02/13/1991 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e In light of the predictions for public safety costs without this type of strategy, Mr. Boles asked whether it would be appropriate to hold the plan in abeyance until the City can identify all funding sources. Mr. Green respond- ed that it would not be practical to take such an action. Responding to a question from Mr. Boles, Ms. Gund said that she feels that the success of the Community Resource Center has been actively demonstrated. e Mr. Rutan expressed his support for the plan and noted that the strategic financial planning process that the council will soon be undertaking is key in helping the City determine how it will implement and fund this plan. Responding to a question from Mr. Robinette, Mr. Green said that because the department firmly believes that the eight points of the plan rely on each other, it has given the council full discretion to make decision on project phasing. Mr. MacDonald echoed support for the plan. He noted that crucial to the success of the plan will be involvement of all members within the the organ- ization in plan implementation and asked about the degree of employee in- volvement in the planning process. In response, Deputy Chief Bill Deforrest, said that the department recognizes the need for plan involvement and has made a concerted effort to engender support for the plan among department employees. Mr. Nicholson noted that the plan indicates its intent to get at the "root causes" of public safety problems. He cautioned that the City should not make statements such as this that go further than the charge of the Depart- ment of Public Safety. Mr. Gleason said that vast majority of interventions from social service agencies have to do with addictions and detoxifications. It has been proven that these people can be cured through clinical intervention as opposed to police intervention. To adopt an approach to public safety other than this comprehensive approach would be very short-sighted. Mr. Boles noted that by accepting this integrated approach to public safety, the City will be implicitly agreeing to the identification of funding re- sources for social services as well as for public safety. Mayor Miller noted that it will be incumbent upon the City to encourage the State to meet its social service obligations. Responding to a comment from Ms. Bascom, Mr. Green said that it is clear in this plan that police services have to be customized to respond to individual needs within the community. Ms. Bascom said that she is not convinced that there is adequate evidence to support the statement that this strategy to public safety will result ulti- mately in reduced costs. She felt that this type of statement reduces the credibility of the plan. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 13, 1991 Page 5