Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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Ms. Ortiz said she had listened to “Hip Hop Hope” and thanked Craig Smith and his staff for their work with the City. Ms. Ortiz said she also heard about the joint meeting between the HRC and Police Commission through her role as the council liaison to the Police Commission. She encouraged staff to establish a “boot camp” or orientation for newly appointed board and commission members that touched on their roles and the legalities of their position. She said it was not okay to be disrespectful. Ms. Ortiz reported that she had attended the recent Convention and Visitors Association of Lane County awards dinner, and the Country Fair had received the organization’s Destination Award. Ms. Taylor continued her report on the International Making Cities Livable Conference, saying former Portland Mayor Vera Katz and current Portland Mayor Tom Potter received recognition for the transporta- tion system and open space downtown. Oregon Representative Earl Blumenthauer received recognition for his work on climate change. She noted that mixed uses in public spaces and accessibility by all income groups and ages to such spaces were also a topic of discussion. An emphasis was placed by participants on restoration and rehabilitation of space. Other discussion topics included the importance of local foods sources as well as keeping farm lands near cities and open spaces in downtown. 2. WORK SESSION: City Council Goal – Update on Homeless Initiative City Manager Taylor introduced the item, noting it was a continuing council goal for which much had been accomplished. Assistant City Manager Angel Jones and Community Development Director Richie Weinman were present for the item. Mr. Weinman requested approval of the proposed action plan. He said that the City had commenced with Phase 2 of its current plan. He spoke to the past year’s accomplishments, noting the Board of County Commission’s approval of the “Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness,” but said without funding, the goals were hollow. There were many potential sources for funding, and staff had worked hard to get funding from the State. The bill that would provide funding had failed to garner enough support to pass earlier that day but he anticipated it would be reintroduced. Mr. Weinman also spoke of the February 2007 Project Homeless Connect, which served more than 1,000 people and produced both long- and short-term benefits in the form of housing vouchers, LTD passes, and renewed connections between those who could be served and those who served them, such as homeless veterans and the Veterans Administration. Mr. Weinman emphasized the significance of the prevention funding provided by the City of Eugene, which in some cases was life-altering by ensuring that people did not become homeless. Mr. Weinman noted three next steps: 1) completion of the work of the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Homelessness, 2) planning for the 2008 Project Homeless Connect, to occur on February 7, 2008; and 3) monitoring the value of the City’s special budget allocations. He invited questions. Mayor Piercy said a significant benefit of Project Homeless Connect was the way it let the service providers know how they interfaced, a benefit that endured past the event. She said there was more work to be done, but she thought the council needed to acknowledge the effort that had been made. Mayor Piercy referred to page 9 of the AIS and the reference to the camping program, and suggested that there were not many new camping spaces. Mr. Weinman agreed. He said that different churches and MINUTES—Eugene City Council June 25, 2007 Page 4 Work Session