CC Minutes - 07/13/09 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

M I N U T E S Eugene City Council Regular Meeting Council Chamber—Eugene City Hall 777 Pearl Street—Eugene, Oregon July 13, 2009 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Chris Pryor, George Brown, Andrea Ortiz, George Poling, Mike Clark, Alan Zelenka, Betty Taylor, Jennifer Solomon. Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the meeting of the Eugene City Council to order. 1. CEREMONIAL MATTERS 2010 Census Proclamation - Mayor Piercy read a proclamation affirming the City of Eugene’s commitment to the 2010 census process. 2. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Piercy reviewed the rules of the Public Forum. Paul J. Biondi , 1625 Henderson Avenue, #F3, thanked the City Council and Mayor Piercy for talking about the benefit for the Musicians Emergency Medical Assistance (MEMA), an organization started to help people in an industry that did not have medical insurance. He stated that more than 92 percent of musicians and people who worked in the industry had very little or no health insurance. He suggested that the City Council sign its support for MEMA in a memorandum or proclamation at some point in the future. He said they had held several fundraisers and had helped approximately 12 different people in the industry with bills they faced when injured or unwell. He noted that musicians were often the first people to come forward to help raise funds for deserving issues. He asked the City and also Lane County to support its artists, musicians, and people in the industry because their income was far less than that of a white collar worker. He announced that musicians would be performing at the World Music Festival, a MEMA benefit, on July 26 at Sweet Cheeks Winery. He hoped that this information could be published on the City’s website. Kenneth Reed , 2459 Haig Street, thanked the council and Mayor for inviting the musicians to speak. He underscored his pride in being a musician. He said musicians lived life differently than most people. He related that when most people were sleeping, they were working and entertaining strangers to “give them an opportunity to go home with a smile on their face.” He stated that MEMA had been created to meet needs of musicians. He thanked Mayor Piercy, in particular, for supporting the fundraising events for MEMA. He commented that people had no idea who the musicians were who provided the music for commercials seen on television, for instance. He underscored that everyone needed someone to help them at least once. He said it was important to have the local elected officials come out and support events such as the World Music Festival. th Lynda Duffy , 940 East 35 Avenue, echoed the musicians’ thanks to the council and Mayor Piercy for allowing them to present MEMA. She underscored that it was about musicians supporting musicians. She MINUTES—Eugene City Council July 13, 2009 Page 1 Regular Meeting