Item 2A - Minutes Approval - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

B. Approval of Tentative Working Agenda Ms. Bettman, seconded by Mr. Poling, moved to approve thc items on the Consent Calen- dar. Ms. Bettman noted her submission of corrections to the minutes. Mayor Torrey deemed them accepted as submitted. Roll call vote; the motion passed unanimously, 6:0; Ms. Nathanson was excused for the balance of the meeting, and Mr. Pap6 was out of the room at the time the vote was taken. 4. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Concerning the Downtown Area; and Proposed Amendments to Sections 3.344, 4.871, and 4.872 of the Eugene Code, 1971 Mr. Taylor said that Police Chief Bob Lehner had, at his request, revisited the ordinance after consulting with community groups. Chief Lehner was present to discuss the proposed changes. He described the department's meeting with a community coalition that included the Bill of Rights Defense Committee and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), saying the end result were changes limited to two areas: 1) the definition of commercial gatherings; 2) and the removal of the permit requirement for noncommercial gatherings of more than 25. He anticipated the latter topic would be addressed further when the council reviewed the parade permit ordinance. Mayor Torrey opened the public hearing. Bruce Miller, PO Box 50968, Eugene, generally criticized the City's efforts in downtown. He called for mayor, council, and staff changes and praised the efforts of the City of Corvallis in its downtown. He called for more "people" persons in downtown. Brian Michaels, representing the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, noted his submission of correspon- dence between the City and his organization. By and large, he commended the revised ordinance but he believed the exclusion element of the ordinance should be deleted. Mr. Michaels disagreed that the area around the Broadway Plaza was a park. He thought the streets and byways of the community should be free for all citizens to pass. He did not think action taken in the interests of the merchants was not necessary as no one was open late at night and there were few merchants in the area. Mr. Michaels believed that as a result of the curfew on the Broadway Plaza, people would be targeted for standing on the streets between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. M. Brooks Robert Shaw asked the council to eliminate the curfew at the Broadway Plaza. She found it ironic that there was a curfew in the plaza that housed the memorial to author Ken Kesey, a great individual. She thought the curfew would create an undesirable class of people. All should have access to public areas at all time. She asked the council to consider removing all City curfews, starting with this one. Bob Cassidy, 1401 East 27th Avenue, expressed appreciation to Chief Lehner for his work. He joined in MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 10, 2004 Page 8 Regular Meeting