05.13.2020 City Council Work Session Minutes

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MINUTES Eugene City Council Virtual Work Session Eugene, Oregon 97401 May 13, 2020 12:00 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Claire Syrett and Chris Pryor Mayor Vinis opened the May 13, 2020, work session of the Eugene City Council. 1. WORK SESSION: COVID-19 Update Chief Heppel gave a presentation which included current local data, information about Lane County's Phase 1 application, and looking ahead to what reopening will look like in Phase 1 and beyond. Council Discussion: • Councilor Syrett - thanked Chief Heppel for the thorough update; asked for staff to inquire of Lane County if it will be increasing staffing for contact tracing and if so, will it be requiring contract tracers to be registered nurses; asked for staff to clarify with Lane County that if it does need a higher capacity of contract tracers the State will be providing them; as a follow-up to Dr. Luedtke's presentation, asked staff to request Dr. Luedtke share with Council his response to a colleague regarding the emergency room doctors'video. • Councilor Zelenka - asked what testing capability is as of today, and what the prognosis is for ramping up testing to a significant degree; asked if 5,000 tests per day could be done; asked if the testing policy at this time is to test those who are potentially sick or if those who are just curious are being tested as well; cautioned making testing data public as some lower -income and ethnic groups have shown a higher propensity to be infected and this may cause discriminatory tendencies; asked if the C ounty receives its testing equipment from the State; commended the UO for being a great community partner in allowing use of their labs, facilities, knowledge and expertise to help the community through this situation. • Councilor Clark- thanked the Chief for the report and the work that all are doing to keep people safe; asked what prevents Lane County from being able to conduct 4,000-5,000 tests per day, and asked staff to confer with Lane County for a specific answer; asked about batch testing and why it is not being done. • Councilor Semple - asked to confirm if 500 tests are being conducted per day; expressed urgency for testing of as many as possible; asked how council can get an accurate testing number; asked if vulnerable populations are testing positive at a higher rate; asked if we are testing in the jail and pointed out this is a congregate living situation with the potential for a flare-up; stated that more testing is needed. • Councilor Pryor - stated it sounds like councilors would like to move from the current reactive testing situation to a more proactive testing scenario; asked staff to provide information on what is needed to get to the proactive testing scenario. • Councilor Taylor - asked when City Council meetings can again take place in person; wanted to know if residents can visit the coast. • Councilor Clark- asked what the guidance and the Governor's authority is regarding visiting the coast (not recommended vs. prohibited). MINUTES - Eugene City Council May 13, 2020 Page 1 Work Session