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MINUTES – Eugene City Council Meeting February 24, 2020 Page 1 MINUTES Eugene City Council Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 February 24, 2020 7:30 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Chris Pryor Councilor Absent: Claire Syrett Mayor Vinis opened the February 24, 2020, meeting of the Eugene City Council. 1.Committee Reports and Items of InterestDiscussion Mayor Vinis – extended an apology related to her interview with KVAL about the CityProsecutor’s Elk Horn Brewery decision, noting she should have used the prosecutor’swords instead of her own because the language she used was not accurate; clarified herposition that she did not believe the protest was fair or appropriate; said she appreciatesthe frustration and anger felt by Eugene businesses and she’s committed to working withthem to have better conversations and find a productive path forward. Councilor Semple – said she had a field trip to the Westside Church on 18th and Chamberswhere they have a homeless services program that, while not perfect, may be emulatedelsewhere; explained they have a group of homeless individuals who are allowed to sleep onthe porch and they each sign a letter saying they will attend meetings and work on projectsand community service; said she’s happy to see different people working together andbuilding trust. Councilor Taylor – said she wanted to correct an impression that came from a Register- Guard article that reported four councilors voted to create rental property on top of a newcity hall, which was not the case; said these councilors voted to build city hall withadditional floors for staff that are currently in leased space downtown. Councilor Pryor – shared his perspective on what occurred at the Elk Horn Brewery; notedthat the prosecutor said the evidence wasn’t clear enough for the case to be successfullyprosecuted; encouraged council to be more clear in identifying behavior that is intimatingor harassing so the rules are in place to prosecute that behavior in the future; said he doesnot want to regulate words, but behavior; said if people wish to protest, that is welcomed,but illegal or inappropriate behavior is not; encouraged making the ordinance more clear toregulate this kind of behavior. Councilor Clark – said everything he spoke about last week that made him angry wasrelated to people’s behavior, not their status or condition; said the criminal code addressesbehavior and that, in reading the code about disturbing the peace, he comes to a differentconclusion than the prosecutor - there was a clear violation; asked what the appropriaterole of a councilor is when they disagree with a prosecutor’s decision; said that he did notthink that the decision ended up being in the best interest of community. City Manager Pro Tem Sarah Medary shared an update about a pilot to make free menstrualproducts available in some public bathrooms throughout the community. April 13, 2020, Meeting – Item 2A ATTACHMENT D CC Agenda - Page 11