02/22/1988 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e of local youth. Mr. Mason said students had reported that cruising was not a desirable activity among local youth. He said officers had worked with gut activities, were aware of problems, and could discuss it with students. He said no organized program had been attempted because the profile of cruisers did not appear to match that of local high school students. Ms. Wooten asked whether police had noticed increased litter and vandalism throughout the city since cruising had dropped off this winter. Mr. Mason said he had not heard any comments from officers and could not confirm or deny that. Ms. Bascom asked whether interference litter, noise, and complaints ceased. would designate congested areas based activities. with crulslng would be necessary if Mr. Mason said the police chief on information about current Mayor Obie asked about alternative activities, whether it was better to contain cruising in one area, and concerns about more destructive behaviors resulting from the ordinance. Mr. Mason said it was not the function of the police to provide alternative activities, and that should be addressed in some other fashion. Mr. Gleason said the central location in the city provided an attraction, which resulted in nuisances. e Mayor Obie asked about the profile of cruisers. Mr. Mason said police information was based on enforcement contacts and therefore included only violations, which he said coincided with perceptions of officers. He said that among Eugene residents, 47.9 percent of violators were 18 or older, and 56.2 percent were juveniles; of those cited from outside Eugene, 52.1 percent were adults, and 43.8 percent were juveniles. He added that half of violations had been given to Eugene residents. Ms. Wooten asked whether a majority of adult cruisers were under 21. Mr. Mason said his observation was the majority of cruisers were from 18 to 22 or 23 years old. Mr. Miller asked about ways to focus on specific behaviors. Mr. Gleason said the task force and the community had attempted campaigns and literature, but many people felt those efforts had produced little impact. He also said four or five traffic circulation patterns had been tried. Responding to Ms. Bascom's question, Mr. Mason said the City had not been involved in the recent move to West 11th Avenue, nor had the petition submitted in 1987, regarding prohibition of left turns on Willamette Street. He said the shift in location had been initiated by cruisers and a flyer. Ms. Wooten asked about a lack of recreational alternatives, adding that she thought more than one under-21 club had opened last summer. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 22, 1988 Page 12