02.24.20 City Council Meeting Minutes

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MINUTES Eugene City Council Harris Hall, 125 East 8h 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 Interest Discussion Mayor Vinis - extended an apology related to her interview with KVAL about the City Prosecutor's Elk Horn Brewery decision, noting she should have used the prosecutor's words instead of her own because the language she used was not accurate; clarified her position that she did not believe the protest was fair or appropriate; said she appreciates the frustration and anger felt by Eugene businesses and she's committed to working with them 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 Chambers where they have a homeless services program that, while not perfect, may be emulated elsewhere; explained they have a group of homeless individuals who are allowed to sleep on the porch and they each sign a letter saying they will attend meetings and work on projects and community service; said she's happy to see different people working together and building 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 new city hall, which was not the case; said these councilors voted to build city hall with additional floors for staff that are currently in leased space downtown. Councilor Pryor - shared his perspective on what occurred at the Elk Horn Brewery; noted that the prosecutor said the evidence wasn't clear enough for the case to be successfully prosecuted; encouraged council to be more clear in identifying behavior that is intimating or harassing so the rules are in place to prosecute that behavior in the future; said he does not 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 to regulate this kind of behavior. Councilor Clark - said everything he spoke about last week that made him angry was related to people's behavior, not their status or condition; said the criminal code addresses behavior and that, in reading the code about disturbing the peace, he comes to a different conclusion than the prosecutor - there was a clear violation; asked what the appropriate role of a councilor is when they disagree with a prosecutor's decision; said that he did not think that the decision ended up being in the best interest of community. City Manager Pro Tern Sarah Medary shared an update about a pilot to make free menstrual products available in some public bathrooms throughout the community. MINUTES - Eugene City Council February 24, 2020 Page 1 Meeting