09/07/1988 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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- facilities are being considered: a restitution centert a drug and alcohol residential programt or a prison. Ms. Ehrman explained the Governor will issue a Certificate of Need that will specify the type of facility that is to be built. She said the process will move quickly once the certificate is issuedt so the City's input on siting and type of facility should be provided as soon as possible. She said the County is also involved in the process. Ms. Ehrman expressed the opinion that the community would benefit from a drug and alcohol program and she noted that the facility would be for prisoners transitioning back into the community. A three-member committee made up of a sherifft a representative of Correctionst and an elected official will review possible sites. Ms. Ehrman said the County had indicated that if most of the sites under consideration were in Eugenet the elected official on the siting committee should be a City official. Mayor Obie said he had received a letter from the State announcing the public hearing Ms. Ehrman attendedt and he expressed concern that the City's policy-makers had received such late notice. Although we have a responsibility to house criminals in this communitYt he felt the State had demonstrated insensitivity to the community in the initial stage of the process. Mayor Obie asked Mr. Gleason to appoint a staff member to follow the issue on the council1s behalf and to work with Ms. Ehrman if she is willing to continue her involvement. e Mr. Gleason agreed to discuss the situation with Ms. Ehrman to determine the level of staff support that is needed and he assured the council that the City would be involved. Ms. Wooten stressed the seriousness of the issue and requested more information. She recommended that Ms. Ehrman be appointed to the three-member siting committee. Ms. Wooten asked if the facility is contingent on the Governor's success in obtaining lottery funds for correctional facilities. Ms. Ehrman referred to a "Corrections Report" she had received in a recent pac ket. She said funding is already available for approximately ItOOO beds throughout the state. Of thoset 250 possibly could be located in our community. She agreed that it would be appropriate for a City official to represent the community's interests on the proposed committeet particularly if the facility is to be sited in the Eugene area. C. Traffic Diverters Ms. Ehrman reported a contact regarding diverters on 5th Avenue. She asked for clarification on a question about funds that were set aside for these diverters and about landscaping on the Chambers Connector. Ms. Wooten requested an update on the "temporary" diverters on West 24th Avenue near Chambers Street that were put in place eight years ago. She e MINUTES--Eugene Ci ty Counci 1 September 7t 1988 Page 2