CC Minutes - 04/23/01 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Roll call vote; the motion to adopt Item D passed unanimously, 7:0. Referring to Item E, Councilor Rayor said he supported the parks hour exemption but was concerned about the potential fire hazard. He requested comment from Fire staff. Deputy Chief Matt Shuler reported that Fire staff had met with representatives of the Active 20/30 Club earlier in the week to discuss fire management issues. He noted that the City Manager had authority to restrict fire works activities in Eugene. The permit issued by the Fire Marshal involved review of the plans for pyrotechnics and a site visit. That permit was revokable based on conditions at the time. City staff closely monitors the weather prior to the holiday. Councilor Bettman asked what City resources would be involved in providing services to the event, and how much of that would be reimbursed. Mr. Shuler said that staff had spent about ten hours of noncompensable time on the issue to date. He anticipated staff would put in ten to fifteen more hours before the event working with the organization. In addition, the permit review and site inspection would require two to three hours; those costs would be covered by the permit fee. The department would decide later if another crew was required, and that would be billed by the hour to any third party requiring the service. Councilor Bettman wanted the event to occur in the safest place and questioned whether the park was the appropriate location. She believed if the City permitted the event it became liable for the event because the event was held on City property. City Attorney Glenn Klein said the City required insurance from such events to avoid the liability issue mentioned by Councilor Bettman. That insurance requirement was required of the City by the State. Councilor Bettman asked if the City Council would have the opportunity to evaluate the event before allowing another such event. City Manager Johnson said yes. Councilor Nathanson said that the organization held the event to benefit children and she applauded the effort. She raised the issue of fireworks use by spectators and noted the organization had produced a plan to limit that use. She asked if the designated area for personal fireworks would put other park users in jeopardy. Tim Rhay of Parks Maintenance said the overflow parking lot was physically separated, so it was chosen for the purpose. He believed that access to the site could be controlled, and the site was not on the access routes to the event. Mr. Clark said that in previous years, individuals using their own fireworks did not use them on the fairgrounds where the event occurred, but in the adjacent neighborhoods with no control. The new area had a specific place where such use could be more carefully monitored. Responding to a question from Councilor Meisner, Mr. Rhay said that the club would be charging admission to the largest portion of the western part of the park. Councilor Meisner did not want to see a beer garden in the parks and said he would oppose the motion for that reason. Councilor Kelly said the concerns he had raised had been responded to. While he was somewhat nervous about the event, he would trust to professional staff and vote to approve the proposal. Police Chief Jim Hill addressed Councilor Bettman's question regarding the provision of police services, and reported that the department was negotiating those costs with the organization. MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 23, 2001 Page 4 Regular Meeting