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<br />November 25, 2019, Work Session – Item 2 <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL <br />AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY <br /> Work Session: Community Safety Initiative Update Meeting Date: November 25, 2019 Agenda Item Number: 2 Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Kristie Hammitt <br />www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5524 <br /> <br />ISSUE STATEMENT The purpose of this work session is to provide the City Council with an update on the implementation of Community Safety Initiative and administration of Community Safety Payroll Tax. <br />BACKGROUND In 2018, City Council had four work sessions to understand and address growing deficiencies across the community safety system. On September 26, 2018, staff provided council with a three-pronged approach to improving police response time, timely and effective resolution of cases, and prevention and programs to deter crime, connect people to services, support homelessness services, and engage at-risk youth. At that time, City Council passed a motion to provide one-time funding of $8.6 million in the FY19 Supplemental Budget. These funds launched the Community Safety Initiative to address urgent needs to support prevention efforts and services for youth and people experiencing homelessness as well as police and emergency response services. The funding provides for additional police officers, 911 dispatchers, jail beds, and prevention programs that help at-risk youth and chronic offenders. The one-time funding for services was approved in December 2018 and expires on June 30, 2020. Implementation of strategies began in early 2019. EPD has added an eight officer Street Crimes Unit and five Community Safety Officers to respond to non-emergency calls, the City Prosecutor’s Office has stabilized their team, and Municipal Court is on track to fill positions by the end of the year to support the workload from the Eugene Police Department and the Prosecutor’s Office. In addition, the work of the Community Outreach and Response Team and Community Court have continued, ensuring low-level and chronic offenders are diverted from the criminal justice system, connected to services, and able to contribute back to the community through restorative service hours. Funding for homeless services has expanded shelter options including additional spaces at Rest Stops and doubling the capacity of the Dusk to Dawn facility. These funds have also supported improved car camping services, the creation of an action plan advisor to help transition people from Rest Stops to long-term housing, and the expansion of service hours at the Lindholm Center.