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and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) removed the project from the state transportation list. He averred that the City owned two parcels of land as a result of planning for the project. He urged the City to transfer the land from the transportation division to the Parks and Open Space Division. He reiterated his concerns regarding peak oil. He believed that the reason the United States engaged in war with Iraq was because of the oil reserves there. Jerry A. Harden , 1400 Candlelight Drive, #224, said he served as a member of the HPB committee on mobile home park closures. He urged the council to enact the recommendations the committee made and the HPB had approved. He acknowledged that there could be some concern on the part of the council due to the local government preemption provision in HB 2735, which would preempt all local jurisdiction ordinances related to the parks. He underscored his belief that HB 2735 would do serious harm to manufactured home park homeowners. He felt the preemption provision could be deleted, noting that the bill’s sponsor was Eugene representative Chris Edwards. He related that testimony in Salem demonstrated that there was substantial opposition to the preemption clause. He averred that Eugene needed to “grow” the existing inventory of affordable housing and not reduce it. He added that three of the local assisted living centers in the City were going to discontinue serving Medicaid clients. He asserted that this would create an even greater pressure on the existing affordable housing. Terry Holvey , PO Box 51416, conveyed a message from State Representative Paul Holvey in support of the resolution to end the United States involvement in the Iraq war. He hoped that the City of Eugene would support House Joint Resolution 9, slated to be on the floor at the State House later in the week, which requests that the United States withdraw its troop from Iraq. She stated that Mr. Holvey opposed utilization of the National Guard as a “police force for a civil war.” Ms. Holvey related that her son served in Iraq. She said it had been the “worst feeling in the world” to not know if one’s child was safe. She shared that she and Ms. Rich had been “battle buddies” when their children were serving in Iraq in an effort to give one another emotional support. She stated that her son had been awarded a bronze star for meritorious service and described the incident that he had been given the medal for. rd Sara Rich , 390 East 43 Avenue, said she was an angry mother of an Iraq combat soldier. She related that her daughter had been sexually assaulted and sexually harassed by her commander for the year she served. She felt her daughter had returned “a different girl.” She had since met many Iraq veterans who were suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She also met families who lost their daughters or sons in the war in Iraq. She wanted to keep recruiters out of the high schools. She wanted the current administration to be impeached. She believed the administration was responsible for the “death and genocide” occurring in Iraq and were responsible for the over 3,200 soldiers who were dead. She noted that this did not include the suicides that occurred. She felt the war was tearing the nation and its children apart. She said she would do what she could to prevent her 12-year-old son from ever having to serve. She related that she was a social worker in Eugene and she could not think of a client who had dental or vision care. She thought the money being spent on the war could be used for a much better purpose. Mayor Piercy closed the public forum and invited comments and questions from councilors. Councilor Bettman expressed appreciation for all who testified. She indicated she would support the resolution to end the war and bring the troops home and she hoped her colleagues would as well. She believed the council’s voice could influence policy. She stressed the importance of “speaking up.” MINUTES—Eugene City Council March 12, 2007 Page 4 Regular Meeting