Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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ATTACHMENT J M I N U T E S Eugene City Council Council Chamber—City Hall 777 Pearl Street—Eugene, Oregon July 25, 2011 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Betty Taylor, Andrea Ortiz, George Poling, Mike Clark, Chris Pryor, Alan Zelenka, Pat Farr. COUNCILORS ABSENT: George Brown. Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the July 25, 2011, regular meeting of the Eugene City Council to order. 1. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Piercy reviewed the rules of the Public Forum. Reverend Will I. Am Winget , 4501 Franklin Boulevard, Space 2, Glenwood, objected to discrimination against medical marijuana and spiritual marijuana. He spoke of the benefits of medical and spiritual marijuana. He contrasted marijuana to tobacco and suggested marijuana was less harmful. He believed he was discriminated against because of his need to drive to transport veterans to and from the hospital; if he smoked marijuana on the first day of the month he could be pulled over anytime within 30 days and charged with driving under the influence. He could not use marijuana as a medicine at public events. People who smoked marijuana on a regular basis frequently had jobs and their behavior was no problem until they challenged the status quo. He noted that when asked, past governors rejected taxes on marijuana as a source of revenue. Duncan Rhodes , 1005 Lewis Avenue, #1, reported that the Whitaker Community Council Board of Directors voted on July 20 to oppose the closure of the north and south entrances to the fairgrounds and removal of the right-of-way because the entrances served as important connections between the College Hill neighborhood and the Westside and Whiteaker neighborhoods. Mr. Rhodes believed the action was in direct conflict with the triple bottom line and the City’s 20-minute neighborhood initiative. He suggested the action would reduce the “eyes on the street” in the fairgrounds area. If the fairgrounds were experiencing crime, the City should increase police patrols and Lane County should improve the lighting at the fairgrounds. Mr. Rhodes reported that several female residents expressed concern about the closures as they would force them to take routes they felt were less safe. He encouraged residents to attend a public hearing on the topic before the Hearings Official on August 17 at 1:30 p.m. Bob Macherione , 1994 Brewer Street, said the City sent him notice that the sign in front of his business in opposition to EmX violated the City’s Sign Code. He maintained the Sign Code was intended to regulate signs for commerce, not signs expressing opinions. His sign was on private property and posed no public hazard. However, the City continued to send him notices. Mr. Macherione believed the City Council should revise the Sign Code to address his concerns and to remove the provision that allowed for anonymous complaints, which he considered unfair. Mr. Macherione quoted Thomas Jefferson: “The MINUTES—Eugene City Council July 25, 2011 Page 1 Regular Meeting