CC Minutes - 09/11/00 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Severson said that smoking was a public health issue. He commented that the rights of nonsmokers needed to be protected as well. He commented that most children started smoking at the age of 13 and added that one-third of the children who took up smoking would die of smoking- related diseases. He urged passage of the ordinance. Ben Anderson Gifford, 3304 Arrowhead Street, testified that he could not go to public places where smoking was allowed. He urged passage of the ordinance. Brandon Gifford, 3304 Arrowhead Street, urged passage of the ordinance. Nicole H. Wellette, 3304 Arrowhead Street, urged passage of the ordinance. She commented that she became ill in proximity to secondhand smoke. She commented that smoking was an assault on others and read a list of establishments who allowed smoking on their premises. Susan Planner, 1788 Riverview Street, spoke as a respiratory therapist. She said that she had seen the damage caused by secondhand smoke and stressed that passage of the ordinance was of critical concern to public health. Pat Cookson, 2350 Oakmont Way, spoke as a representative of the American Cancer Society and Tobacco Free Lane County. He supported the ordinance. He said that 30 percent of all cancer deaths were caused by tobacco. He commented that businesses had plenty of time to get ready for the ordinance and urged the council to send the right message to the public. Barney McKay, 800 Greg Way, spoke in favor of the ordinance. He said that industry had to be regulated for polluting emissions so there was no reason tobacco products could not be regulated as well. He commented that smoking caused 450,000 deaths each year which was more than the entire amount of American casualties during the three years and eight months the United States was involved in World War II. Roxanne Drake, 828 Ivy Street, spoke as a smoker against the ordinance. She stressed that smoking was her right and that she had few places left to go in the city where she could smoke. Debra I. Brown, 98 West Hillcrest Drive, spoke as an employee of Bingo Mania. She commented that Bingo Mania had gone through an expensive process of installing a separate ventilation system for their smoking area. She said that the United States was a free country and that its people had a freedom of choice to smoke or not. Ms. Brown said that if the ordinance was passed, Bingo Mania would lose much of its customer base. Cory Fisher, 2284 Jenny Lane, spoke as a representative of Bingo Mania. She stressed that Bingo Mania had made an extra effort to keep its smoking area separate from the nonsmoking area. She stressed the freedom of choice issue. Tammy Cole 3854 Kirsten Street, spoke as a representative of Willamette Valley Track and Field and Eugene Bingo Mania. She said that only adults could go to Bingo Mania. She said that there had been a poll taken among Bingo Mania Customers and that 80 percent of the smokers said MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 11, 2000 Page 5 Regular Meeting