CC Minutes - 04/25/11 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Ford asked councilors to help expand the program at no cost by reminding property owners that the presence of campers near their property reduced theft and vandalism and to ask them to financially support the program. He also asked the council to expand the church program. Mr. Ford suggested a need for greater public awareness that homeowners could allow people to live in a vehicle or tent on their property. Ruth Duemler, 1745 Fircrest Drive, agreed with the remarks of Mr. Ford. She shared the story of an older resident living in his truck who became homeless because of a heart attack, and emphasized the difficulty such individuals had finding a job in Eugene. Ms. Duemler requested that the City provide portable toilets for the homeless. She also requested recycling be provided. She estimated the cost of portable toilets at $50 and the cost of a recycling bin at $10. Ms. Duemler asked the council to contact the State about preserving funding for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Marianne Malott, 1133 Olive Street, # 1215, said she received a Ford scholarship to attend the University of Oregon because she had been able to take advantage of a legal camping space. She advocated for expansion of the program, saying it provided people peace of mind. She was able to do her homework in her space and would not have been able to achieve what she had without the space. Jerry Smith, 5041 Saxon Way, a homeless advocate, spoke of the impact of reductions in TANF funding on local residents, predicting that 2,000 residents now on the program could lose eligibility and some would die. He said that TANF was the only safety net for families with children. Mr. Smith suggested the community was facing an emergency situation. Bob Macherione, 1994 Brewer Street, discussed his experience with the Code Enforcement staff about a Sign Code violation on his property and suggested the action was in retaliation for a lawsuit he filed against the City. He believed the Sign Code was intended to regulate commercial signage, not free speech. As his sign was on private property and presented no public hazard, he did not think it was subject to the Sign Code. Mr. Macherione interpreted the scope of the code to mean he could use the Sign Code to complain anonymously about people's bumper stickers. He questioned how the complainant in his case could remain anonymous, particularly when the City enforced the code by complaint only. Mark Robinowitz, no address given, honored the workers in Japan at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant who sacrificed themselves to minimize nuclear contamination. He recalled the Chernobyl disaster and its lingering effects and suggested the lessons of Chernobyl had not been heeded. Mr. Robinowitz called on the City to ensure its long -terms plans were relevant and took into account limited resources and actual demand. He advocated for planning for a future that was physically possible. Eugene Drix, 307 -1/2 East 14` Avenue, thanked the audience for being at the meeting and the people at home for watching. He acknowledged the many issues facing the community and believed that if people worked together they would find a way to solve them. He discussed his experiences with gangs in his neighborhood and said he refused to "buy into" the differences that such gangs encouraged. He attempted to interact with gang members and be positive. He thought ultimately, the presence of such gangs would make his neighbors more alert and connected. Mark Callahan, 3621 Mahlon Street, appealed to Mayor Piercy and the City Council to ask Hillary Johnson and the organization "Strong Schools Eugene" to drop the lawsuit filed against him as a member of the Voters' Pamphlet Opponent Committee. He related that he had been one of three volunteers who served on the committee and was the only one sued. Mr. Callahan suggested the lawsuit was directed against him because of his campaign for a school board seat. He said the public needed honor and integrity in its elections, not personal attacks on those with the courage to run for public office. MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 4 Regular Meeting