CC Minutes - 04/26/06 Workshop - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

forums, followed by a scientific survey. Mr. Kelly endorsed the suggestion. Ms. Taylor suggested the mailing could be in the neighborhood newsletters, which many people read. Mr. Hacker briefly discussed the space needs analysis, calling it a work in progress. The analysis had changed by a percentage or so and he expected further change. However, the basic numbers remained the same, and the relative area numbers for the different City functions were similar. He anticipated more discussion on May 10. With regard to questions for a future response, Mr. Kelly said he could not find the Council Chamber or meeting rooms on the chart. He recalled that earlier discussion indicated that City Hall would include office space for the councilors. That was not included. Speaking to the analysis for the Police Department, he said that it lacked information about current net square feet for the department. He wanted that information. Mr. Kelly said if one added up all the 2006 net square feet, that should roughly equal the net square feet of the Atrium Building, 858 Pearl Street, and City Hall, and he wanted that double-checked. Ms. Bettman asked where the police auditor’s office was proposed to be located. Ms. Teninty said the function was housed with the City Council and Mayor or the City Manager's Office (CMO). Mr. Hacker referred the council to Attachment B of the AIS, “Police Consolidation Options A-E.” He briefly reviewed the options. Ms. Teninty invited questions. Ms. Taylor asked whether the reason less parking was needed downtown was because the project team assumed greater use of mass transit. Mr. Hacker said yes. Ms. Taylor asked if police officers taking automobiles home reduced the need for parking. Mr. Hacker said the project team used information provided by a consultant. A member of the project team clarified that the parking numbers did not assume a full take-home car program. The majority of officers do not take their automobiles home. If that approach was adopted, the numbers could be adjusted. Ms. Taylor suggested that such a program reduced the need for spaces. Chief Lehner acknowledged there were a number of police agencies that had such programs. He said that the department would evaluate the cost effectiveness of that approach against the cost of secured downtown parking. Mr. Hacker indicated that in all downtown options, the project team assumed only patrol cars and administrative cars. City Manager Dennis Taylor pointed out the management ramifications of a take-home automobile program, which would require a vehicle to be provided to every officer. Mr. Kelly suggested Option A, One Building - Full Consolidation, should be revised with regard to the existing space diagram, which implied much of the space for civic functions was being tripled. With regard to the consolidation options, Mr. Kelly thought it was worthwhile to note that regardless of the option preferred, the community’s goal was to better integrate the police with the community. Mr. Kelly suggested that Option A was negative for many community members who felt uncomfortable with a significant police presence at City Hall, which would discourage them from coming to City Hall to do business. He thought that those concerns could be mitigated through design, but he was comfortable dropping options A and E. He wanted to keep Option D alive, with patrol functions separate but not necessarily downtown. MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 26, 2006 Page 3 Work Session