The Portland City Council is set to discuss Commissioner Randy Leonard's proposal to condemn the famous "Made in Oregon" sign atop the White Stag building at the west end of the Burnside Bridge.

Leonard's office posted this rendition of the sign on the commissioner's blog today.The use of eminent domain law is Leonard's response to an ongoing battle with the University of Oregon President David Frohnmayer over what words will grace the historic neon sign topped by a white deer.

The university has a lease on the historic White Stag building at 5 N.W. Naito Parkway and is renovating the building for a Portland campus. It has applied to the city Historic Landmarks Commission to change the words on the sign to "University of Oregon."

The university has a lease-purchase option for the sign with the owner, Ramsey Signs of Portland. Frohnmayer has been out of the country and unavailable for comment and other officials at the university have not returned calls.

Leonard has said changing the sign from a neutral Portland-oriented message "seriously degrades the value of the icon" and "commandeers it for the narrow purpose of institutional self-indulgence." He also said officials at Portland State University are offended that the Eugene-based school has come to Portland to "stake a claim" to the sign.

Leonard has the support of Mayor Sam Adams and Commissioner Nick Fish. City Attorney Linda Meng has said the use of condemnation is justified if it's being done for a public purpose.

Commissioner Dan Saltzman blasted the idea in the Portland Tribune, agreeing with Monday's Oregonian editorial that having the city take the sign to protect it amounted to "bullying" the university.

In her blog, Commissioner Amanda Fritz said that spending the $500,000 to buy the sign would be a waste of money and might be illegal.

Prepare for a heated debate tomorrow. And a side note: Adams will be absent. He's in Washington at the U.S. Conference of Mayors' education forum. But the council won't vote on Leonard's ordinance until April 8.

-- Mark Larabee: 503-294-7664; marklarabee@news.oregonian.com