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Mayor Piercy asked for volunteers to serve on the proponent committee to write the argument in favor of <br />this item. Councilors Taylor and Zelenka agreed to be on this committee. <br /> <br />Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to appoint Councilor Taylor and Council <br />Zelenka, to serve as members of the proponents’ committee to prepare the argument and rebuttal in <br />favor of the measure. The motion passed 8:0. <br /> <br />3. DOWNTOWN PUBLIC SAFETY ZONE (DPSZ) DISCUSSION <br /> <br />Chief Kerns introduced Lt. Sam Kamkar, Community Service Officer Tonee Webber and Sgt. Larry <br />Crompton who were in attendance to respond to questions. He explained that the purpose of the session <br />was to ask the council for direction, as the ordinance is scheduled to sunset in November 2012. <br /> <br />Chief Kerns provided a brief history of the Downtown Public Safety Zone (DPSZ) and data to illustrate <br />how the exclusion zone was working. <br /> <br />Lt. Kamkar reviewed the exclusion process and described the changes that had been made to the program <br />in response to council concerns and suggestions. <br /> <br />Chief Kerns informed the council that EPD now publicizes data about exclusions on the City’s website, <br />making access to public records easy and free. He also noted that his staff will send summaries and <br />quarterly reports to the council about the number of exclusion notices and the adjudication details from <br />Municipal Court indicating if the exclusions were granted or not. Chief Kerns outlined the council’s <br />options: <br /> <br />1. Renew and extend DPSZ <br />2. Eliminate the 90-day exclusion (this is the most common type of exclusion) <br />3. Allow DPSZ to sunset in November 2012 <br /> <br />The Mayor and councilors asked questions and voiced concerns about the program, including: <br /> <br /> The effectiveness of the Advocacy Program. <br /> <br /> The difference between park exclusions and DPSZ exclusions. <br /> <br /> The perception by some that EPD officers target homeless people with trivial violations. <br /> <br /> Allegations that officers are issuing notices of exclusion to drive homeless people out of downtown. <br /> <br /> The availability of other tools for EPD to remove repeat offenders from downtown. <br /> <br /> The cost-effectiveness of DPSZ. <br /> <br /> The risk that people who have been excluded from downtown go into nearby areas/neighborhoods <br />instead. <br /> <br />4. TOAST TO CITY HALL: <br />Mayor Piercy spoke about the years that City Hall served the needs of the community and the many <br />meetings and business that were conducted in the building over the years. She expressed excitement <br />about the future and her commitment to moving forward expeditiously on a new City Hall.. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy adjourned the meeting at 1:30 pm. <br /> <br />Respectfully submitted, <br /> <br />Michelle Mortensen <br />Deputy City Recorder <br /> <br />(Minutes taken by Michelle Mortensen) <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />