CC Minutes - 10/14/02 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Kent Kullby, 2664 Kincaid, spoke in support of the code revisions. He stressed the importance of the domestic partner registry. He said the registry would forge a link between same sex couples in the community. He said there were 494 households in Eugene that were headed by same sex couples according to the 2000 census. He said domestic partnerships were one of the building blocks of a healthy society. He said an official document of domestic partnership was important when dealing with family matters that dealt with professionals. Dick Romm, 5120 Nectar Way, said that domestic partners should be able to "get it in writing." He said his main reason for his support was because it was the right thing to do. Bob Pierson, 5170 Fox Hollow Road, said he was against passing any more laws in general. He said new laws got the city hopelessly entangled in legal matters. He raised concern that the Human Rights Commission was trying to coerce its own morality on the businesses of the City. Stephanie Becket raised concern over the possible passage of the code revisions. She said she was opposed to the revised code amendments because of legal loopholes. She raised concern with transgendered people sharing public restrooms with children. Gordon Rea, 1081 FirAcres Drive, said marriage was an intimacy of body and soul. Addressing the issue of domestic partner registry, he urged the council not to suppress the truth in their hearts if it would not allow religion to affect the issue of domestic partnerships. Gretchen Miller, 1036 Adams, thanked the council for its time and effort on the proposed code revisions. She said there was no objection to -wording the code to specify that no new bathrooms would be required to be constructed. She noted that millions of people had been living under similar laws for years and there had been no issues. Regarding domestic partnerships, Ms. Miller said it would be a powerful statement and encouragement of long-term same-sex stable relationships that functioned just like a family. Alan Brown, 135 North Seneca Road, said the issue was a difficult one to address but stressed that we all had to live together in the community. He urged the council to pass the proposed code revisions. Roberta Canton, 1810 Minda Drive, addressed the issue of transgendered persons in bathrooms. She raised concern that any predator, not transgendered people, could come to Eugene and take advantage of the ordinance to prey on children. She questioned why any man would wish to stand in line to get into a women's restroom. Wayne Ricarte, 3919 Century Drive, urged the council to make decisions from the heart. He urged the council to carefully consider the boundaries of safety when making its decision on the proposed code revisions. He stressed that the revisions would make members of the community more vulnerable. Jennifer Self, 129 Treehill Loop, expressed her support for every aspect of the code revisions. She said the importance of the gender identiy code change was revealed when members of the audience laughed at the prospect of a man waiting in line to use the women's room. She stressed that it was not something that was funny but was something that was painful to those MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 14, 2002 Page 5 Regular Meeting