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. M I NUT E S EUGENE CITY COUNCIL - October 10, 1977 Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Eugene. Oregon was called to order by His Honor Mayor Gus Keller at 7:30 p.m. October 10, 1977, in the Council Chambers, with the following Councilors present: Eric Haws, D. W. Hamel, Jack Delay, Scott Lieua11en, Brian Obie, and Betty Smith. Council ors Tom Williams and Ray Bradley were absent. I-A-l 1. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Amending Section 4.745 of City Code re: Prostitution Manager said this item had been discussed at length at previous Wednesday meetings and had been held for action at this time to allow further discussion and public input. The ordinance had come about because of increasing problems of prostitution on the streets and particularly because of a younger and younger group of females under the age of 18 being involved. He noted the passage of a similar ordinance in Portland about two years ago, with the resulting enforce- ment of that ordinance perhaps encouraging the prostitutes to move to Eugene. The ordinance sets up standards for police arrest of all persons engaged in soliciting activity. It allows in effect for e arrest, after observation of repeated action~ and it will no longer be necessary for the use of police officers as ecoys to arrest the , johns. Other reasons for the presentation of this ordinance were the increased activity being disruptive to patrons in the downtown area, and substantial savings in police resources by enforcement under the new ordinance. However, he noted opponents to the ordinance contend possible discrimination against prostitutes as against johns and pimps; fear of police harrassment to hitchhikers and loiterers; and possible infringement of civil rights of minorities and nonestablish- ment groups. Public hearing was opened. Navarre Davis, 1800 Cal Young, Chairman of the Downtown Development Board, said his group favored passage of the ordinance as presented. As a business owner in the downtown area and as a citizen of the community, he felt the City Council needed to recognize that there is a problem. He cited it as being offensive to customers, to those who work in the area, and a general blight on the entire community. He felt there was no legislation which would completely eliminate the problem, but this ordinance was a step in the right direction. He complimented the Eugene Police Department and Chief Brooks for the recent action taken in cleaning up the mall area. He felt the ordi- nance was reasonable. fair, and adequate in that it will help eli- minate the prostitution problem. e 10/10/77--1 15'1