09/12/1983 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Public hearing was opened. e Jill Heimans 1628 East 19th Avenues Eugene, said that she is a board member of the Lane County ACLU. She said that the final report is thorough and sensitive to the needs of the community. Ms. Heiman asked the City Council to support the expansion of shelter facilties and the funding of the alchohol treatment programs as well to support the alcohol detoxification program through Jobs Bill funding. She asked that the City Council recommend increased shelter facilities for the homelesss urging the council to investigate the homesteading program as an alternatives as well as supporting the establishment of public and private camping facilties. In regard to the ACLU's concern about drinking in public placess Ms. Heiman said she supports the recommendation by the task force to have proper notice of the ordinance posted and similar posting of the anti-camping ordinance. Referring to the task force's June reports she said the ACLU is concerned with the City's apparent policy of arresting transients rather than issuing a citation. She said the City should have equal treatment of transients and residents and requested that the City abandon making arrests if Citations in Lieu of Custody could be issued. Ms. Heiman commended the task force on its work and recommended that the City Council adopt the report. Richard Guskes 278 North Grands Eugenes said that he agreed with the previous testlmony. He said he is speaking with the concerns of a resident on the problems involved with vagrancy in Eugene. Mr. Guske said that he seconds the recommendation that CDBG funds be used to support the Buckley House alcohol detoxification program. e There being no further testimony, the public hearing was closed. Councilor Lindbergs responding to the statements of Ms. Heimans stated that IIselective enforcementll was a poor choice of \\Ords. He expl ai ned that the intent is to deal with predatorss the approximately 15 percent of the transient population that causes the majority of the problems. He added that it is the intent of the CLC policy to arrest those transients who are committing the serious crimes. Mr. Lindberg said that the City of Eugene has undergone an education through the Vagrancy Task Fon:e. He said that the residents of Eugene had been split into two opposing factionss each having an inaccurate idea of the purpose of the task force. He explained that the task force attempted to look at all the people in Eugene as one communitys lOOking at those with serious needs, as well as trying to minimize the effects of the homeless on the resi- dents of Eugene, thereby mi nimi zi ng confl ict. Mr. Lindberg thanked the City Council for its support and encouragement and thanked the task force and those others involved for their work. Councilor Wooten thanked the members of the task force and Mr. Lindberg for the i r wo rk . She stated that she hopes it is not the intent of the City Council, by its adoption of the report, to direct the reprogramming of the Jobs Bill Community Development Block Grant funds for alcohol detoxification. She said she would rather the City Council wait to see what processes are developed by the Community Development Committee for those funds. Councilor Hansen asked, as a matter of procedure, if the council is adopting or accepting the report. He said that the report ;s a great effort, but he is not e sure if the council is ready to accept the guidelines of the report without further study. Mr. Lindberg explained that the attached summary is divided MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 12, 1983 Page 2