Item 2A - Approval of Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Stanley Pender, 266 High Street, spoke in support of granting the Hempfest a permit. He shared that he had been reading a book called Drug War History in Politics. He said he had smoked marijuana for 28 years was not a criminal. He estimated that he had smoked marijuana with approximately 200 people and asserted that he knew no criminals. He felt it was bad for the community to support the "myth" that people smoking marijuana was a crime. He alleged that 15 million people had used marijuana within the last few days. David Sonnichsen, 2435 Skyline Boulevard, opposed the extension of Agate Street because he alleged it would cause the City to convert the Autzen Foot Bridge to a bridge for motorized vehicles. He felt this would cause irreparable degradation to both the south and north banks of the Willamette River. He said, as chair of the Whilamut Natural Area Citizen Planning Committee, he had polled 11 of the 15 members and the members unanimously questioned the advisability of the proposal. He alleged the public did not know the details of the proposal because there was no announcement and no public scrutiny. He urged the Eugene City Council to open up the process to the public. Amy Pincus-Merwin, 2220 Sandy Drive, said she favored holding the Hempfest. She had attended the previous year's festival and thought it was a great event. Ms. Pincus-Merwin explained that she was unable to stay until the appropriate public hearing due to a recent surgery, but wished to give her testimony on behalf of the Community Cable Access television (CCATV). She requested the funding for CCATV be restored and increased. She acknowledged the organization had difficulties, although it operated well in spite of being an entirely volunteer organization. She called CCATV the "last, open-access, free speech venue in the City." She noted that Metro Television received a budget of over $250,000 per year while CCATV received nothing. She alleged that this was unprecedented throughout the nation as no other community cable access station was unfunded. She called this a "point of shame." She stressed the importance of funding the station to the level at which it could be a functional organization with fund-raising capabilities and proper equipment. She added that she was dismayed to turn on Metro Television on election night and see a film of a ballet from the 1970s. Matt Laubach, 790 East 23rd Avenue, spoke in support of restoring the funding to community television. He called the current contract an "unfunded mandate." He said Portland had five cable access stations funded by the franchise fees. He called cable access stations a "unique source of news information." He related that he worked at KLCC and felt that he could put things on CCATV that he was unable to put on the radio at KLCC. He asserted that Portland community access television received $250,000 while the CCATV in the City of Eugene received $7,500. Councilor Pap~ called a point of order. He questioned whether the previous testimony should be included in the Public Forum as it specifically referred to an item for which a public hearing was scheduled. Councilor Bettman added that testimony given in the Public Forum would not be included in the public record of the hearing. City Attorney Jerry Lidz did not recommend a specific response or action. He indicated that the testimony had been given and could not be taken back at this point. Councilor Bettman closed the Public Forum. Councilor Pap~ asked staff to provide, in memorandum form, the City's opinion on the Hempfest issue. MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 28, 2004 Page 2 Regular Meeting