CC Minutes - 06/21/00 Work Session

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"1 won't take anymore time. I just ask you all to help me ensure that law-abiding citizens aren't arrested by force just because they're in the wrong place at the wrong time, and that when protesters are arrested that the level of force is proportional to the seriousness of the offense." Ms. Taylor said that the press conference was both powerful and disturbing. She agreed with Mr. Rayor that the response should fit the threat. There were too many police present. People were generally peaceful when she was present and did not seem threatening. A member of the media had told her that the media were forced back and knew no more than she did about the arrests. She called for more discussion of the issues raised by Mr. Kelly. Ms. Taylor asked if the City could form a department advisory committee to look into the issue of traffic calming. People might have good ideas and people would get a better understanding that the problem was not just on their street. Mr. Pap~ said he understood that automobiles had been burned during the weekend and asked about the relationship between that case and the protests. Mr. Johnson said he had no direct way of stating that individuals' beliefs had led to any particular action. He said that the City had talked to the District Attorney about sharing information related to that case, but the District Attorney could not do so at this time. Mr. Pap~ said that he had been at Washington-Jefferson Park on Saturday night and was pleased that the demonstrations he had witnessed were peaceful. He had observed people exercising their First Amendment rights, as well as participating in misdemeanor behavior that he believed would have gotten him arrested or cited if he had done them somewhere else in town. He was pleased with the Observer Program and commended the actions of the liaisons. Mr. Pap~ had not seen police in or around the area until he left the park. Mr. Pap~ expressed the hope that the City would remove blackberry vines in the west of Alton Baker Park on the south side of the river to reduce illegal camping. Mr. Johnson reported that he had attended police and observer debriefings. He said that the police officers did not prefer to spend their Father's Day at a protest. Many officers had worked 15, 16, and 17 hour days during the weekend. Mr. Johnson said he had requested some time with print and broadcast media earlier that day to discuss how residents can make complaints about they way they were treated by the police. He had discussed the complaint process with the media and had noted the widespread availability of police complaint forms. He added that citizens wishing to commend a police employee can use the same form. He urged those with a concern to follow the process. Mr. Johnson briefly discussed the annual report of filed allegations, noting that 45 percent of those filed, or 19 of 42 allegations had been sustained in 1999. Those involved were disciplined in a variety of ways. Mr. Johnson said that the system can, and does, work. Mayor Torrey read the following statement into the record: "The decision by the event organizers to take back the streets last year in advance of June 18, 1999, was the precursor to this year' event. The event and subsequent activities, including celebrating the first year anniversary, which took place last Sunday, has proven to be both burdensome to the community and very costly to the community. The response to the lawless actions on our streets, in my opinion, was appropriate in light of the publicity generated by the organizers in advance of the two incidents. MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 21, 2000 Page 4 Work Session