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

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Mr. Tollenaar said that he believed there would be ambiguity in the minds of voters regarding the amending the charter as proposed. He said the ordinance would remove legal restrictions to having the City Council establish a citizen review board, but did not establish such a board. He suggested that consideration be given to changing language in the proposal related to establishing a board from permissive to directive. He said if the proposed technical revision to the charter in the ordinance was turned down by voters, it would be difficult for the council to establish a citizen review board within the current provisions of the charter. Mr. Laue stated that he believed it would be important to notify those who had indicated they wished to testify at the public hearing but were not present of the re-scheduled additional date for it. Mayor Torrey determined that, in the light of the lateness of the hour and the number of persons who had requested to present testimony, speakers would be limited to two-minute presentations. Mayor Torrey opened the public hearing. Jayson Jones, No Address Provided, stated that he had attended meetings of the External Review Advisory Committee. He said he did not believe members favored establishing a citizen police review process with personnel appointed by the City Manager. He said he believed the process would require budgetary support, but that a great deal of the administrative support discussed he considered administrative bureaucracy. Ron Chase, 1775 West 14th Avenue, said that he believed the External Review Advisory Committee had worked hard to retain the authority of the Police Chief and protect the constitutional rights of police officers in its recommendation about a review process. He said the proposal was not radical and was an idea whose "time had come." He said he believed further implementation of community policing practices in Eugene could bring increased conflicts with citizens. He said the proposed review process was not anti-police. He urged the council to support placing the charter amendment on the ballot. Elaine Green, 803 Sundance Street, stated that she was chair of the External Review Advisory Committee. She said she believed the proposed charter amendment and ordinance calling a special election accurately reflected the wishes of the committee. She said she recognized the risk of putting the amendment proposal before voters and the trade-off of utilizing currently available procedures for forming a police review process. Charles Dalton, 1040 Lamplight Lane, stated that he supported establishing a police review process because it would make it easier and safer for the police to do a good job. He said it would eliminate a level of divisiveness in the community. He said the cost of the proposed program would be less than those incurred from litigation which could result from not having it in place. He said he also favored the process because it would give police an opportunity to say, "I'm sorry." Nicola Calvert, 41 North Adams Street, was not present. James Johnston, Post Office Box 10455, said he was resentful that the public hearing was being held at such a late hour and that speakers were limited to two minutes. He said many who MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 8, 1998 Page 15 7:30 p.m.