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<br />involved parties. City staff from all departments will provide support for the task team and will be <br />assisting with scoping of the strategies that come from the task team over the next four weeks. While <br />there doesn’t seem to be a quick-fix solution, most members agree that these problems can be viewed in <br />new ways. The task team hopes to develop lasting and humane strategies that will contribute to a vibrant <br />downtown district. <br />The Downtown Safety Task Team has identified four main themes that contribute to problems in the <br />downtown area: <br /> Lack of accountability/consequences <br />1. – size of police staffing for downtown and hours of police <br />presence in the downtown area, community expectations and misconceptions about criminal <br />behaviors, youth behaviors, regional issue of lack of jail beds as a sanction for criminal activity. <br /> Illegal and unpleasant behavior <br />2.– illegal, predatory, aggressive or simply unpleasant behaviors to <br />be around. Mental illness, alcohol and drug dependency and use, and misbehavior by young adults <br />and youth combined with too few people downtown who exhibit positive and lawful behaviors. <br /> Lack of a cohesive/coordinated plan <br />3. – including resources such as staff, facilities, treatment and <br />funds to provide resources. Incomplete communication between agencies and unwillingness to step <br />outside immediate assignments plus the sharing of information, scheduling, and joint projects. <br /> Aspects of the physical space/environment <br />4. – the size of downtown, empty store fronts, poor <br />lighting in some areas combined with dark doorways for hiding and illegal activities. The cluster of <br />services and resources for people who are homeless or wish to identify with a homeless- lawless <br />culture. <br />At their November 18, 2009, meeting, the task team received an overview of Portland’s successful <br />program that combines a security workforce of retired police officers with Portland Police Bureau <br />officers in a seamless downtown presence. More follow-up with Portland is planned to further explore <br />the viability of adapting some of their strategies to Eugene’s situation. Staff will be available at this <br />council work session to provide additional information on the status of downtown, the work of the task <br />team and some strategies the group is considering. <br /> <br /> <br />RELATED CITY POLICIES <br />The City Council’s Safe Community vision statements directly relates to this discussion: Safe <br />Community – a community where people feel safe, valued and welcome. <br /> <br /> <br />COUNCIL OPTIONS <br /> <br />No formal action is required. <br /> <br /> <br />CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION <br /> <br /> This is a work session and no recommendation is required. <br /> <br /> <br />FOR MORE INFORMATION <br /> <br />Staff Contact: Linda Phelps, Police Planner <br />Telephone: 541-682-6308 <br />Staff E-Mail: linda.m.phelps@ci.eugene.or.us <br /> Z:\CMO\2009 Council Agendas\M091123\S091123B.doc <br />