05/14/1986 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e John Ball, Lane County Commissioner, joined the council at the table. He said the commissioners gave Mr. Johnson an agreement to negotiate. Mr. Ball suggested the Lane County Board of Commissioners, the Eugene City Council, and the Criminal Process Coordinating Committee (CPCC) meet together to discuss the jail crisis. Ms. Wooten said the council has not discussed the incarceration alternatives presented to the council by Mr. Johnson on April 30, 1986. She said she would like to do so. Ms. Ehrman agreed with Ms. Wooten. She said the Joint Social Services Committee has discussed integrating some social services with incarceration alternatives and she would like the council to undertake such discussions. Mr. Hansen said one of the owners of the Country Squire Motel called him to suggest that the facility be used for incarceration. He said such alternatives should be discussed by the council. Responding to a comment from Mayor Obie, Mr. Gleason said the jail crisis has resulted in the Municipal Court becoming unable to enforce its orders because jail services are not available. Ms. Ehrman said she asked Mr. Gleason for additional information about the people in the jail, people turned away from the jail, and the average sentence from Municipal Court. She distributed a one-page report titled "ACLU/CALC Courtwatch Project" to the councilors. She introduced Dave Fidanque of the American Civil Liberties Union. Answering a question from Ms. Wooten, Mr. Fidanque said the data in the report is preliminary. He said the data concerns people arraigned at the jail. He said 49 percent of the people were held on minor municipal charges and 79 percent of the people were held on municipal charges only. He said it costs the City $50 a day to hold people in the County Jail and the ACLU would like to present recommendations about less costly alternatives for people held on minor municipal charges. Mr. Gleason said his position for many years has been that a maximum security facility is not needed for people charged with minor municipal offenses. He said the city needs about 25 maximum security beds and other incarceration alternatives. He said most of the solutions to the crisis will take about two years to implement. Ms. Wooten said the council should be involved in determining a new jail policy. She said the council should provide direction because social values and urban life issues are involved in the change. Mr. Miller said a one-year solution is needed so that the council can address the social issues. He said he would approve the County's use of City funds budgeted for the jail to provide an immediate solution to the crisis. MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 14, 1986 Page 7