08/08/1990 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

'-- - -~------ e Mr. Green pointed out that when the crackdown on camping had occurred in San Francisco, some campers had refused to use that city's housing. Ms. Barnes said she did not think families would reject housing in Eugene. In response to a question from Ms. Ehrman, Ms. Rucker said City staff would be needed to help with such things as permit waivers, zoning changes, self-insurance, etc. Ms. Barnes said camping would be limited to a 60-day period, with leniency. In response to a question from Ms. Bascom, City Attorney Bill Gary said the current City ordinance probably prohibited camping on private property, even with the property owner's permission. Ms. Ehrman asked if the camp would provide shower facilities. Ms. Rucker said campers would have to arrange to shower elsewhere. She said the camp was intended as an emergency measure. Ms. Barnes pointed out that the YWCA had showers which it might allow campers to use. Ms. Rucker said if the council wished, she would investigate the cost of showers. Mr. Boles said from a standpoint of public safety he was concerned about whether homeless single parents would be allowed to let persons of the opposite sex spend the night with them at the camp. Ms. Barnes said only partners of persons staying at the camp could spend the night. Mr. Boles said that health standards might be better met if a camp were located in Amazon Park because the park has showers. Ms. Rucker said e potential camp sites had been evaluated in terms of security, accessibility to public transportation and social services, and privacy for families. In response to a question from Mr. Holmer, Ms. Rucker said a non profit group would be found to supervise administration of the camp. Ms. Barnes said Clients for Action might establish themselves as a non profit group and supervise the campground. Ms. Ehrman asked if the City would be allowed to serve as supervisor of the camp if it so chose, and Ms. Barnes said the homeless moms group would not object to this. Ms. Bascom said she had received phone calls from three people that morning who were angry about the camp proposal because they objected to the chosen site. Mr. Boles said he had also received calls that morning from people who were upset about the site, not the proposal itself. He said the people who had called felt there were already a preponderance of social services on the west side of town. He said the problem of home1essness is countywide and that other areas of the city also met the necessary criteria. Mr. Miller said the City Council would review the report after sending it to the Council Social Goals Committee. He thanked those who had prepared the report for presenting it to the council. Mr. Boles suggested that the City's Neighborhood Liaison contact neighborhood groups from areas contiguous to the proposed campground site to get their responses to the proposal. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 8, 1990 Page 3