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B. Work Session: Flag on Skinner Butte War Memorial <br /> <br />John Etter, Public Works Maintenance, provided background information and circulated <br />computer-generated images of how a flag memorial might appear atop Skinner Butte. <br /> <br />Mr. Fart said there were two issues to address: Do we want a flag on the butte?; and, If so, what <br />process should we use? He said "we rarely get an opportunity to thank the people who have <br />sacrificed portions of their life for us." Mr. Fart acknowledged, praised, and thanked the veterans <br />in the audience. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor expressed her opposition to placing a flag on the butte, saying it would start another <br />30-year controversy. She said if the concept moves forward, there should be a public hearing <br />and it should be referred to voters. Ms. Taylor said displays of the flag were more appropriate for <br />government and public buildings. She shared input she has received that "it would make the <br />butte look like a military outpost" and cause "visual and light pollution." <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner agreed that a public hearing was in order and, whether it was approved or not, it <br />would be a matter of controversy, adding he was not sure he was ready to undertake the <br />expenditure of City resources to accommodate that. He noted that there existed two war <br />memorials: the Vietnam War Memorial replica and a memorial with the names of those who died <br />from this area. Mr. Meisner said he shared the concern about light pollution if the 20-foot by 30- <br />foot flag on a 100-foot pole were approved. <br /> <br />Addressing a question from Mr. Tollenaar, City Attorney Glenn Klein read Subsection 2 of Section <br />42 of the charter: "The property commonly known as butte property, with boundaries as <br />described in the charter.., is hereby dedicated to the public forever as a public park. The <br />concrete cross on the south slope of the butte shall remain at the location and in that form is <br />property of the City and is hereby dedicated as a memorial to the veterans of all wars in which <br />the United States has participated." Mr. Tollenaar noted that it was the cross specifically that was <br />dedicated as a war memorial--not the ground upon which it stood. Mr. Klein replied that a 1934 <br />resolution dedicated the park itself as a memorial. Mr. Tollenaar said he did not believe the <br />controversy would be that great and he was not opposed to raising a flag on the butte as it <br />symbolized the United States Constitution. His only concern was the proportions, saying he <br />favored something smaller. <br /> <br />Ms. Swanson Gribskov said she was not opposed to a flag on the butte and would not be <br />interested in referring it for a vote. She also believed a public hearing should be held and added <br />she also was concerned about the illumination. Ms. Swanson Gribskov asked for information on <br />flag protocol. <br /> <br />City Manager Pro Tem Jim Johnson said that if a flag remained up after dark, it needed to be lit, <br />either from above or below. He added that it would be impractical to have City staff raise/lower <br />the flag daily and difficult to find volunteers to perform those duties. Retractable poles, he noted, <br />are available for small flags but not the size being suggested. <br /> <br />Mr. Laue said he would consider installing a small flag as a war memorial on the hill, adding his <br />support for a public hearing. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 6, 1998 Page 3 <br /> 11:30 a.m. <br /> <br /> <br />