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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes 07/13/98 Meeting MINUTES Eugene City Council Council Chamber--City Hall July 13, 1998 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Pat Fart, Tim Laue, Bobby Lee, Nancy Nathanson, Laurie Swanson Gribskov, Betty Taylor, Ken Tollenaar. COUNCILOR ABSENT: Scott Meisner. Mayor Jim Torrey called the July 13, 1998, meeting of the Eugene City Council to order at 7:50 p.m. I. CEREMONIAL MATTERS A. Association of Metropolitan Sewage Agencies Award to the Wastewater Treatment Plant Wastewater Division Director Peter Ruffier stated that the Regional Water Pollution Control Facility operated cooperatively by the City of Springfield, City of Eugene, and Lane County had received an award from the association of Metropolitan Sewage Agencies for operating for five years without a violation of permits. He said that only 30 of 190 members of the association were recognized for such an achievement. Mayor Torrey presented the award to Mr. Ruffier and commented that he believed the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Commission was the most successful example of intergovernmental cooperation in the area. B. Kakegawa Japan Sister City Gifts Ms. Taylor reported that, at a recent event sponsored by representatives of Kakegawa, Japan, she had accepted gifts on behalf of the City of Eugene. She presented the mementos to Mayor Torrey and commented that she hoped funding of the Sister City Program could one day again be included in the budget of the City. II. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Torrey reviewed guidelines for participation in the Public Forum. Misha Seymour, 1313 Lincoln Street #306, expressed appreciation for remodeling of rest room facilities at the Eugene Library. He noted that the number of toilet stalls had been reduced from two to one in the Men's Room to accommodate the larger space necessitated by Americans with MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1998 Page 1 7:30 p.m. Disability Act requirements. He noted that the door at the public bathroom at Washington Park had no latch and had a posted sign which read "Please Knock." He said he did not believe it was appropriate for the City "to treat people that way." He reported that the hours of service at the Eugene Public Library were shorter than those of the libraries of neighboring communities and that he did not believe it was appropriate. Faddah Steve Wolf, 520 West 13th Avenue, said that he believed the relatively quick decision by the City Council to place voter approval of an ordinance locating a flag on the summit of Skinner Butte on the November 1998 ballot stood in negative contrast to its more slowly reached decision to place voter approval of a City Charter amendment dealing with external review of complaints about police actions on the same ballot. He recommended that councilors read a book entitled Instructions to the Cook by Bernard Glassman and Rick Fields and was about concerns of youth and homelessness. Nick Urhausen, 2858 Warren Street, stated that he believed council consideration of issues related to a memorial on Skinner Butte had resulted in uninformed and pompous use of the United States Constitution. He suggested that City Councilors be required to pass a test on constitutional matters before being accepted into office. He said he appreciated the passion for democracy of some, but that he believed others used such references in a "lust for power." Larry Bute, Post Office Box 24031, said he believed the human rights guaranteed by the founding documents of the United States and international agreements were unequally applied to rich and poor in local politics. He said it was unfair to require that persons living in vehicles secure permits to sleep on public streets. He pointed out that choice sites could be expropriated during the process of seeking a permit and that five-day permits were incompatible with seven- day calendar cycles. Beth Mealier, 4441 Fox Hollow Road #6, said that she believed citizens should have the right to bring food and drink to events held at Cuthbert Amphitheater. She recounted a personal experience of attending a meeting of the City Council and being unable to fortify herself with liquid and nutrition required by a medical condition. Joel London, 742 Washington Street, charged that the City Council had violated the civil rights of unnamed individuals in an undescribed incident at the intersection of Bertelson Road and West 7th Avenue. He said it was discriminatory to force persons living in vehicles to stay "in the middle of nowhere" and that police did not respond to emergency calls in a timely fashion. Frank Blair, 2850 Mill Street, stated that he was commander of an area Disable American Veterans group and that he had recently observed council discussions of homeless issues. He said he was surprised that no consideration was given to involving veterans organizations in providing assistance to homeless veterans. He described resources available for such assistance. Danielle R. Smith, West 7th Avenue and Nolan Street, commented on her understanding of councilor comments regarding the undesirability of having homeless persons in City parks. She said it was discriminatory to prevent such use of public facilities. She suggested that an ordinance be created which rewarded progress made by citizens, that homeless be given a park MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1998 Page 2 7:30 p.m. of their own, and said that homeless persons were unable to pay to "have someone hide their garbage." III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Fart moved, seconded by Mr. Tollenaar, to approve the minutes of the May 11, 1998, council meeting; May 26, 1998, dinner work session; May 27, 1998, lunch work session; June 1, 1998, dinner work session; June 1, 1998, council meeting; and June 8, 1998, dinner work session. The motion was adopted unanimously, 7:0. IV. PUBLIC HEARING: PROPOSAL FROM MAYOR'S PARKS AND OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE ON GENERAL OBLIGATION LEVY Library, Recreation, and Cultural Services acting Executive Manager Terry Smith explained that the public hearing was intended to gather citizen testimony about the recommendation of the Mayor's Parks and Open Space Committee to place a $25.305 million 20-year general obligation bond levy on the November 1998 ballot. He reviewed the work of the committee that had led to the recommendation. He described the committee's list of recommendations for spending of proceeds from the bond as a "first cut" which would be informed by citizen input on each identified project. He said that if it was determined that a specific project on the list was unviable, it would be replaced with another from a prioritized list. Mayor Torrey opened the public hearing. Bob White, 675 River Road, stated that operated a business adjacent to Rasor Park. He said he had become aware of a group of area residents who supported returning the park to its "natural state." He described an event held in the park during the month of June which would not have been possible with such a change and said he was opposed to the proposal. He presented a box of letters which he said supported his position and urged the council to not approve the proposed change. Kappy Eaton, 1631 East 24th Avenue, stated that she was president of the League of Women Voters of Lane County. She described a study of City parks carried out by her group and stated its conclusions that population growth and the need for parks had surpassed expansion of the park system, that good land for parks was currently available, and that the Amazon Park pool was wearing out. She said her organization agreed with the recommendations of the Mayor's Parks and Open Space Committee and would support its approval by voters. Kit Larsen, 2162 Kincaid Street, stated that he was a member of Friends of Eugene and Springfield Habitat (FRESH) and the Coalition for Parks and that he was pleased the council was considering placing recommendations of the Mayor's Parks and Open Space Committee on the November ballot. He said he believed the recommendations were only the initial step toward building an adequate park system and that the council should remain open to future additional proposals. MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1998 Page 3 7:30 p.m. Bayard H. McConnaughey, 1653 Fairmount Boulevard, stated that he was a 49-year resident of Eugene and an advocate for parks. He said he believed the City was missing an opportunity by not developing the Riverfront Research Park property as a public park. Steven Mueller, 65 Lund Drive, stated that he was a member of the River Road Neighborhood Association and Rasor Park Support Group. He expressed appreciation for the recommendations of the Mayor's Parks and Open Space Committee and asked about the status of Rasor Park in the proposals. Mr. Smith explained that Rasor Park had been removed from the specific project list of the committee. Mr. Mueller described the work of his support group and asked to be informed of how its work could be provided as input to City plans for the park. Misha Seymour, 1313 Lincoln Street #306, stated that he believed funds provided to area businesses through tax reduction incentives should be used to develop City parks. He reported that a sink in a public park near 20th Avenue was non-functional. He said he believed children's programing should be re-instituted at Petersen Barn Community Center, that a "peace park" should be built on Skinner Butte, that benches should be returned to Washington Park, that more tennis courts and not athletic fields should be built, and that parks should promote cooperative activities. Roger Haxby, 2247 Bedford Way, stated that he was a new resident of Eugene and that he had been informed that City-owned property would not be developed into a park in the near future. He said that a neighborhood association newsletter had informed him that the property was to be included in improvements paid for by the parks and open space bond proposal under consideration. He said his neighbors were unaware of the possibility and were concerned about the impacts of parking, noise, and security issues. Charles Warren, 86260 Lorane Highway, stated that he was a member of the Mayor's Parks and Open Space Committee. He said he believed the council should approve the priority listing of bond expenditures as included in the committee's report because of its careful construction to reflect the varied views of representative citizens and the community. Larry Hendricks, 1826 Mill Street, stated that he had been Facilities Directory of Kidsports for eight years. He described the program of the organization and its cooperation with the City and area school districts. He encouraged the council to support the recommendation of the Mayor's Parks and Open Space Committee because it would increase the number of fields available for use by his organization. Dave Perez, 2803 Almaden Street, stated that he was the Executive Director of the Eugene YMCA. He said he supported the recommendation of the Mayor's Parks and Open Space Committee as a needed first step. He described the shortage of athletic fields available for participants in activities of his organization. He complimented the committee for bringing together the interests of a wide variety of groups. He said referring the recommendation to voters was an opportunity for leadership and to express care about children and youth of the community. MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1998 Page 4 7:30 p.m. Gary Pap~, 1110 Clinton Drive, expressed appreciation for the work of Councilor Nathanson in development of the recommendation of the Mayor's Parks and Open Space Committee. He said he was concerned that the recommendation did not include provision for maintenance of new parks, but said he believed tax increment and other resources could be tapped to meet the need. Larry Bute, Post Office Box 24031, discussed the use of park land to be acquired through the recommended bond levy as "village commons" areas, following the example of colonial New England residents. Jeff Miller, 2425 Lariat Meadows, expressed appreciation for the decision of the council to place a decision about a memorial on Skinner Butte on the November ballot, and for the work of the Mayor's Parks and Open Space Committee. He urged that the recommendation of the committee be approved. He said he also supported placing the recommendation related to external review of citizen complaints about police on the ballot. Lilla McDonald, 2805 Almaden Street, expressed appreciation that replacement of Amazon Pool was included in the recommendation of the Mayor's Parks and Open Space Committee. She said she hoped the replacement could be designed as an indoor/outdoor facility. Bob Josephson, 242 North 73rd Place, Springfield, stated that he was president of Kidsports. He expressed appreciation for the recommendation of the Mayor's Parks and Open Space Committee and described the work of his nonprofit organization to provide sports programs for youth of the community. He also described the importance of creating additional athletic fields for use in sporting activities. Bob Trickett, 2457 Agate Street, stated that he was vice president for programing of Kidsports. He described the need for increased and improved athletic field facilities and said that continued growth in the need was projected into the future. He explained values resulting from involvement in athletic programs. Dave King, 5007 Forsythia Street, Springfield, stated that he was chair of the board of directors of Kidsports. He described values resulting from participation in sports activities and the growth of involvement and need for additional facilities by his organization. Randy Pap~, 3693 North Shasta Loop, stated that he supported the recommendations of the Mayor's Parks and Open Space Committee as an advocate for youth. He said he had followed the work of the committee closely and commended the leadership of Councilor Nathanson. He said he believed the proposed bond measure would offer youth an opportunity "say yes" to opportunity and urged the council to support placing it on the November ballot. Determining that there were no other persons wishing to testify, Mayor Torrey closed the public hearing. Ms. Nathanson reviewed a letter to Mayor Torrey from School District 4J Interim Superintendent George Russell dated July 13, 1998, in which the district expressed appreciation for the efforts of the City to develop and improve recreational opportunities. She said the letter was intended to support placing the recommendations of the Mayor's Parks and Open Space Committee on the ballot. MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1998 Page 5 7:30 p.m. Ms. Nathanson said that the work of the Mayor's Parks and Open Space Committee was intended to increase healthy outlets for recreation and had a relationship to community health and public safety. She said the recommendations of the committee met goals of the council and community related to crime prevention, youth, and growth management, and were intended to redress inequities in the current park system. Mayor Torrey announced that the council would deliberate and vote on the ordinance placing the recommendations of the committee on the ballot on July 22. V. ACTION: ORDINANCE CALLING AN ELECTION TO SUBMIT A MEASURE AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF EUGENE TO ESTABLISH A CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD Council Services Manager Mary Walston reviewed the work of the council, External Review Advisory Committee, and Council Committee on Public Safety in preparing an ordinance to submit to voters amending the City Charter and enabling establishment of a process for review of police actions by a limited change in the role and authority of the City Manager and City Council. Mr. Lee expressed appreciation for the work of the External Review Advisory Committee. He expressed concern about citizen involvement in setting Police Department operating policy. External Review Advisory Committee Chair Elaine Green stated that the committee had recommended two independent processes dealing with citizen involvement in review of police actions and with citizen involvement in development of police policies. She explained that the committee's recommendation for the first process a review board appointed by the City Council required a charter amendment, but that the second process, creation of a council-level policy board, was being implemented by direction of the acting Chief of Police with the support of the Council Committee on Public Safety. Mr. Tollenaar said that he believed there was ambiguity and the potential of a dangerous outcome of submitting the proposed charter amendment to voters. He said it was not clear whether the charter amendment proposal established a citizen review process or changed the charter to enable the council to establish such a process. He asked which was the intention of the committee. Ms. Green stated that it had been a significant element of the recommendation of the committee to have independent citizen review of police actions. She said the committee had recommended the change in the charter to allow appointment of the review body by the City Council to ensure its independence. Mr. Tollenaar stated that if the proposed amendment were to be submitted to voters and was turned down, the issue of whether establishment of a police review body by another method was not solved. He said that he believed the City Council would have difficulty establishing such a body in the face of a defeat of the proposed amendment, even if its intention was only to make council appointment of the body possible. MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1998 Page 6 7:30 p.m. Mayor Torrey asked why the External Review Advisory Committee had felt it was so important for a review body to be appointed by the City Council. Ms. Green replied that full consideration of following established practices of having such bodies appointed by and responsible to the City Manager had been given, but that the committee had decided that full independence afforded by appointment of the group by the council was important to develop trust among citizens. Ms. Nathanson pointed out that there was irony in the fact that a committee appointed by the City Manager had determined that an external police review body could not operate independently without being established outside the manager's oversight. Mr. Johnson announced that the council would consider Council Bill 4659, an ordinance calling an election to submit a measure amending the Charter of the City of Eugene to establish a citizen police review board. Mr. Fart moved, seconded by Mr. Tollenaar, that Council Bill 4659, with unanimous consent of the council be read the second time by council bill number only, and that enactment be considered at this time. The motion was adopted unanimously, 7:0. Mr. Johnson announced that the council would consider Council Bill 4659 by number only. Mr. Fart moved, seconded by Mr. Tollenaar, that Council Bill 4659 be approved and given final passage. Mr. Lee stated that he believed the issue of establishing a citizen police review board would be debated throughout the city, and that he believed that if the proposed amendment was not approved the City Council should continue to consider the issues involved. He said he believed the vote would be an opportunity for the community to debate "police enforcement." Mr. Tollenaar said that his vote on the motion was difficult to determine because he believed it would be difficult for the council to develop a different process for establishing citizen police review if the proposed charter amendment failed. The motion to approve the bill was adopted unanimously, 7:0 and became Ordinance 20127. The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m. MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1998 Page 7 7:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, James R. Johnson City Manager (Recorded by Dan Lindstrom) MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1998 Page 8 7:30 p.m.