05/11/1987 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e neighborhood that included a number of small children. She said no question existed that the activities were illegal, so the issue was one of law enforcement and keeping traffic in the commercial areas where it belonged. Mark W. Rosier, 2207 McMillan Street, Allan Shapiro, 22 West 24th Avenue, and Carl Long, 2211 Olive Street, had signed request forms on this issue but did not speak individually. Mayor Obie thanked speakers for their testimony. He said the council traditionally requested a written staff response to issues raised at public forums. He noted that the counci 1 had received "extensive and exhaustive" background on the IIGut" issue and that Ms. Schue had spent many hours working with residents of that area and with the "Gut" Task Force. He requested that staff provide a summary of past actions and suggestions about ways to approach the problem again, and he said copies of those documents would be sent to those who had signed speaker-request forms. Mayor Obie also suggested that Council or Schue mi ght provide a recommendation after those reports were received. Ms. Schue thanked the residents for attending. She said the "Gut" problem was lithe curse of Ward 1," adding that she lived further south on Willamette Street but was well aware of the problems mentioned in testimony. Ms. Schue said problems seemed to occur in "streaks." She said a number of approaches had been tried, some of which had been reasonably successful, but when, for budgetary or other reasons, those responses were re 1 axed, the problems increased again. She said responses could be made and were needed. e Ms. Wooten asked whether the council had received a report that funds for the "Gut" Task Force were being reduced through the FY87-88 Planning Department budget. Mr. Whitlow said he would check. Ms. Ehrman requested a report from the Traffic Engineering Division about the proposal to prohibit left turns. Mayor Obie said speakers would be mailed copies of the reports, and he suggested that they call the City Managerls Office for additional information after those reports had been received. Mr. Dean suggested that the ban on left turns for northbound traffic on Willamette Street be tried for a month. He said residents favored the idea and it would be less expensive than other approaches. B. Police/Teachers Raymond Beard, 699 Sterling Drive, submitted a letter dated May 11, 1987, which he read. Mr. Beard said he was a teacher at Cal Young Middle School in School District 4J and he was concerned about Police Division policies that appeared to deal with crowd control in an inefficient and costly manner. He described three instances of police involvement with picketing and replacement teachers during the teachers' strike. Mr. Beard said the City police response to Cal Young Middle School at 3:30 p.m. on April 27 had included several marked and unmarked cars and a "helmeted, baton-carrying e MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 11, 1987 Page 3