HomeMy WebLinkAbout161207.WS.SIREMINUTES – Eugene City Council December 7, 2016 Page 1
Work Session
M I N U T E S
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
December 7, 2016
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: George Brown, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka via phone, George Poling, Mike Clark, Chris Pryor
Councilors Absent: Greg Evans, Claire Syrett, Mayor Piercy opened the December 7, 2016, meeting of the Eugene City Council.
1. WORK SESSION: Fireworks
Fire Chief Joe Zaludek and Fire Marshall Al Gerard gave a brief update on fireworks enforcement and background.
Council discussion:
• Use of social media could help with enforcement.
• An ordinance banning fireworks would be unenforceable.
• Most of the fireworks complaints received are for use of illegal ones.
• Conversation about banning fireworks needs to deal with the real problem, not everything.
• Want the ability to deal with bad fireworks through enforcement and education.
• Declaration that fireworks laws are unenforceable sends the wrong message to the community.
• It would be difficult to identify which fireworks are legal or illegal; implementing a total ban would address this issue.
MOTION AND VOTE (friendly included): Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Pryor, moved to direct the City Manager to come back to council prior to the presentation of his budget with a plan to do an action plan and budget for adequate enforcement of the laws around illegal fireworks, meaning it would result in a substantial decrease in the use of illegal fireworks. PASSED 5:1, Councilor Taylor opposed. Council discussion:
• Laws to deal with illegal fireworks already exist; need adequate plans and actions needed.
• The message that needs to be conveyed is that use of illegal fireworks will bring a hefty fine.
• Restricting the allowable times to use fireworks use may help.
• It is important to hear from both the Police and Fire chiefs on what can be done.