Item 7: Ordinance Amending Downtown Public Safey Zone Ordinance

Home Browse Search

recommendation to City Council. EPD staff needed additional time to prepare the activity report and, due to the extended time required by the Police Commission to process other policy work, there will be insufficient time to review the DPSZ activity report and receive public comment before the DPSZ ordinance sunsets. The council is being asked to extend the deadline for the Police Commission’s review of the DPSZ report and recommendation to the City Council by 30 days, to October 13, 2010. Further, the council’s passage of the new ordinance (Attachment A) will extend the sunset date of the DPSZ Ordinance by 150 days to January 8, 2011. The date of the extension is suggested to allow time to process any amendments to the ordinance if, after hearing the recommendation, the council asks for amendments. In addition, the council break occurs in December, and the number of available meetings is typically somewhat limited. Tasks Current Timeline Proposed Extension Police Commission Review of Activity Report, Public Comment, and September 13, 2010 October 13, 2010 Recommendation to council DPSZ Ordinance No. 20419 Sunset Date August 11, 2010 January 8, 2011 The Police Commission has scheduled a public input process for September 1, 2010, to be held at the Eugene Public Library. At this public meeting, the Police Commission plans to provide information regarding the activity report and the opportunity for members of the public to comment on the Downtown Public Safety Zone exclusion process. The report will be posted on the Police Commission and Police Department web pages prior to the public meeting. Public announcements regarding the report’s availability will also be provided by the Police Commission. The civil exclusion process has been a small but important component in law enforcement’s efforts to improve downtown Eugene’s disorder-related issues. Law enforcement partners working together to improve downtown hope the civil exclusion process will be a long-term element of the comprehensive strategies of the City’s Downtown Initiative. The council heard from seven speakers at the July 29, 2010, public hearing, who were not supportive of the exclusion zone or the proposed ordinance. These individual’s concerns included disapproval of exclusionary zones, First Amendment rights, fear that homeless individuals and youth may be unfairly targeted for exclusion, and general dissatisfaction with the timing of the activity report preparation and review. Two members of the public spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance and expressed satisfaction with the DPSZ. The council is asked to take action on the new ordinance on August 9, 2010, so the Downtown Public Safety Zone will continue without interruption. RELATED CITY POLICIES This topic relates to the Safe Community Vision: A community where people feel safe, valued, and welcome. In addition, the topic relates to several of the City Council’s goals: The Homeless, Sustainability, Downtown and Police Initiatives. The Park Rules currently provide an option of Z:\CMO\2010 Council Agendas\M100809\S1008097.doc