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<br />Councilor Zelenka asked why the extension had changed from the initial proposal of two years to a three- <br />year period. Gabe Flock, Planning Division, replied that the Planning Commission had considered testimony <br />presented to it during a public hearing on the ordinance and recommended expanding the extension from two <br />years to three years. He said the original proposal was based on state legislation that would have extended <br />applications or permit approvals for a two-year period, but the Planning Commission chose to expand that <br />based on testimony and evidence of the continuing economic downturn. He said the state legislation did not <br />pass because of concerns related to Home Rule, but several jurisdictions had taken local action to grant <br />extensions. <br /> <br />Councilor Zelenka asked if other jurisdictions had granted two- or three-year extensions. Mr. Flock replied <br />that it varied among jurisdictions and most had several different expiration periods based on the type of <br />permit. Staff would provide that information to the council. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy affirmed the City’s long-term commitment to economic development. <br /> <br />3. PUBLIC HEARING <br /> <br />An Ordinance Concerning Citation Authority of University of Oregon Department of Public <br /> <br /> Safety and Amending Section 4.035 of the Eugene Code, 1971 <br /> <br /> <br />Mr. Ruiz said the code amendment would increase citation authority for the University of Oregon Depart- <br />ment of Public Safety (DPS) officers to enforce misdemeanors on university property, in addition to the <br />authority they received in 2003. He said misdemeanors, unlike violations, were crimes for which the <br />offenders could potentially be sentenced to jail or assessed fines. The amendment would streamline services, <br />freeing Eugene police for other calls for service and reducing the number of officers assigned to the <br />university. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy opened the public hearing and reviewed the procedures for providing testimony. <br /> <br />st <br />Malcolm Wilson, <br />East 21 Avenue, Ward 3, Eugene, representing South University Neighbors, stated that <br />the neighborhood association favored the amendment, which would reduce duplication of services between <br />DPS and the Eugene Police Department (EPD) and keep more Eugene officers on City streets and allow <br />DPS officers to respond more effectively on campus. Both departments would be better able to preserve <br />quality of life on campus and in the neighborhoods. He said South University Neighbors joined EPD in <br />supporting the proposed code change. <br /> <br />Emma Kallaway <br />, Orchard Street, Eugene, University of Oregon student body president spoke in support of <br />the code amendment. She said she felt the amendment would help build more positive relationships between <br />students and DPS and benefits of the code change included allowing DPS officers to operate more efficiently <br />by being able to issue citations without having to wait for a Eugene police officer, then move on to other <br />campus duties. She said it was important to work within the university’s conduct code and giving DPS <br />more enforcement authority would allow them more leeway when dealing with students. She said of <br />particular importance to students was allowing DPS officers to escort off campus quickly any unwelcome <br />non-students who violated a trespassing code. She urged the council to adopt the ordinance so that DPS <br />officers could focus on crime prevention and use their time as wisely as possible while supporting university <br />students. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council October 19, 2009 Page 3 <br /> Public Hearing <br /> <br />