CC Minutes - 09/08/03 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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and was successful. He said that the man was booked on 40 counts of burglary and had been arrested seven times in the last year for similar crimes, but was released less than 48 hours later due to the Lane County jail's matrix system. He asserted that the perpetrator was likely breaking into cars while the City Council was meeting. Mr. Liebling said that he hoped to bring this to the attention of the council for two reasons: 1) to motivate the City to consider increasing the police presence or installing some sort of security, such as a camera system or security guards, in the Spencer's Butte parking lot; and 2) to ask the council to speak out against the matrix system as it currently is implemented. Bruce Miller, PO Box 50968, related that, though the library building had cost $35 million, the pay phone was located outside the building. He felt that a person using the pay phone would be vulnerable to the elements and possible harm at the hands of people with less than good intentions. He also was concerned that the symbols on the control panel in the elevator were not easy to comprehend. Continuing, Mr. Miller recommended that the Board of Commissioner's interview process and other civic exercises be videotaped as an educational tool for school students. Mayor Torrey closed the Public Forum and invited comments from councilors. Councilor Meisner suggested that Mr. Liebling approach the County Commissioners regarding the matrix system, as it was a County system and not under the jurisdiction of the City. He asked the City Manager if it would be possible to deploy volunteer patrol staff to the Spencer's Butte parking lot. Councilor Meisner called the lack of funding for the cattery a %erious problem." He reiterated that the City could not be responsible for rural services. He noted that the City had looked into the possibility of a tax or surcharge on University athletic events to support youth athletic programs several years earlier and had discovered that such a financing mechanism could only be enacted through an amendment by the State Legislature. Councilor Pap~ expressed appreciation for Mr. Liebling's testimony. He noted that the EPD currently had vacancies and could use someone with the ability that Mr. Liebling had displayed. He reiterated Mr. Meisner's suggestion that he take his testimony before the Board of County Commissioners. Councilor Nathanson noted that she had requested information from the finance manager several weeks earlier on the budget. She said that this information would be presented to the council in the next few weeks and that it would be better known at that time whether the council would have any tools to address the cattery issue. Councilor Nathanson asked, in regard to the testimony on the car theft, if staff could provide a brief memorandum on the effectiveness of video surveillance. Councilor Kelly thanked Mr. Liebling for bringing his story before the council. He agreed that the matrix system and how it was administered had a variety of problems. He thought that the potential use of volunteer patrols could greatly benefit the area and requested further information regarding this possibility from staff. MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 8, 2003 Page 3 Regular Meeting