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

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eminent domain in this case compared to other uses in the public interest the council had not chosen to go forward with, such as the preservation of natural resources or locating a hospital in the core. Mayor Piercy called on the council for comments and questions. Councilor Kelly thanked Ms. Joslen for her remarks and noted the council’s priority initiative regarding homelessness, saying translating that effort into positive change was a challenge. He expressed appreciation for the comments about downtown and the need for improved vitality and public safety. He said that downtown was currently a council priority and involved seeing a variety of efforts to completion. He welcomed suggestions. Councilor Kelly said that there had been a rise in public safety issues in recent months and expressed hope a task team was investigating that and that the council would hear a report in the future. City Manager Taylor said that the issue involved several agencies and staff was working on it. He could provide more information on short-term approaches. Councilor Kelly said he had no words to respond to Ms. Dunn and Mr. Watson’s comments. He acknowl- edged there were issues surrounding cases in process but there was also a human suffering element and he thought that should be carefully considered. Speaking to the comments of Mr. Matthews, Councilor Kelly invited the comments of Mr. Matthews and the public about suggestions for measurable criteria for a development agreement for privately owned property in downtown that would make it unique to Eugene. Councilor Ortiz thanked those in attendance and recognized the Marist High School class in attendance. Councilor Ortiz said that she was always distressed to hear from the victims of Magana/Lara and wanted to preserve the dignity of them to the degree possible. She acknowledged the council’s limitations under the charter in regard to the currently ongoing litigation and expressed the wish the council was privy to that information. Councilor Ortiz thanked Ms. Joslen for her remarks. Councilor Taylor was also touched by the remarks of Ms. Dunn and Mr. Watson and said she would like information about anything the City could do to assist Ms. Dunn. Councilor Taylor thanked those in attendance and noted those who spoke with regard to the need for a youth center downtown. She suggested that could be a good use for the Atrium building if the City decided to vacate it. She agreed with Ms. Joslen that youth needed a place to hang out. She agreed with Ms. Gladden that pushing youth around the community did not solve the problem and recalled the council’s passage of the th skateboard ordinance on 13 Avenue, which drove them downtown; the opening of the downtown streets that drove them to Monroe Park; and enforcement there that brought them back downtown. She hoped the council would think about opening a youth center with assistance from the State or University of Oregon. Councilor Bettman also thanked those in attendance, particularly the high school class. She asked whether urban renewal money could be used to offset the costs of providing additional public safety patrols and social services focused on the urban renewal district. She thought those were benefits to downtown. MINUTES—Eugene City Council January 9, 2006 Page 4 Regular Meeting