CC Minutes - 02/27/12 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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being excluded. Mr. Tyndall reported that Occupy Eugene has begun a dialogue with downtown business owners about the homeless problem and those contacted did not support targeting nonviolent homeless people. He called for accurate policing reporting and said no exclusions should be issued for trivial or victimless crimes or prior to a court proceeding. Jean Stacey, Ward 1, submitted her written remarks in opposition to the DPSZ. Steve Michael Todd, homeless, was excluded from downtown. He believed innocent people were being targeted because they were being unwanted. Homeless people were afraid to speak out. The City was putting more bicycle officers in downtown to get undesirable people out. Mr. Todd pointed out that The Dining Room was frequently used by homeless people but it was in the exclusion zone, which made it impossible for excluded homeless people to use it. He said if the council could create the proper environment elsewhere the homeless would not be downtown. Mr. Todd believed the DPSZ was being abused. Irene Cardenas, Ward 1, supported allowing more opportunities for goat rearing because of the'benefits of goat's milk. She asked if the City had considered applying restorative justice in downtown so that people could meet and share perspectives with the assistance of a mediator or police officer. She did not think homeless people should be arrested for sleeping but should be given a place to stay and learn and contribute. Mark Callahan, Ward 4, advocated against the proposal for a plastic bag in Eugene. He noted that such a ban was not supported by the State legislature. Portland had since implemented such a ban but he doubted what was good for Portland was good for Eugene, particularly for the low- income. He believed the ban was ecological fascism. He asked what happened to having faith in an individual's free will and choice. He predicted people would spend their money in other communities to avoid the ban. Michael Gannon, Ward 7, suggested the council reconsider the use of tobacco in the downtown and whether tighter regulation might be a useful tool to address some of the problems the DPSZ was intended to address. Jan Bedford, Ward 1, introduced the "Bag Monster," aka Lori, who wore 500 bags, which represented the number used by an average Oregonian each year. They took many years to biodegrade and she did not think that something that was used for such a short-time should be used. She spoke of the disadvantages of single -use plastic bags and their environmental impact. She urged the council to ban plastic bags in the City of Eugene. She also wanted to ban paper bags and to encourage people to bring their own bags to the store. She offered the council reusable bags that read "Make a Difference." Debra McGee, Lane County, advocated for a plastic bag ban in Eugene. She supported a ban of all things carcinogenic and non - biodegradable. Mike Brinkley, Ward 8, expressed the Sierra Club's support for the proposed plastic bag ban. He perceived the problem of plastic bags had grown since 1960. He suggested the benefit of paper bags was that they were made in the state. No plastic bags were made in Oregon. He spoke of some of the alternatives to plastic bags that existed. Michael Carrigan, Ward 7, Community Alliance of Lane County (ALC), opposed the extension of the DPSZ. He did not think the changes went far enough and asked the council to reject the ordinance and allow the zone to sunset. CALC was concerned the law was used to target the homeless, which was MINUTES— Eugene City Council February 27, 2012 Page 2 Regular Meeting