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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,August 27,2012 Page 24 Council to pay the bills and run the City of Roseville; and further opined that any action on their part would only serve to create more division in the City. • Paul Siliciano, 1908 Gluek Lane Mr. Siliciano stated that he wished that all of his friends and neighbors enjoyed the same rights and protections as he and his wife enjoyed. As stated by a pre- vious speaker, Mr. Siliciano recognized that the City Council did not get a ballot to vote on this issue; however, he saw this as an opportunity for the City to make a statement that diversity and inclusive are strengths. Mr. Siliciano opined that part of the City's strength in remaining a great City is its strength; and expressed his hope that the Roseville City Council made a bold and coura- geous statement by supporting the resolution. Ed Wallerman,2420 Arona Mr. Wallerman noted that he had continued to follow this very tense issue in the state legislature up to the end of the last session; and their determination to put it on the ballot for vote of Minnesota citizens. Mr. Wallerman opined that every eligible voter had a right to vote yes or no. Mr. Wallerman asked the City At- torney under what authority the City Council would have a right to back a cer- tain group on this resolution; and opined that the City Council was spending money to promote a cause not related to City business, and that they had no au- thority to take a position on the resolution. David Norris,950 Clark Street, St. Paul Mr. Norris read from one of the U. S. Constitution's founding documents, Amendment 14, Section 1; opining that this was an important amendment ad- dressing "separate but equal". Mr. Norris questioned where there was a"but" in civil rights; and while hearing concerns of other citizens that Roseville was a public body and should not take a stand, he opined that he disagreed with that perception. Mr. Norris noted that there were twelve (12) other cities in the State of MN having already taken a stand,others were taking a stand against this pro- posed amendment. Mr. Norris disagreed with a previous speaker who stated that marriage was not a civil right; and cited case law as an example. Dick Houck, 1131 Roselawn Avenue Mr. Houck opined that there were two (2) points of common sense to this very emotional and controversial issue; with the issue not an argument being present- ed, but whether or not the City should take a stand on the amendment. Mr. Houck opined that an amendment is a piece of legislation passed legitimately in the state, and if people had a problem with that, the state was where they should go. When there is a problem in Roseville, Mr. Houck noted that people came to the City Council to make those decisions, and opined that this legislation was not in the City's jurisdiction and therefore there was no reason for them to make a decision on this. Mr. Houck opined that, for the City Council to do so would only represent a portion of Roseville residents. Mr. Houck opined that there