CC Minutes - 06/08/98 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Torrey determined that no member of the council wished to second the motion of Ms. Taylor and declared that it was not under consideration. Mr. Fart pointed out that the proposed ordinance was automatically repealed in two years, but that it also mandated a review of its effectiveness in one year. He also pointed out that Eugene was the only city in Oregon which banned camping on its streets. Ms. Nathanson said that she appreciated the proposed 60-day repeal of the section of the ordinance related to sleeping on streets in industrially zoned areas, but hoped that an acceptable change to it could be proposed in a shorter time. She said that without significant changes in that section, enforcement would be impossible. She said that she believed that mediation between business operators and those sleeping in vehicles on streets near their locations would not be effective. She suggested that issues related to concentration of vehicles in specific areas, elimination of litter and sanitation problems, and enabling enforcement of the ordinance be addressed by the committee in its recommendation to the council. Mayor Torrey said that he believed the Eugene camping ban was a part of the problem faced by the proposed ordinance. He said he did not believe the ban was able to be enforced. He said Eugene had done more than any other city in Oregon to deal with concerns for homeless persons, that it was not appropriate to expect the business community to be the only one to deal with the issues, that the ordinance was not intended to be an opening to full-time camping on public streets, and that he did not believe the issue would disappear. Mr. Fart stated that he had been informed that a single individual was responsible for a significant number of the complaints received about persons sleeping in vehicles harassing business employees and customers. He said he hoped the committee could include a focus on behavioral problems associated with the ordinance. Ms. Nathanson said she agreed that it was important to acknowledge the successful elements of the proposed ordinance. She said she was concerned for those who slept in vehicles. She said she would like to determine if 24 hours was an appropriate limit to place on such persons staying in a single location. The motion to approve Council Bill 4656 was adopted unanimously, 8:0 and became Ordinance 20124. Mayor Torrey announced that several councilors had requested permission to leave the meeting. Mr. Lee and Ms. Nathanson left the meeting at 10:10 p.m. V. PUBLIC HEARING AND POSSIBLE ORDINANCE ADOPTION: EXCEPTION OF PATRON USER FEE AND AMENDING SECTION 3.810 OF THE EUGENE CODE, 1971; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY Mr. Johnson stated the staff report regarding the ordinance had been included in the Agenda Item Summary distributed to councilors. MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 8, 1998 Page 12 7:30 p.m.