Critics voice opposition to expanded drinking area.

Byline: Edward Russo The Register-Guard

CORRECTION(Ran Sept. 12, 2007): Seven people on Monday spoke against a proposal to expand the legal drinking area around Autzen Stadium on home football game days. A story on Page A1 Tuesday listed an incorrect figure.

Opponents of expanding the legal drinking area around Autzen Stadium on home football game days put up a stiff defense Monday.

Anti-drunken-driving group representatives told the Eugene City Council that allowing more football fans to drink legally at tailgating parties would lead to more alcohol-related accidents, injuries and deaths.

"You have the opportunity to save lives and prevent tragedy," said Lois Harvick of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. "You have the opportunity to send the message to our community that the public safety of our citizens takes priority over the estimated 20 percent of Duck fans that consume alcoholic beverages in and around Autzen Stadium during every Saturday home game."

The proposed ordinance would give private parking lot operators near Autzen the same game-day exemption from Eugene's law banning drinking in public that the city gives the University of Oregon for its stadium lot.

Councilors are scheduled to vote on the proposed expansion on Sept. 24.

In return for the expanded drinking area, private lot operators would have to register with the city and post signs and distribute fliers informing football fans of rules such as not distributing alcohol to minors and no alcohol sales.

After studying the issue at the council's direction, the police department recommended that the private lot operators be exempted from the law so they are treated the same as the UO. The proposed ordinance is an attempt to recognize that tailgating is widespread on the university and private lots, and that the police department doesn't have enough officers to enforce this law.

Six people spoke against the expansion. Four residents supported the idea, three of them members of nonprofit groups that operate parking lots around the stadium. Many such groups rely on football parking for fundraising and charitable giving.

The parking lot operators told councilors that they encounter relatively few problems with drunken fans. Bob Dougherty of the Masonic Lodge said his group prevents fans from taking beer cans from the parking lot to the stadium. "We think that we do a fairly good job," he said.

But Anne Pratt of Crime Victims United said the city should enforce its law banning drinking in public rather than give private lot operators an exemption. "Get a grip on these lots and find a way to enforce the existing law," she said. "Making it legal doesn't make (public drinking) right."

Earlier in the evening, councilors discussed whether they would have conflicts of interest as they deliberate on McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center's upcoming proposal to build a hospital in north Eugene.

City attorney Emily Jerome advised councilors who think they might have a conflict or potential conflict of interest to disclose that during the public hearing.

She then asked two councilors, Chris Pryor and Andrea Ortiz, whether their decision on McKenzie-Willamette could be "fair and impartial."

Until June 29, Pryor's wife, Rosie Pryor, worked for McKenzie-Willamette. Ortiz works as an emergency room clerk for Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, McKenzie-Willamette's chief competitor.

Both councilors said they could be impartial.

Councilor Jennifer Solomon disclosed that she served on the Sacred Heart Hospital Foundation board of directors and as co-chairwoman of the hospital's Children's Miracle Network, both volunteer positions. Jerome said Solomon wouldn't have a conflict of interest as long as she could be "fair and impartial."

Also, the council was told that the public hearing will be Oct. 23 regarding McKenzie-Willamette's proposal to build a hospital on nine holes of RiverRidge Golf Course, north of the Belt Line Road/Delta Highway interchange. The council hearing will be at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber, City Hall, 777 Pearl St.