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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.17.2018 City Council Special Meeting MinutesMINUTES Eugene City Council Special Meeting Harris Hall, 125 East 8h Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 December 17, 2018 5:30 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor, Greg Evans DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Day and Night Support Services for 525 Highway 99 Assistant City Manager Kristie Hammitt introduced the item and presented a proposal for day and night homeless services on Highway 99. Council Discussion • Disappointed in the management of the current site; management by St. Vincent DePaul will improve oversight. • Concerned that those who are not eligible to reside in camp managed by St. Vincent DePaul will return to the downtown area and cause problems. • May be prudent to see what Lane County does with the site first; adding 80 more campers is concerning. • The proposed motions are a needed next step in the development of homeless shelter options; important to remember that these sites should be viewed as temporary for the residents, not as temporary facilities. • Concern expressed about families with children at the current Camp 99 site. • All current efforts are unchartered territory; governments and service providers are serving more people than ever. • Ultimate goal is to get those who are experiencing homelessness into stable housing. • The original rest stop model has transitioned into mini Opportunity Villages; improvements to the system are ongoing and responsive to conditions and needs. • Health, safety and management of the site are critical; the proposal is the right response for the current situation. • Questions asked about the plan to ensure safety and security at the site, both for residents and neighboring community. • The current system is not sustainable; effort and resources should be directed to establishing a low -barrier shelter. • The County and St. Vincent DePaul are exploring options for increased services, including mobile medical service. • Most campers are eligible for Affordable Care Act coverage; encourage City and County to look at grants and other funding sources. • Questions asked about what the enforcement response will be if people refuse to leave the Camp 99 site. • Questions asked about whether individual tents will be permitted at the new site, what is being done to help those with special needs and how the safety of campers will be ensured. • Concern expressed about spending resources on those who won't comply with transition plans or agree to be governed or managed; establishing camps creates the illusion of addressing the issue. • There will be a joint meeting with Lane County on January 22 to discuss the creation of a permanent public shelter; the current emergency camps will help inform planning efforts. MINUTES — Eugene City Council December 17, 2018 Page 1 Special Meeting • A permanent shelter, single -room occupancy facilities and indoor gathering places should be considered for downtown. • The joint meeting will allow a look at best practices, mutual agreements and longer-term strategies and plans. • Need to ensure proactivity with safety and security at the current site until the transition can take place; clarify unacceptable behaviors and reasonable exceptions. • Frustrated by rejection of proposed new sites by neighbors; moving forward with a low - barrier shelter will be extremely challenging. • An in-depth discussion of the goals and intentions of temporary shelter options is needed. • Those in camp want to demonstrate their ability to self -manage. • Important to not lose sight of the council's commitment to establish downtown facilities. • Questions asked about increasing the capacity of car camping sites. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to extend the meeting by 10 minutes. PASSED 7:1, Councilor Taylor opposed. • Important to clarify how City will address those who won't move or come back to camp illegally at the Butterfly lot. • Proposed shelters will not solve the issue of homelessness - it's a transitional strategy. • Gratitude expressed to St. Vincent DePaul for their efforts and willingness to help. • Questions asked about how the money allocated to St. Vincent DePaul is being spent and who is liable at the proposed camps. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Evans, moved to extend the meeting by 10 minutes. PASSED 7:1, Councilor Taylor opposed. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to expand by 80 spaces the current Dusk -to -Dawn program located at 717 Highway 99. PASSED 7:1, Councilor Clark opposed. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to pilot the provision of daytime services for the additional 80 spaces, so that the addition of the 80 spaces effectively functions as a "dawn -to -dawn' pilot program. PASSED 7:1, Councilor Clark opposed. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to authorize St. Vincent DePaul to pilot a "micro dawn -to -dawn" type program at 450 Highway 99 or 717 Highway 99. PASSED 7:1, Councilor Clark opposed. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to authorize the expenditure of up to $150,000 for the pilot programs. PASSED 7:1, Councilor Clark opposed. The meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m. 1?�spectfu vsubmitted. at,h Beth Forrest City Recorder Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting: here MINUTES - Eugene City Council December 17, 2018 Page 2 Special Meeting