CC MInutes - 02/17/99 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

improvement in past year, she was also leaning toward opposing the motion. She said that the ordinances, in combination with the City's youth focus, should be given time to see if they work. She added that a annual report to the council on the effect of the ordinances would be useful. Officer Fellman addressed the council's comments. He said that the exclusion does not go into effect until the person receiving the exclusion appeared before a Municipal Court judge. Regarding the necessity of adding the mall rules to the ordinance, Officer Fellman believed it would merely help improve the ordinance's effectiveness. He emphasized that Police staff were not applying the ordinance on the basis of appearance. He invited the councilors to accompany him as he walked the mall to see for themselves how the ordinances were enforced. Regarding Mr. Lee's remarks regarding the need to connect with the youth population, Officer Fellman said officers' activity on the mall includes conversations with youth and recommendations for counseling and advice, and follow-up with parents has indicated those activities have been useful for some youth. Ms. Taylor stated that she was sympathetic to those who felt they were harassed by people on the mall. She believed that improvements on the mall were probably because of the additional attention given the area. Ms. Taylor did not like laws that were difficult to enforce or unnecessary, and she placed the mall rules in that category. She indicated she would oppose the motion. Mr. Pap~ said that by concentrating on a small group of excluded people the council was missing the real focus of the ordinances, which was to open up the center of the city to all people and encourage residents to come down to the mall. The motion failed, 1:7; Mr. Pap~ voting yes. Mr. Meisner moved, seconded by Ms. Nathanson, to amend Ordinance 20122 to expand the geographic boundary. Mr. Kelly said that he supported the motion given that it only applied to the night time mall closure. Responding to a question from Mr. Lee, Officer Fellman confirmed that the State had a youth curfew law, which Eugene enforced. The motion passed, 7:1; Mr. Lee voting no. Mr. Johnson reminded the council that it was not taking final action on the ordinance, which would be the subject of a later public hearing. Mr. Farr asked that staff notify the Human Rights Commission of the information presented to the council regarding the ordinance's success as well as the public hearing date so members had an opportunity to testify. B.Approval of Council Minutes November 25, 1998, City Council Lunch Work Session December 7, 1998, City Council Dinner Work Session December 7, 1998, City Council Meeting MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 17, 1999 Page 3 11:30 a.m.