03/28/1977 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Com 3/16/77 V Pub Hrg . e Com 3/16/7111. Pub Hrg e e Seneca Road Paving Project from West 11th to Roosevelt Boulevard-- Report, map, and design distributed to Council. Mr. Allen, Public Works Department, indicated Council had authorized this project two years ago, but because of the right-of-way problem one year ago progress had been slowed. He said that hearings had been held in the neighborhoods with neighborhood organizations and citizens. The Public Works Department was now asking Council for a hearing to go to the final design in the project. ----__ Mr. Delay moved, seconded by Mr. Lieuallen, to schedule a public hearing April II, 1977. Motion carried unanimously. Amendment to Ordinance for Selection of Court Jurors--Memo and ordinance distributed to Council. Manager indicated that the nature of this ordinance was to eliminate what is termed jury snatching off the street. The present ordinance states that a jury of 12 persons with six alternates are chosen; if any of the six alternates cannot be served, are excused, or do not appear the court does not have a jury panel at the time of trial. If the court does not have six jurors, either the case must be continued and rescheduled at a later date or the Eugene Police Department is contacted by the court to summon from the public on the streets qualified jurors as needed to complete the jury panel. This causes trial delay, inconvenience, and additional expense. Persons summoned from the street must, without notice, adjust their personal and/or work schedules to appear as jurors. This also causes hardships on the employer, if there is one. Mr. Obie wondered how many times this type of situation occurs. Ms. Sandy Adams of the Municipal Court said that 50 to 60 percent of the cases end up with one to two jurors short. Mr. Obie asked about the cost in regard to the new ordinance. Ms. Adams replied that it was expected a reduction in cost would result, as there would not be as much waiting time for jurors to come in off the streets. Mr. Bradley asked if it would not be possible to get Lane County jurors when the Municipal Court was short. Ms. Adams replied that this had been tried several times, but there was still a waiting period of up to two hours. Mr. Long, City Attorney's office, indicated that jurors had to be citizens of the City of Eugene, and that Lane County has jurors from allover the County. Mr. Haws expressed a concern with Section 2.800 in regard to a juror being unable to attend without great inconvenience. He wondered if this might not open up possible abuse, and end up by getting jurors weighted to one element of society. Ms. Adams replied that there was a formal request for excused absences and she did not think that it had been abused. Mr. Delay con- curred with a feeling of unease about the Section 2.800, indicat- ing it looked like a big loophole. He felt there might be poten- tial abuse and that perhaps one element of society would be more represented on juries. Mr. Long indicated that the language was in ~~3 3/28/77 - 13