CC Minutes - 04/29/98 Work Session

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Downtown Eugene, Inc., Executive Director Russ Brink was asked by Mr. Johnson to respond to a question from Mr. Lee regarding the preference of his organization for distribution of revenue in excess of expenses derived from the Celebration. Mr. Brink stated that it was the intent of DEl to distribute such revenue to community programs. He said the programs identified in the proposal were not to be interpreted as the only ones which would be considered for support. The motion to amend was adopted, 5:2, with Mr. Meisner and Mr. Tollenaar voting no. Ms. Swanson Gribskov moved, seconded by Mr. Meisner, to amend the motion by replacing the substituted phrase "and after two years the City Council will review and make a recommendation about future support for such operations" with the final sentence in the original recommendation of staff regarding the cost of Public Works and Police personnel assigned during the Celebration weekend. The motion to amend was adopted, 5:2, with Mr. Fart and Ms. Taylor voting no. The amended motion was adopted unanimously, 7:0. II. NON-ACTION ITEMS A. Work Session: Recommendations from the City Council Committee on Homelessness and Youth Related to an Ordinance on Overnight Sleeping Development Division Housing and Neighborhood Development Section Manager Richie Weinman reviewed development of Ordinance 20097 which authorized sleeping activities that primarily relate to homeless persons. He said there had been few complaints related to backyard camping and camping at the twelve religious institutions participating in the program. He described camping in industrially zoned areas of the city. He said fewer complaints than many expected had been received about such camping and that they mostly related to sanitation, debris, dogs, harm to wetland areas, safety, and the cost to the City of the rental of portable sanitation facilities. He said that staff recommended extension of the ordinance to June 30, 1999, in order to gain the experience of its operation through an entire year. Mayor Torrey explained that the Council Committee on Homelessness and Youth recommended that the ordinance be extended for two years to June 2000 and that it be reviewed for possible modification in May 1999. Mr. Farr stated that a public hearing on the ordinance was tentatively scheduled for May 11, with action on it to take place later. He said that the Council Committee on Homelessness and Youth had heard a great deal of testimony regarding the ordinance and had taken steps to mitigate concerns raised, such as having an area near a sensitive wetland posted "No Overnight Parking Allowed." He said he believed safety issues raised regarding sleeping in industrially zoned areas were based on perception, not reality. He said that the council should consider creating budget allocations for the cost of providing sanitation facilities. He reported that the Eugene-Springfield Homeless Action Coalition had expressed an interest in developing an education campaign among those who sleep in industrially zoned areas regarding the importance of debris cleanup. MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 29, 1998 Page 5 11:30 a.m.