Item B: Approval of Legislative Policies Document

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City of Eugene Legislative Policies for 2009 Oregon Legislative Session C3. Deference to Voluntary Negotiations ?Eugene supports the resolution of employment disputes through voluntary agreement between the parties over procedures which impose settlements by a third party. C4. Installation of Electrical Equipment ?Eugene supports expanding the existing exemption afforded to cable television companies from electrical permit and licensing requirements to include all forms of communications cable (e.g., coaxial and fiber optic). These types of installations do not require the knowledge, skills and abilities represented by a commercial electrician's license. Cities should not be required to pay the associated fees and expenses of using licensed electricians to install telephone and computer cable and equipment. These requirements do not result in improved personnel or building safety. D. LIQUOR LICENSING ?Eugene supports providing local governments with presumptive effect regarding the issuance of liquor licenses. To sustain safe, livable neighborhoods, local government recommendations regarding the issuance of liquor licenses should have greater weight when the Oregon Liquor Control Commission acts on license applications. Adverse recommendations by local governments should have “presumptive” effect, meaning that a liquor license applicant would have to show good cause to overcome an adverse recommendation from a city. Prior to 1988, adverse local government recommendations regarding issuance of liquor licenses did have a presumptive effect. In 1988, the Attorney General issued an opinion stating that OLCC licensing criteria concerning a local governing body endorsement was invalid; that by giving presumptive effect to adverse local government recommendations, the commission was delegating its licensing authority to local governments unlawfully. Creating (or re-establishing) a presumption against a license when an unfavorable recommendation is forwarded by a local jurisdiction should be pursued. Such a change in the statutes would allow local governing bodies a greater role in the licensing process. Local recommendations would carry greater weight, while OLCC would play more of a reviewing role and would maintain statewide criteria, thus maintaining consistency in licensing matters across the state. 32