CC Minutes - 05/11/98 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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John Howard, 540 Wilson Street, stated that he had operated an auto repair business in the same location for 20 years. He described his experience of having to change operating and his late night work habits since the institution of the ordinance. He said that he believed it was unfair that the problems associated with sleeping in vehicles should be concentrated in industrially zoned areas. Paul Prensky, 933 East 29th Avenue, expressed appreciation that the ordinance allowed camping on private residential property. He said he believed grievances against the ordinance expressed by business owners were legitimate and that concentration of vehicles parking overnight should be addressed in a revision of the ordinance. He said that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stated that all people had a right to sleep and a right to eat. He suggested that the Human Rights Commission become engaged in resolving compliance issues. John "Mac" McFadden, 575 Knapp Lane, related his experience with a homeless person whose camping trailer needed to be regularly moved until the implementation of the ordinance. He said he objected to any implication that crime was caused by persons who were homeless because they were most often the victims of crime. He said he supported prosecution of those who commit criminal acts. He said he supported extension of the ordinance because it was the best alternative developed to date. J.D. Olson, 2270 Almaden Street, stated that he believed towns in Mexico near the border with the United States, not Eugene, led the way in allowing homeless persons to sleep on public streets. He suggested that it was easier to "put out a fire before it begins." He said he believed that persons who were homeless were better described as persons who have homes, but choose to park it on a street. Karl C. Culbertson, Post Office Box 308, stated that he was homeless, having recently arrived in Eugene after a period of being in prison. He suggested that rent control was a solution to the high cost of living in Eugene. He said he supported extension of the ordinance and that permitting night time camping in City parks be added as a permitted activity. Determining that there were no other persons desiring to testify, President Farr closed the public hearing. He commended the participants for their willingness to speak and civility. He announced that council action on the recommendation regarding extension of the ordinance had been re-scheduled for June 8, 1998. He invited councilors to ask questions of staff, but not respond to testimony in the public hearing. Mr. Lee stated that the "fire had been burning for a long time." He rhetorically asked if elected officials would ever be able to benefit homeless persons. He said he believed the ordinance was a positive new idea and that budget should be provided to pay for expenses of sanitation facilities. He suggested that if homeless were not allowed to sleep in industrial areas, they would congregate in other areas of the City. He asked staff to analyze his suggestion. He said he wanted to be able to create a "win-win" situation. He said he believed enforcement issues should be considered by the council and Council Committee on Homelessness and Youth. Mr. Meisner requested that the Council Committee on Homelessness and Youth consider concerns about the ordinance before it was brought back to council, as follows: · Issues related to density and concentration of vehicles. MINUTES--City Council May 11, 1998 Page 9