Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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In response to a question from Councilor Ortiz, Mr. Solin stated that the amendment in HB 2370-A did not talk about commercial businesses that have stores of firearms but under the jurisdiction of Eugene City Code, the City had the ability to curtail sales in an emergency. Councilor Poling brought a point of order. He determined that the motion the council had voted on had been misunderstood to be a motion regarding the staff position and not Councilor Bettman’s motion to take a Priority 3 Oppose stance on HB 2370. Councilor Poling, seconded by Councilor Ortiz, moved to rescind the vote. Roll call vote; the motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Bettman, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to adopt a Priority 3 Oppose stance on HB 2370. Roll call vote; the motion failed, 6:2; councilors Bettman and Taylor voting in favor. Mayor Piercy called for a vote on the staff recommendation to adopt a Priority 3 Support position on HB 2370. Roll call vote; the motion passed, 6:2; councilors Bettman and Tay- lor voting in opposition. Mayor Piercy stated that the staff recommendation for HB 2370-A was to adopt a Priority 2 Oppose position. Councilor Clark expressed concern that HB 2370-A would impact civil liberties. He believed the right to bear arms was an individual civilian right. He supported the amended version of the bill. Councilor Poling understood the local emergency management procedure but he expressed concern about people in rural areas. He thought some people would not see help for days and he did not think people in that position should have their weapons seized. He opposed the staff recommendation. In response to a question from Mayor Piercy, Ms. Wilson clarified that the amended version of the bill would preempt the Eugene City Code provisions related to disaster management and firearms. She noted that it would prohibit the federal government from seizing weapons as well. She believed this to be a violation of the United States Constitution Supremacy Clause. She thought the bill would be “hashed out” once it reached the floor. Councilor Solomon felt a gun was necessary in certain crisis situations to ensure the safety of her family and because of this she could not support the staff recommendation to oppose the amended bill. Councilor Pryor found the amendment to be troublesome because it did not provide any way of differentiat- ing between a good person or a person with ill intent carrying a gun. He said unless the amendment could be clearer he could not support it. Councilor Bettman found both the bill and the amendment to be troublesome. She thought the amendment would allow “the military” to go door to door confiscating weapons. She did not like that it would supercede home rule authority and the ability of the EPD to impose law and order. She added that this was her difficulty with turning over emergency management “to the military.” She hoped the council would reconsider its vote to support “militarizing emergency management.” MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 9, 2007 Page 13 Regular Meeting