Item 3: PH on Ordinance Concerning Used Merchandise Dealers

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Public Hearing: An Ordinance Concerning Used Merchandise Dealers, and Amending Sections 4.989 and 4.990 of the Eugene Code, 1971 Meeting Date: January 23, 2006 Agenda Item Number: 3 Department: Eugene Police Staff Contact: Captain Elvia Williams www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5114 ISSUE STATEMENT This is a public hearing for the proposed ordinance concerning Used Merchandise Dealers. The ordinance would amend sections 4.989 and 4.990 of the Eugene Code 1971, to establish an electronic reporting system for used merchandise dealers, establish a fee structure for maintenance of the electronic system, and clarify the types of items that would be subject to mandatory reporting. BACKGROUND The City Council held a work session on January 11, 2006, to discuss the proposed amendments to the Used Merchandise Dealer Ordinance. The council voted unanimously to forward the proposal to a public hearing. The City of Eugene’s existing Used Merchandise Dealer Ordinance was adopted in 1996. Since that time, Eugene, Springfield, and unincorporated Lane County have experienced an explosion of property crimes. In Eugene, the number of burglary cases increased 15.87% between 2004 and 2005. Updating the Used Merchandise Dealers Ordinance to require “real-time” automated reporting instead of the time- consuming manual paper slip reporting method is an important strategy for law enforcement to identify the repeat criminals involved in these thefts and to create a better mechanism for returning stolen items to the lawful owners. The proposed ordinance builds on the existing code by modernizing the system to require electronic reporting which will provide law enforcement with ‘real time’ data on sales that can be matched to stolen property. A significant aspect of this proposal is the coordination of a regional approach from the largest law enforcement agencies, Eugene Police Department (EPD), Lane County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) and the Springfield Police Department. All three agencies currently have a Used Merchandise Dealer Ordinance that regulates stores in their jurisdiction and all jurisdictions in this region share the growing problem of burglaries and theft, most of which are directly linked to the area’s drug problems. Over the last three years, representatives from the three agencies have developed this proposal to standardize the practices for reporting sales for all stores and provide law enforcement agencies with real-time data on goods being sold to secondhand dealers. To enforce the existing ordinance, Eugene has dedicated two property detectives and one civilian employee for approximately 60 secondhand stores that annually produce over 54,000 secondhand dealer L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060123\S0601233.doc