CC Minutes - 01/27/10 Work Session

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Ms. Solomon asked if automated behavior came reporting would involve telephone or electronic reporting. Chief Kerns replied that they needed to buy some hardware so that.crimes could be reported immediately and also the software that would allow people to report crimes online, as well as volunteers to receive those reports over the telephone. Ms. Solomon asked if there was a better way to provide services without using volunteers. She said she would be willing to pay a stipend to volunteers or other people to help the department. Chief Kerns responded that the program in Portland hired retired police officers to serve as security personnel. Ms. Solomon liked the idea of creating downtown work crews for crirninals. She was wondering if that could be moved to the list of short --term strategies. She also noted that one of the categories of focus for the effort to make downtown better included the aspects of the physical environment. She did not feel that much in the strategies addressed that. Chief Ferns replied that improved lighting and coordinating security and law enforcement services in the downtown area along with the add' dded police officers would improve the physical environment. Ms. Muir added that improving cleanliness would play a big part in improving the environment. Ms. Solomon asked if all of the recommendations had come from the committee. Chief Kerns responded that they were the strategies that received the most votes at one of the last meetings. Ms. Solomon requested to see "what fell off the list." Chief Kerns clarified that the list represented what the executive team had taken from the top 15 items that the task team had presented them with. Ms. Solomon had been impressed by the Eugene Advocates campaign and asked to what degree they had incorporated input from them into the document. Chief Kerns said he was familiar with their positions and they had informed his input into the discussion, but they did not gather the emails and share them with everyone on the team. Mr. Pryor said he was impressed with the work. He considered what he had heard so far to be indicative of broad support on the part of the council for the strategies. Regarding fortified beverages, he hoped that they could work exceptions or waivers into it so that they did not "throw the baby out with the bath water." He agreed with the intent of it. He acknowledged the desire to put some of these things into place before sui=er, but underscored that things with price tags would have to go before the Budget Committee. He said he would be willing to support all of the things that did not have a price tag or could be fundable within the resources already available. He believed that there were things on the list that they could do relatively easily. Mr. Pryor agreed that "wet beds" were beneficial, as long as they were implemented the right way and they were not just a "flop house." He thought this would be something they could do, especially if it reduced costs by reducing emergency room visits and j all bed use. He also supported the use of cameras, adding that they could be effective if used in the right way. Mayor Piercy asked if they had garnered youth input. Chief Kerns replied that a Department of Youth Services counselor had attended every meeting and she had brought a client who provided good input. He noted that a representative of Looking Class had also been present. Mayor Piercy remarked that the youth in the downtown area were a varied group and should not be lumped into one. Mr. Clark understood the importance of the use of cameras and automated technologies, but he wanted to express his concern about the "Big Brotheresque" feeling that it gave him. He wanted to move forward but wanted to check back and make sure that the tool was being used effectively and that it was doing MINUTES Eugene City Council January 27, 2010 Page 6 Work Session