Item 6: Ordinance on TransPlan and Metro Plan Text Amendments

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Mayor Piercy closed the hearing and called for comments from councilors. Councilor Zelenka asked why the extension had changed from the initial proposal of two years to a three-year period. Gabe Flock, Planning Division, replied that the Planning Commission had considered testimony presented to it during a public hearing on the ordinance and recommended expanding the extension from two years to three years. He said the original proposal was based on State legislation that would have extended applications or permit approvals for a two-year period, but the Planning Commission chose to expand that based on testimony and evidence of the continuing economic downturn. He said the State legislation did not pass because of concerns related to Home Rule, but several jurisdictions had taken local action to grant extensions. Councilor Zelenka asked if other jurisdictions had granted two- or three-year extensions. Mr. Flock replied that it varied among jurisdictions and most had several different expiration periods based on the type of permit. Staff would provide that information to the council. Mayor Piercy affirmed the City’s long-term commitment to economic development. 3. PUBLIC HEARING An Ordinance Concerning Citation Authority of University of Oregon Department of Public Safety and Amending Section 4.035 of the Eugene Code, 1971 Mr. Ruiz said the code amendment would increase citation authority for the University of Oregon Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers to enforce misdemeanors on University property, in addition to the authority they received in 2003. He said misdemeanors, unlike violations, were crimes for which the offenders could potentially be sentenced to jail or assessed fines. The amendment would streamline services, freeing Eugene police for other calls for service and reducing the number of officers assigned to the University. Mayor Piercy opened the public hearing and reviewed the procedures for providing testimony. st Malcolm Wilson, East 21 Avenue, Ward 3, Eugene, representing South University Neighbors, stated that the neighborhood association favored the amendment, which would reduce duplication of services between DPS and the Eugene Police Department (EPD) and keep more Eugene officers on City streets and allow DPS officers to respond more effectively on campus. Both departments would be better able to preserve quality of life on campus and in the neighborhoods. He said South University Neighbors joined EPD in supporting the proposed code change. Emma Kallaway , Orchard Street, Eugene, University of Oregon student body president spoke in support of the code amendments. She said felt the amendment would help build more positive relationships between students and DPS and benefits of the code change included allowing DPS officers to operate more efficiently by being able to issue citations without having to wait for a Eugene police officer, then move on to other campus duties. She said it was important to work within the University’s conduct code and giving DPS more enforcement authority would allow them more leeway when dealing with students. She said of particular importance to students was allowing DPS officers to escort off campus quickly any unwelcome non-students who violated a trespassing code. She urged the council to adopt the ordinance so that DPS officers could focus on crime prevention and use their time as wisely as possible while supporting University students. Phil Farrington, Monroe Street, Eugene, representing PeaceHealth and the University Small Business Association, supported the ordinance. He said passage of the ordinance would allow EPD resources to be better spent elsewhere MINUTES—Eugene City Council October 19, 2009 Page 3 Public Hearing