CC Minutes - 06/08/98 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES Eugene City Council City Council Chamber--City Hall June 8, 1998 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Pat Farr, Tim Laue, Bobby Lee, Scott Meisner, Nancy Nathanson, Laurie Swanson Gribskov, Betty Taylor, Ken Tollenaar. The June 1, 1998, meeting of the Eugene City Council meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m.; Mayor James D. Torrey presiding. i. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Torrey reviewed guidelines for participating in the Public Forum. Nick Antone, Jr., 512 Honeysuckle Lane, stated that he was a lifelong resident of Eugene. He read sections of material he had received from the Salvation Army entitled "Working Miracles Every Day." He said he did not believe the City had been responsive to the needs of the under- privileged. He said he opposed the closing of the Downtown Mall, supported placing a flag on Skinner Butte as a memorial for veterans, and supported establishing a police review committee. Nick Urhausen, 2858 Warren Street, said he was concerned regarding the City's policy of providing health insurance for domestic partners of employees because there had been no public or City Council involvement in the decision. He said he preferred that senior services be fully supported and that he believed the State legislature should determine policies regarding health insurance. Faddah Wolf, 520 West 13th Avenue, stated that he believed proposed ordinances related to the downtown mall created an "us versus them" sentiment. He said such thinking was short-term, would not work, and would create increased challenges of existing rules. He said he did not believe the proposed ordinances addressed basic problems of the mall such as business closings. He suggested that a longer-term view would engage in community-building. Darren A. Fox, 4562 Souza Court, stated that he was a US military veteran and described his experience on seeing the American flag in Somalia. He said he believed a flag on Skinner Butte would be an honorable memorial for veterans who had given their lives in the service of their country. He submitted a petition supporting his position signed by 160 persons. Charlotte Petersen, 1210 Pearl Street, said that she believed there were many who opposed placing a flag on Skinner Butte but had not shown their opposition in public meetings because the proposal had not been well publicized, because many did not believe it would ever happen, and because they feared speaking their views would be considered unpatriotic. She said she did not believe the American flag was a symbol of comfort for all people and recounted her personal MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 8, 1998 Page 1 7:30 p.m.