9 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br />