CC Minutes - 04/13/09 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Roll call vote; the substitute motion failed, 6:2; councilors Clark and Taylor voting in favor. Roll call vote; the original motion to adopt a Priority 2 Oppose position passed, 6:2; counci- lors Taylor and Clark voting in opposition. House Bill 2961 – Would allow a municipality to impose local requirements for construction of new structures that would be more stringent than state building code. Ms. Wilson stated that staff had recommended adoption of a neutral stance on the bill. She related that Councilor Poling wished to change this to a Priority 3 Oppose because he felt the statewide building code should be consistent and this motion had resulted in a 2:1 vote with Councilor Taylor dissenting. Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved to adopt a Priority 3 Oppose posi- tion on House Bill 2961. Roll call vote; the motion passed, 6:2; councilors Taylor and Or- tiz voting in opposition. House Bill 2979 – Would require that places of public accommodation allow customer access to employee toilet facilities if a customer had certain medical conditions and provided for a punishment of a maximum fine of $90 for violations. Ms. Wilson stated that staff had recommended a Priority 3 Oppose position. She related that Councilor Ortiz had moved to monitor the bill and had not received a second. Mayor Piercy asked Ms. Wilson to review the conditions included in the bill. Ms. Wilson explained that the list included use of any ostomy device, Krohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and any inflammatory bowel disease. She said one issue raised by staff was that the bill provided no way for an employee of a public facility to know whether or not a person had one of those medical conditions. Mayor Piercy commented that in the case of someone with an extreme medical condition it did seem unreasonable to deny access to a restroom. She suggested that they choose to monitor the bill or to ask for an amendment requiring that a person carry an affidavit regarding their condition. Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved to adopt a Priority 3 Oppose posi- tion to House Bill 2979. Councilor Ortiz asked where the bill was going. Ms. Wilson replied that it was not moving. Councilor Poling said the reason he opposed the bill was that it would allow customers access to employee toilet facilities. He pointed out that public restrooms were required to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He felt that employees should not be exposed to unnecessary risks and, as such, he could not support the bill. In response to a question from Councilor Zelenka, Ms. Wilson said the bill did not explain how someone would determine if a person should have the right to access an employee bathroom. She remarked that it was a difficult bill to administer. Councilor Zelenka thought the bill came from a good intent but was badly executed. MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 13, 2009 Page 15 Regular Meeting