HomeMy WebLinkAbout9.24.2018 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
September 24, 2018
5:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clary Claire Syrett, Chris
Pyror
Councilors Absent: Alan Zelenka, Greg Evans
Mayor Vinis opened the September 24, 2018, Work Session of the Eugene City Council.
1. Committee Reports and Items of Interest
Council Discussion
• Would like to explore the possibility of getting packets and agendas earlier.
• The planters at the bus station are ugly and it would be better to have seats available there.
• Clarified the City's position related to a Register -Guard opinion piece and letter to the editor
response regarding efforts made to address homelessness crisis.
• City Council adopted $60,000 in the budget specifically for car camping.
• Human Rights Commission and Sustainability Commission are both working diligently on
their work plans for the year.
• The League of Oregon Cities conference will be hosted in Eugene later this week.
• The Housing Tools and Strategies Working Group workshops have started and there are
three more scheduled in preparation of City Council work session on December 10th.
2. WORK SESSION: Civilian Review Board and Police Auditor's Office Annual Reports
Civilian Review Board Chair Maurie Denner, Police Auditor Mark Gissiner and Deputy Police
Auditor Leta Pitcher presented findings from the Civilian Review Board and Police Auditor's
Annual Reports.
Council Discussion
• Appreciate the thorough CRB report and the clarity and transparency that is being provided
to the community to highlight where improvements need to be made.
• Questions asked about other jurisdictions related to the Police Auditor model in Eugene.
• The independence of the police auditor's office combined with the CRB makes for a
powerful oversight model that fosters community trust.
• Questions asked about when it may be required to use another state agency for certain
investigations.
• Service complaints seem to be the number one category of complaints received;there is a
nexus with that relates to police resources.
• One of the purposes of creating the police auditor's office was to make sure the culture of
the police department matched the culture of Eugene.
• Important to build partnerships between the police department and the community.
MINUTES — Eugene City Council September 24, 2018 Page 1
Work Session
3. ACTION: An Ordinance Changing the Street Name of the Undeveloped Portion of Suzanne
Way to Tennyson Avenue, as it Extends North From Crescent Avenue to Tennyson Avenue
(City File SC 18-1)
Assistant City Manager Kristie Hammitt introduced the proposed street name change action
item.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to adopt
Council Bill 5198, an ordinance changing the street name of the undeveloped portion of
Suzanne Way to Tennyson Avenue, as it extends north from Crescent Avenue to
Tennyson Avenue. PASSED 6:0
4. UPDATE: Emergency Management
Risk Services Director Randi Bowers -Payne gave an emergency management update,
highlighting activities that have gone on for September National Preparedness Month and
other year-round efforts.
Council Discussion
• Glad to see this issue coming back up again; should be taken very seriously.
• Important to talk about the ability to create sheltering -in-place strategies in neighborhoods.
• Interested in coordinating with the business side of resilience, working with small
organizations and businesses to talk about the impact of planning and resilience, perhaps
working with the Chamber of Commerce to do this.
• Questions asked about the potential of bridges failing in a disaster and whether there is
planning for a temporary ferry or bridge of some sort to be able to cross the river.
• Questions asked about the role of FEMA in a federally declared disaster.
• Questions asked about EWEB's strategy for shifting from one to multiple sources of water
and when that plan will be operationalized.
• Clarification requested about throwing the breaker switch at a house in order to shut the
valves on a hot water tank to capture the water in a disaster.
• The Great Oregon Shakeout will take place on October 18.
The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elena Domingo
Deputy City Recorder
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting: here.
MINUTES — Eugene City Council September 24, 2018 Page 2
Work Session