Agenda 1-28-19 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES – Eugene City Council December 17, 2018 Page 1 Special Meeting M I N U T E S Eugene City Council Special Meeting Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 December 17, 2018 5:30 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor, Greg Evans 1.DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Day and Night Support Services for 525 Highway 99Assistant City Manager Kristie Hammitt introduced the item and presented a proposal for dayand night homeless services on Highway 99.Council Discussion •Disappointed in the management of the current site; management by St. Vincent DePaul willimprove oversight. •Concerned that those who are not eligible to reside in camp managed by St. Vincent DePaulwill return to the downtown area and cause problems. •May be prudent to see what Lane County does with the site first; adding 80 more campers isconcerning. •The proposed motions are a needed next step in the development of homeless shelteroptions; important to remember that these sites should be viewed as temporary for theresidents, not as temporary facilities. •Concern expressed about families with children at the current Camp 99 site. •All current efforts are unchartered territory; governments and service providers are servingmore people than ever. •Ultimate goal is to get those who are experiencing homelessness into stable housing. •The original rest stop model has transitioned into mini Opportunity Villages; improvementsto the system are ongoing and responsive to conditions and needs. •Health, safety and management of the site are critical; the proposal is the right response forthe current situation. •Questions asked about the plan to ensure safety and security at the site, both for residentsand neighboring community. •The current system is not sustainable; effort and resources should be directed toestablishing a low-barrier shelter. •The County and St. Vincent DePaul are exploring options for increased services, includingmobile medical service. •Most campers are eligible for Affordable Care Act coverage; encourage City and County tolook at grants and other funding sources. •Questions asked about what the enforcement response will be if people refuse to leave theCamp 99 site. •Questions asked about whether individual tents will be permitted at the new site, what isbeing done to help those with special needs and how the safety of campers will be ensured. •Concern expressed about spending resources on those who won’t comply with transitionplans or agree to be governed or managed; establishing camps creates the illusion ofaddressing the issue. •There will be a joint meeting with Lane County on January 22 to discuss the creation of apermanent public shelter; the current emergency camps will help inform planning efforts. ATTACHMENT A January 28, 2019, Meeting - Item 2A