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ATTACHMENT C Eugene PoliceDepartment 777 Pearl St, Room 107 Eugene, Oregon 97401 M EMORANDUM (541) 682-5111 www.ci.eugene.or.us Date: May 11, 2005 To: Mayor Piercy and City Council From: Robert M. Lehner, Chief of Police, 682-5102 Kurt Corey, Director of Public Works, 682-5241 Subject: COUNCIL ASSIGNMENT: PHOTO RED LIGHT CAMERAS The City Council has discussed the efficacy of red light cameras on several prior occasions, including receiving a report on traffic safety in the spring of 2003 from the Police Commission and as a work item of the 2001-2002 Council Goals. In 2002 an inter-departmental team completed the Council Goals work item and submitted to Council an analysis of the costs and benefits of implementing a photo red light program in Eugene. Following a considerable public review, the Police Commission addressed traffic safety in their report of April 2003, which produced specific recommendations in the areas of speeding and red light running. Their report recommended the addition of traffic enforcement officers because of the additional safety issues that could be addressed by officers, as well as several new initiatives such as targeted enforcement activities, the addition of a decoy car and increased public information regarding traffic safety. All of these recommendations have since been implemented. Both the Police Commission review and the staff report concluded that although camera systems maybe an effective deterrent to red light running they do not necessarily impact other driving habits or actions. In 2002 the staff team’s report to Council on photo red light cameras found that “there were still significant questions regarding the effectiveness of camera systems in improving the overall level of traffic safety within a community.” The staff report identified some inherent legislative limitations built into the state’s process for authorizing the use of red light cameras. The current legislative session has introduced SB 153-A which, if signed into law, would clarify the use of “certificates of innocence” to eliminate variations in how cities currently interpret the law. The City of Eugene also has systems limitations which would have a direct effect on the cost of a photo red light program. It has been estimated that the Area Information Regional System (AIRS) compatibility issues which were identified in 2002 would increase the on-going costs associated with the program by approximately $57,000 (2002 dollars) per year until the AIRS system is upgraded. (At this point in time the upgrade for AIRS has been pushed out to FY08.) Further, using 2002 dollars the ongoing cost to the General Fund was estimated to range between $69,000 and $102,000 per year. In 2002 the estimated one- time costs to install cameras at the four intersections allowed by Oregon statute for a community of Eugene’s size were $300,000. Although revenue generation should not be the goal of a red light system, the significant on-going costs to the General Fund would require a steady revenue stream to ensure that the program did not operate at a deficit. Staff will continue to monitor legislation and the biennial reports of cities participating in the photo red light programs.