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Mayor Torrey called for the "request to speak" forms for the public hearing. He noted that anyone <br />who wished to speak had to have submitted a request to speak form by this point in time of the <br />meeting. He reiterated that there should be no show of support or opposition to anyone's <br />testimony. He outlined the public hearing process. <br /> <br />Matthew Walter, 1200 Hilyard Street, commented that smoking was the most preventable cause <br />of death in the United States. He said that there were over 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, 43 <br />of which were known carcinogens. He said that secondhand smoke was classified as a "Group A <br />Carcinogen" by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He noted that the classification of <br />Group A was the only classification that was proven to cause cancer in humans. <br /> <br />Mr. Walter said that secondhand smoke had been passively linked to heart disease. He said that <br />secondhand smoke was the third leading preventable cause of death behind smoking and alcohol <br />use. <br /> <br />Tracy Lee, 2480 Devon Avenue, spoke on behalf of Eugene Bingo Mania. She commented that <br />businesses should be required to provide separate areas for smokers and that adults should be <br />able to make the choice of which part of the business to patronize. <br /> <br />Larry E. Hale, 2450 Laurelhurst Drive, spoke against the ordinance. He said that smoking was a <br />matter of personal choice and commented that bars would lose business if smoking was not <br />prohibited. He commented that bar owners should be able to post signs for smoking/nonsmoking <br />areas and the City should leave things at that. He added that there were plenty of places for <br />nonsmokers to go that were free of tobacco smoke. <br /> <br />Patti Marshall, 2510 Willona Drive, spoke on behalf of Eugene Bingo Mania. She noted that <br />Bingo Mania had a separate area for smokers but that the issue was larger than one of personal <br />choice. <br /> <br />Carolyn Laule, 3379 Richard Avenue, spoke as a representative of Willamette Valley Track and <br />Field who received money from Eugene Bingo Mania. She called for an exemption for bars and <br />bingo establishments. She commented that smoking bans harmed bingo for charities, but added <br />that she believed in freedom of choice above all else. <br /> <br />Autumn DePoe, 1961 Hilyard Street, remarked that the City had better things to do than waste <br />time with a tobacco ordinance. She commented that nonsmokers had plenty of places to go <br />where they would not have to encounter tobacco smoke. She urged the council not to take the <br />rights away from property owners. <br /> <br />Donna Phipps, 2465 Pershing Street, spoke against the ordinance. She stressed her desire to <br />have a right to choose to smoke or not. She said that bar business in the city would be lost since <br />smokers could simply drive to neighboring communities and patronize businesses there. <br />Herb Severson, 4080 Hilyard Street, spoke as a representative of the Oregon Research Institute <br />in support of the ordinance. He reiterated that secondhand smoke was a Class A carcinogen. He <br />said that the ordinance would protect the public and remarked that businesses would not be <br />adversely impacted by a smoking ban. <br /> <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 11, 2000 Page 4 <br /> Regular Meeting <br /> <br /> <br />