Laserfiche WebLink
noted that a representative of Looking Glass had also been present. Mayor Piercy remarked that the youth <br />in the downtown area were a varied group and should not be lumped into one. <br /> <br />Mr. Clark understood the importance of the use of cameras and automated technologies, but he wanted to <br />express his concern about the “Big Brotheresque” feeling that it gave him. He wanted to move forward but <br />wanted to check back and make sure that the tool was being used effectively and that it was doing what it <br />was supposed to do. He also wanted to ensure that they had the appropriate measurements and restrictions <br />in place so that it would not be misused. <br /> <br />Mr. Clark remarked that the council had discussed the importance of strategic communications. He related <br />that he understood, from talking with officers in the downtown area, that Portland had cracked down last <br />summer and then people had come from Portland to Eugene in response to this. He said as they rolled out <br />the short-term steps, he wanted to see a communications plan so that they let people know that the City was <br />taking the situation seriously and was making a serious effort to reduce crime downtown. <br /> <br />Mr. Clark also asked if there were any measurement tools built into it so that they would know what <br />measure of success they would achieve. Chief Kerns replied that the automated behavior crime reporting <br />and cameras coupled with the crime measurement instruments they already had would help measure the <br />success. Ms. Muir added that when staff looked at developing each of the strategies, they had included ideas <br />on how they could start looking at measurements. <br /> <br />In response to a follow-up question from Mr. Clark, Chief Kerns stated that establishing an umbrella <br />organization would be the first phase of a many-phase evolution. He said it was there that they would <br />identify the measurements and how they could collect them. He added that Portland was tracking how many <br />instances of graffiti were reported and when they were cleaned up, litter they picked up including needles, <br />and the number of behavior crimes they saw, among other things. <br /> <br />Ms. Ortiz asked if the work crews to clean up downtown could be brought forward, if there were resources <br />for it. Mr. Ruiz responded that there was money in the Council Contingency Fund, but it would be <br />preferable to ensure that they built ongoing funding into the budget for it. <br /> <br />Ms. Ortiz expressed an interest to move this to the short-term list. <br /> <br />Municipal Court Administrator Jeff Perry stated that they had spoken with Lane County Corrections about <br />the concept of a community service program in the downtown area. He related that they were confident the <br />project could be created quickly. <br /> <br />Ms. Ortiz asked if the downtown area had experienced an increase in the level of crimes that would qualify <br />for programs within the Department of Justice, such as the Weed and Seed program. She noted that the <br />Weed and Seed program had been very successful in the Bethel area. Chief Kerns agreed to look into it. <br /> <br />Mr. Brown agreed that automated crime reporting was a good idea. In response to questions regarding DEI, <br />Ms. Muir indicated that she would provide a memorandum outlining the cost of the services and who paid <br />what portions of it. <br /> <br />Mr. Zelenka asked for more detail regarding how cameras would be deployed; how they would be used and <br />by whom? <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council January 27, 2010 Page 7 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br />