CC Minutes - 07/27/98 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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election regarding a memorial flag on Skinner Butte to allow the formation of voter's pamphlet committees, as required by the Eugene Code. City Attorney Glenn Klein reviewed council work sessions, public hearing, and action to refer the memorial flag on Skinner Butte ordinance to voters. He said the proposed ordinance reflected the language of an initiative petition initially circulated by advocates of a charter amendment to require a Skinner Butte memorial flag, as directed by council. He pointed out that the ordinance provided that the proponent's statement and rebuttal to opposition in the voter's pamphlet would be prepared by the "It's a Butte" Committee. In response to a question from Mr. Farr, City Manager Pro Tern Jim Johnson stated that copies of the ordinance had been circulated among the chief petitioners of the initiative petition. Ms. Nathanson asked why references were made to the "American flag" in the proposed ordinance and not the "flag of the United States of America." Mr. Klein replied that the references used the language of the charter amendment initiative petition. He said that the language of the proposed ordinance could be changed by the council before it was adopted. Mr. Meisner asked if deed restrictions established when the Skinner Butte Park had been donated to the City were involved in the proposed ordinance. Mr. Klein replied that the proposed ordinance created no difficulty for any such restrictions. Mayor Torrey opened the public hearing. Misha Seymour, 1313 Lincoln Street #306, stated that he believed placing a flag on Skinner Butte was a bad idea. He said the proposed ordinance held voters "hostage" because it contained only one alternative. He said he believed a "peace park" or giving the funds offered to pay for the flag to homeless persons were viable alternatives. He said that a memorial flag implied that war is good, but that he did not believe patriotism was "where it is at." Jim Hale, 1715 Linnea Avenue, presented a box of documents to the council. He stated that the 1,200 sheets of paper in the box contained the signatures of 8,935 signatures of registered Eugene voters who believed placing a flag on Skinner Butte was a good idea. He said the petitions had been signed to place a charter amendment on the ballot, but that they would not be submitted to not confuse voters by the ordinance to be placed on the ballot by the council. He said he approved the language of the ordinance. He said he had written the original petition as a charter amendment to remove control of it from the current or a future City Council and to eliminate language referring to the Skinner Butte cross. Nick Urhausen, 2858 Warren Street, said that he had served as a signature gatherer for the petitions submitted by Mr. Hale. He said he was concerned about the council making changes to the proposed ordinance because doing so would lessen his trust of councilors. He said he believed that Eugene City government was dysfunctional, and that there would be letters from citizens expressing opposition to a flag on Skinner Butte. Frank Blair, 2850 Mill Street, stated that he represented Chapter 20 of the Disabled American Veterans organization. He said he was pleased the ordinance was being submitted to voters and estimated that it would be supported by 85 percent of those voting on the proposal. MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 27, 1998 Page 4 7:30 p.m.