CC Minutes - 10/24/11 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

He reported he had attended that day's General Assembly and was struck by the involvement of the street youth. He received the impression that the youth were engaged in something productive and that they felt part of an intergenerational community for perhaps the first time in their lives and suggested that alone made the council's support worthwhile. Chris Calef, 865 East 32 n Avenue, proposed that the council eliminate the camping ordinance to accommodate the many homeless living in the community and to avoid accusations of favoritism. He believed that the present situation constituted an emergency that would be addressed if those experiencing it were not homeless. He suggested if the community could not shelter such individuals it should at minimum allow them to camp in a public park. Don Bischoff, 1632 Bradley Drive, supported the proposed camping ban exemption. He praised the movement for speaking out about the financial system. He commended the diversity of the participants in Occupy Eugene and their willingness to stand up, march, camp, and call for action. He asked the council to be flexible in the location it provided for Occupy Eugene. He preferred to see Occupy Eugene downtown. He commended the EPD and the City Manager for their positive interactions with the movement. He believed that Occupy Eugene was the type of movement that the country's forefathers envisioned. Mayor Piercy closed the Public Forum. She called on the council for comments and questions. Councilor Ortiz was pleased that Occupy Eugene had highlighted the plight of the homeless. That factor was the silver lining of the encampment. Those without a place to be were given a place where they did not have to worry about being forced to move. She supported the manager's recommendation to grant the exemption and said she would be willing to discuss further relaxing the ban to accommodate the homeless in all parks. She acknowledged there might be insufficient council support for such a discussion. Councilor Pryor said the council's decision was not a black and white one. The council was being called on to choose between two value sets, both of which had merit. The council had to decide what values to support at this time. Councilor Pryor recommended the council focus on the exemption for Occupy Eugene and discuss the potential of a broader "humanitarian" exemption in the future. Councilor Pryor wanted to separate the political implications of Occupy Eugene from other considerations. He did not think his personal political inclinations should play into his decision. He felt he should be able to state that he would be willing to grant the same exemption to the Tea Party that he would grant to Occupy Eugene. Councilor Brown commended City Manager Ruiz and Police Chief Kerns for their respectful and sensible response to Occupy Eugene. He supported the manager's recommendation. He acknowledged the park was a public space and believed the public, as represented by Occupy Eugene, was using the park as a laboratory for democracy and community dialogue. Councilor Brown pointed out the event had been peaceful and violence -free. He hoped that Occupy Eugene would prod Eugene into doing something substantive for the homeless. Councilor Taylor found the public hearing inspirational. She supported the City Manager's recommendation, although she wished it was not site - specific. She expressed appreciation to City Manager Ruiz and Police Chief Kerns for their tolerance and ingenuity in working with Occupy Eugene. Councilor Farr recalled the establishment of Eugene's camping ordinance, which provided for legal, safe, and sanitary places for temporary overnight occupancy in parking lots at churches, businesses, and other MINUTES— Eugene City Council October 24, 2011 Page 7 Regular Meeting