CC Minutes - 01/09/06 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

th Eugene Drix , 740-1/2 East 14 Avenue, said Eugene’s problems were similar to those of other cities. He said Eugene merely needed a new focus. No one would know how a new focus would work. Eugene was unique, and if residents could work together they could succeed. He advocated for a new definition for future generations, since not everyone had children. He said the homeless needed to be known by a new term that people felt more connected with. He asked those in attendance and those at home to think about the issue, and urged a home-grown solution. Lisa Dunn questioned how the City could justify trying to avoid liability for allowing Roger Magana to prey upon women for so long. She asked why City officials were not being charged for tampering and withhold- ing evidence, adding when other people break the law, they pay the penalty. Ms. Dunn asserted that she to move again because after more officers’ names came in the court case, the police parked in her driveway every night for 3-1/2 weeks. She asked why she should have to act in fear. Ms. Dunn said she had seen nothing productive being done for rape victims and the mentally ill as a result of Mayor Piercy’s election, in spite of promises she made. She had expected more change. She said she repeatedly asked for answers and never received one. Her daughter had been removed from her custody because the State believed she was too traumatized because of her exploitation by Roger Magana to raise her. After threatening suit, she was finally able to see her daughter on a regular basis. Ms. Dunn asked that something be done about predators on the streets, suggesting that failure to do so could result in vigilante actions. th Tom Watson , 1963 7 Avenue, questioned the lack of action by the City with regard to Ms. Dunn’s case. He maintained her continuing stress had been worsened by recent events, such as the City’s motion requesting a judge to rule the City had no liability in the Magana case, which the judge ruled against. He suggested that as the City contemplated the dollar amounts involved in settling the case, it would be in the City’s best interests to take care of Lisa Dunn. Mr. Watson suggested $3.3 million would be an appropriate settlement. He averred it would be appropriate for the City to offer counseling to Ms. Dunn. He believed that “damage control” was in order, and suggested to Mayor Piercy that “stepping out for Lisa Dunn” would be a popular thing for her to do. He suggested City Manager Dennis Taylor bore responsibility for the case, noting that City Manager Taylor stated to the council that the City “owned” the International City Managers Association/Police Executive Research Forum (ICMA/PERF) report. Mr. Watson asserted that in recently filed court documents, the City sought privacy for officers other than Lara and Magana who had sustained sexual complaints against them and who were still working for the City of Eugene. He called for a zero tolerance policy for the Police Department regarding sexual complaints. He questioned the council’s lack of action in that regard. He questioned whether the City had time to await the settlement of the lawsuits to hear the results of Police Chief Robert Lehner’s investigations, and called for action. He thought the City Council should take care of Ms. Dunn. Kevin Matthews , PO Box 1588, Eugene, said the council’s action to study the proposed large and dramatic downtown development was reasonable. He contrasted development in Europe with development in the United States and said that “snazzy, chain store” shopping experiences were common and asserted that retail approach had “run its course.” He suggested the council consider establishing criteria that would allow the development to proceed in a way that expressed Eugene. He suggested sustainability criteria, “walkability” criteria, and a requirement for local content. Mr. Matthews feared so much development in a single ownership could become generic. He said the council should demand staff produce a detailed analysis. If the council chose to use eminent domain, it should use it in the public interest. He asked how the use of MINUTES—Eugene City Council January 9, 2006 Page 3 Regular Meeting