CC Minutes - 11/23/98 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Farr said the savings in rent for residents provided by the proposed waiver would likely make the difference for residents between having a home and being homeless. He said the council had consistently supported Iow-income housing. Mr. Laue pointed out that the housing to be provided in the development would likely serve single parents with children who would not be able to afford any other type of rental housing in the community. The motion to approve Item B of the Consent Calendar was adopted, 7:1, with Ms. Taylor voting in opposition. 3. PUBLIC HEARING: ORDINANCE TO REVISE THE CITY OF EUGENE VOTER'S PAMPHLET SIGNATURE GATHERING PROCESS City Manager James Johnson announced that the council would hold a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to revise portions of the City Code related to the use of paid petitioners to gather signatures for arguments in the City voter's pamphlet. Deputy City Recorder Kate Fieland stated that the proposed ordinance had originated from a request of the American Civil Liberties Union to change provisions of the City's code regarding paid petition signature gatherers. She reviewed options discussed by councilors at a November 9 work session, as follows: · Remove fee for use of paid signature gatherers. · Provide an option for a fee in lieu of signatures to place an argument in the voter's pamphlet. · Retain the 300 signature requirement to place arguments in the voters' pamphlet with no fee. · Continue to require an identification button for paid petitioners only. · Remove the button requirement. · Require signature gathers to wear a button identifying their status as either paid or unpaid. Ms. Fieland said that staff recommended that the fee for using paid signature gatherers and the requirement that signature gatherers wear a button be removed. Mayor Torrey opened the public hearing and explained guidelines for providing testimony in it. Polly Nelson, Post Office Box 50426, Eugene, stated that she was the Education Director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon. She said her organization supported the recommendations of staff and urged the council to adopt the proposed ordinance revisions. She said that removal of the requirement for signature gatherers to wear a button was significant because the requirement stigmatized constitutionally protected free speech. MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 23, 1998 Page 4 7:30 p.m.