CC Minutes - 02/23/09 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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4. ACTION: Ratification of Unanimous Intergovernmental Relations Committee Actions and Discussion and Action on Non- unanimous Intergovernmental Relations Committee Actions on Legislative Policy from February 11 and February 18, 2009 Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved to ratify the Intergovernmental Relations Committee’s unanimous actions on bills and approval of staff recommendations in the February 11, and February 18, 2009, Intergovernmental Relations Bill Reports for bills not pulled for discussion at those Intergovernmental Relations Committee meetings. Roll call vote; the motion passed un- animously, 7:0. Mayor Piercy directed the council’s attention to the bills that were not unanimous. Senate Resolution 1 – Urges governor to withhold deployment of Oregon National Guard to Iraq or Afghanis- tan. Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved to adopt a Support position on the Senate Resolution 1. Councilor Poling explained that he had voted in opposition to this resolution because of language that seemed to make reference to the President not setting any plans into place to withdraw the Oregon troops from Afghanistan and Iraq. He said the President had only been in office for a little more than a month and needed to be given a chance. He felt that without an exit strategy to protect the troops that were there, the wrong message would be sent. He averred that they needed to be shown support in addition to bringing them and all of the troops home safely. Councilor Pryor appreciated the debate on the resolution. He felt that the staff recommendation was the wiser one because, while many people did not make a distinction between the country’s action in Iraq and in Afghanistan, he did. He said he might consider the military action in Iraq to be an “incredibly ill-considered and bad thing to do” but he did not hold the same position about Afghanistan. He could not support “lumping” them together. Mayor Piercy ascertained from Intergovernmental Relations Manager, Brenda Wilson, that the language in the resolution was language on which many communities were voting. Councilor Clark echoed Councilor Poling’s concern. He stressed that he took this very seriously. He had lost a good friend from college in Afghanistan in September. Roll call vote; the motion failed, 4:3; councilors Ortiz, Taylor, and Zelenka voting in favor. Senate Bill 227 – Increases the penalty for knowingly furnishing alcohol to persons under the age of 21 years and imposes suspension of driving privileges or right to apply for driving privileges for 90 days in certain instances. Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved to adopt a Priority 3 Support position on Senate Bill 227. Councilor Taylor explained that she had moved to oppose the bill because she believed that the penalty was too extreme. She could approve it if it applied to furnishing alcohol to people who were under the ages of 16 or 18, but MINUTES—Eugene City Council February 23, 2009 Page 9 Regular Meeting