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City Manager Jon Ruiz shared the details of an attack that occurred at the Occupy Eugene encampment <br />the evening of December 19, leaving a person in critical condition. It was not yet known if the victim <br />would survive. He reported he had subsequently briefed Mayor Piercy and she immediately called an <br />emergency meeting of the council. <br />City Manager Ruiz recommended that the council direct him to close the encampment and ensure the <br />restoration of the site as soon as possible. He believed the City's response to Occupy Eugene had been <br />measured, reasonable, and adaptable as conditions evolved on the site. He believed the previous night's <br />incident confirmed the dangers of the site. City Manager Ruiz anticipated staff would work with Occupy <br />Eugene representatives and nonprofit services providers to transition people from the site thoughtfully <br />and compassionately. He said staff had prepared an ordinance to permit tents to be defined as vehicles at <br />car camping locations as part of that transition. He recommended the council pass the ordinance that day. <br />Police Chief Pete Kerns shared the details of other incidents that had occurred at the encampment, which <br />included theft, drug use, drug sales, prostitution, and physical assault. In regard to the December 19 <br />incident, Chief Kerns reported that the victim was found face down and unconscious. The responding <br />officer and onsite medic had administered CPR to the victim until an ambulance arrived. Two individuals <br />thought to have been fighting with the victim had been interviewed but had yet been charged with a <br />crime. As a result of the attack, the police presence at the site had been increased. <br />Speaking to suggestions that the violence that occurred in the camp would have happened in the absence <br />of the camp, Chief Kerns said that might be true but he believed the number of people in the camp <br />suffering from multiple diagnoses and chemical addictions had reached a critical mass and that increased <br />risk. He reported that the Eugene Police Department (EPD) had developed contingency plans to close the <br />encampment with the assistance of human service providers. <br />Mayor Piercy reported that Councilor Zelenka could not be present but had expressed his support for <br />immediate revocation of the camping ban. She solicited council comments and questions. <br />Ms. Ortiz expressed appreciation for the work of the EPD. She acknowledged that the situation had not <br />worked out as hoped and concurred with the manager's recommendation. <br />City Attorney Glenn Klein reviewed two staff - prepared motions regarding the camp closure and proposed <br />ordinance. <br />Ms. Ortiz suggested the motion related to the end of the encampment include the word "peaceful." She <br />urged people to remain as peaceful as possible. She was also concerned there was no timeframe <br />associated with the motion. She did not think it was necessary to grant Occupy Eugene more time but she <br />acknowledged it would take time for people at the encampment to decide where to go. Chief Kerns <br />reiterated that the EPD had a plan to clear the camp. He believed the transition could be done more safely <br />if the City worked cooperatively with Occupy Eugene. <br />Mr. Clark had safety concerns about the encampment since its inception. He was pleased to hear support <br />for the manager's recommendation. While he defended anyone's right to protest at any time and place, he <br />did not think that camping was the necessary to protest and had inevitably led to the situation facing the <br />council. <br />Mr. Brown agreed that the incident of December 19 was a cause for concern. He believed the plan the <br />council adopted on December 14 was still a good plan and its implementation needed to be accelerated. <br />MINUTES— Eugene City Council December 20, 2011 Page 2 <br />Emergency Meeting <br />