CC Minutes - 07/13/09 Work Session

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Mayor Piercy announced she would participate in a press conference with other partners on July 17 to thank the legislative delegation for their work on behalf of the City of Eugene during the most recent legislative session. This would provide an opportunity to extend a special thanks to Senator Walker. City Manager Jon Ruiz said recreation staff were offering Staycation opportunities for the community this summer. An overnight campout at Amazon Park attended by about 50 people was held last weekend. The event offered a variety of activities and dinner. Feedback indicated that people felt safe and had an enjoyable experience. He reported a farmers' market and family fun night would be held at Petersen Barn on July 21 and 22 in collaboration with the Active Bethel Citizens and the Bethel School District. The latest project of the Youth Action Board was a collaboration with the No Shame Theater, in which local high school students wrote and acted in a series of five- minute plays at the Atrium Building. Looking Glass was interested in partnering with the City on the Youth Action Board and verbally agreed to two hours staff time per week as well as $6,200 for community events. He thanked all of the recreation staff for their work this summer. City Manager Ruiz reported he would be reading at the Eugene Public Library as part of the summer reading program. Attendance was at record levels, likely a result of more people staying in Eugene during the summer and participating in local activities. He would attend the Downtown Neighborhood Associa- tion meeting on July 16. On July 14 he would participate in a cycling event with the Greater Eugene Area Riders (GEAR) around the city. This week's packet would include copies of the Diversity and Equity Strategic Plan (DESP) which tied back to the council's goals on race. This effort had been underway for a couple of years and received significant amounts of staff and community time. The purpose of DESP was to ensure that these were organizational and cultural values, and not just programs and initiatives. He had been participating in several conversations and meetings with Mayor Piercy and Ms. Ortiz regarding high- speed rail, and additional conversations would be held throughout the northwest. The challenge would be to get everyone focused on the same conversation. Mayor Piercy said it would be interesting to hear from Amtrak and UP regarding their plans B. WORK SESSION: Annual Meeting with Police Commission Joe Alsup, former vice chair of the Eugene Police Commission, provided an overview of the Police Commission Annual Report Fiscal Year 2009, and the work accomplished in 2009. He noted with the economic crisis the City was facing the commission was forced to suspend work on the Police Long -Term Staffing Plan. He said the jobs performed by the officers gave the impression there was not a need for a significant increase in the number of police officers on the force. He stated the commission felt the quality of the officers, the job they performed and the professionalism they brought to the work was outstanding, and the commission felt the community was safe. However, the need for additional officers was critical. He reviewed the committee projects, including those of the Policy Screening and Review Committee (PSRC), the Universal Access Committee (UAC), the Public Outreach Committee (POC) and the Use of Force Committee (UOF). Tamara Miller, Chair of the Eugene Police Commission, offered an overview of the proposed Police Commission FY 2010 Work Plan dated June 11, 2009. She said in addition to the information included in the work plan, the commission had an opportunity to participate in community interviews with the Police Auditor, some of the listening conversations with police, and the Police Auditor Ordinance Review Committee (PAORC). She reported that work plan objectives included continuing work of the PSRC, POC and UOF committees as well as a new committee that would relate to the City of Eugene's budget and resources affecting the Eugene Police Department (EPD). She noted as part of the budget cuts, the MINUTES— Eugene City Council July 13, 2009 Page 3 Work Session