Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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Councilor Clark asked staff to prepare an estimate of costs in time for the December 14 discussion. He also wanted an estimate of the number of people who would cooperate with the deadline and how many would not. Councilor Clark was challenged to support the motion because it gave tacit approval to the camp site. He was interested in hearing further discussion on December 14 but continued to be concerned the City was subsidizing a protest. He defended Occupy Eugene’s right to protest but did not want to spend tax dollars to further a protest that was not supported by all residents. City Manager Ruiz pointed out the motion did not call for the termination of the camp in 45 days. Councilor Poling indicated tentative support for the motion. He questioned the source of funding and how it affected other services. He recommended the funding come from Council Contingency Funds. Councilor Poling was concerned about extending the exemption for 45 days. He preferred to retain the December 15 date and let staff determine how to close the camp down as soon as practical. He objected to continued extension of the exemption. The camp was not needed to realize the other elements of the motion, which he supported as common sense steps. He anticipated further discussion of that date. Councilor Zelenka said each Occupy movement was different and in Eugene it had focused on homelessness. He believed that Occupy Eugene captured people’s imaginations and at least their attention. He believed that Occupy Eugene represented an opportunity for meaningful change in regarding to homelessness. The intention of his motion was that the camp would close at the end of 45 days. Transition services would be in place to move the campers into more stable conditions with better services. Regarding costs, Councilor Zelenka anticipated the manager would provide the council with funding options at the December 14 meeting and further anticipated the manager would provide ranges of cost. Councilor Farr was glad for the delay because he hoped it would provide more answers. He continued to be concerned about safety and planned to visit the camp. He had serious concerns about sanitation and questioned where the gray water was going but would keep an open mind and would see if his concerns could be alleviated. Councilor Brown questioned whether 45 days was sufficient time to transition the event. He suggested the council might need to revisit that decision given the complexity of the tasks that lay ahead. He agreed with the remarks of Councilor Zelenka. Speaking to the issue of money, Councilor Brown suggested that the revenue from the Moss Street vacation could be one funding source. Mayor Piercy recalled that the bulk of police-related expenses came from the protests that occurred at the beginning of the camp. She acknowledged that more expenses had been accrued over time. She acknowledged that Occupy Eugene was a political movement that was shining a big light on the problem of the homeless. She thanked the 70 people who signed up to speak and said she tried to treat all fairly whether she agreed or disagreed with their views. She had wanted to ensure the council got to its decision point on the issue. Mayor Piercy believed inequity was a big problem. She thanked those present for caring. The motion passed, 7:1; Councilor Clark voting no. Mayor Piercy adjourned the meeting at 9:23 p.m. MINUTES—Eugene City Council December 12, 2011 Page 8 Regular Meeting