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<br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Green stated that the Council needs to take steps to get the community more <br />involved in the things, and by doing so a safer atmosphere in the community can <br />be created. <br /> <br />Schue said that the issue needs to be broken up into two pieces; the crime side <br />of the drug issue and the demand side of the drug issue, why do people want to <br />use drugs. She wondered what were the responsibilities of the parties involved <br />including the parents, schools, and police. She wondered if more prevention <br />was more important than more enforcement. <br /> <br />Boles commented on the supply side of the drug issue by saying that decriminal- <br />ization of drug would be one way to face the supply issue and would also serve <br />to reduce the jail overcrowding issue. He noted that the jails are now <br />somewhat like a revolving door. He also mentioned Portland had been consider- <br />ing a law which would hold the landlord responsible for drug related activities <br />in a property owned by that landlord. This gives the landlord some discretion <br />about who is renting properties. <br /> <br />Miller said that he will proposal to the Council that three additional officers <br />be hired to deal with traffic violations and as back up for other police calls. <br />He said that he thought the crime situation could be improved by enhancing the <br />community service officers, crime prevention, and community policing efforts. <br /> <br />Gleason then discussed the activities of the community service specialists in <br />the West University area. <br /> <br />Holmer requested more information about community police and focus patrols, and <br />requested that staff prepare such a report with costs and level of service <br />information. <br /> <br />Bascom felt that some intervention was possible at the basic park program <br />activity level, and that this could also be a positive way to involve kids in <br />the community. She suggested that a recreation program would be a good idea. <br /> <br />Miller responded by also commenting that sports are another way to involved <br />kids and it was an alternative to drugs. He suggested that the Council adopt a <br />goal to outline a series of options regarding the use of community service <br />officers, and also to outline how other resources might be used to impact <br />crime, such as parks and recreation facilities. <br /> <br />Boles supported Councilor Bascom and said that it was necessary to get back to <br />the basic parks program as a way to impact crime. He then asked Gleason how <br />the city involved the parents when a young person was involved in some sort of <br />crime or other incident. <br /> <br />Gleason responded by saying that it was not always the poor kids who ended up <br />involved with the law. Now, many middle class families are being involved, and <br />that the problem was not a police problem, but a family problem. <br /> <br />Bennett stated his support for the community police officers and wanted more <br />information regarding costs and accountability. <br /> <br />DRAFT COUNCIL GOAL SESSION <br /> <br />PAGE 17 <br />