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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 08/03/98 Meeting MINUTES Eugene City Council Council Chamber--City Hall August 3, 1998 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Tim Laue, Bobby Lee, Nancy Nathanson, Betty Taylor, Ken Tollenaar. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Pat Farr, Scott Meisner, Laurie Swanson Gribskov. Mayor Jim Torrey called the August 3, 1998, meeting of the Eugene City Council to order at 7:35 p.m. I. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Torrey reviewed guidelines for participating in the Public Forum. Nick Urhausen, 2858 Warren Street, congratulated Jim Johnson on his appointment as City Manager. He said he believed it would be unprecedented for the City to have an honest and intelligent administrator. He said he hoped Mr. Johnson would be fair to the relationships of gay and lesbian persons while not minimizing the value of heterosexual marriage, would be fair to all citizens and not just political activists, and would support paying wages to city councilors. Lourdes Matte, 1313 Lincoln Street #306, said she believed rent control should be established in Eugene. Misha Seymour, 1313 Lincoln Street #306, quoted Oscar Wilde and expressed concern about the toilet in the men's rest room of the Eugene Public Library. Nick Antone, Jr., 512 Honeysuckle Lane, stated that he continued to ask for assistance in dealing with his ten-year problem with the City Code which provided for enforcement without abeyance. He said he was concerned that the council be made aware of code problems in dealing with animals, in whether families should live in unhealthy houses, and that civil penalties are used instead of social service agencies for enforcement proceedings. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of Minutes, Findings and Recommendations of Hearings Official and Adoption of a Resolution Forming a Local Improvement District for Willakenzie Storm Drain Trunk Line from a Point 160 Feet North of Crescent Avenue West of the West Boundary of Crescent Meadows Subdivision, North 1,870 Feet. (Job #3546) MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 3, 1998 Page 1 7:30 p.m. Res. No. 457'2: a resolution forming a local improvement district (LID) for Willakenzie storm drain trunk line from Crescent Avenue to 1,870 feet north. MOTION: to adopt the resolution and approve the Hearings Official's Minutes, Findings and Recommendations of July 20, 1998. B. Resolution: Issuance Authority for $15 million Electric System Revenue Bonds-- Eugene Water & Electric Board Res. No. 457'1: A resolution authorizing the issuance and sale by the City of Eugene acting by and through the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB), of not to exceed Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) aggregate principal amount of Revenue Bonds or other evidences of indebtedness of the City, payable solely from net revenues or any portion thereof of the Electric Utility system of the City, or from any other money lawfully available therefor, for the purpose of financing improvements to the Electric Utility System, including facilities for the generation of energy through wind power projects; and providing for certain other matters in connection therewith. MOTION: to adopt the resolution. Mr. Tollenaar moved, seconded by Ms. Nathanson, to approve the August 3, 1998, Consent Calendar. The motion was adopted unanimously, 5:0. III. PUBLIC HEARING: RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS AND YOUTH RELATED TO AN ORDINANCE ON OVERNIGHT SLEEPING Mayor Torrey stated that there would be no staff report regarding the public hearing on recommendations from the Council Committee on Homelessness and Youth related to an ordinance regarding overnight sleeping. Ms. Nathanson asked how enforcement of the proposed ordinance would be accomplished, in light of sleeping on City streets not being permitted and there being a limited number of off-street parking places were sleeping was permitted available. Mr. Johnson replied that directives for enforcement would be prepared after adoption of the ordinance. Mayor Torrey opened the public hearing. Stanley Lynch, 855 Highway 99, stated that he was a private detective and was concerned about homelessness brought on by the stabbing of a person who was provided inexpensive living space by a deceitful landlord. He said he had been employed by other business and property owners who felt they needed protection from congregating homeless persons. He pointed out that Oregon drivers licenses were required to show a current address and that he felt it was unfair that homeless persons often did not fulfill that requirement. Penny Anderson, 4055 Royal Avenue, expressed appreciation to the council for its work in support of homeless persons. She said she was concerned about the penalty section of the MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 3, 1998 Page 2 7:30 p.m. proposed ordinance, which provided for civil penalties of no more than $100. She said she was also concerned that stereotyped opinions of homeless persons would lead to selective enforcement of the proposed ordinance. Randy Fix, 155 North 56th Street, Springfield, stated that he represented Emmanuel Outreach Ministries. He said his organization supported the proposed ordinance as a short-term solution to problems facing homeless persons. He said he would provide councilors with information regarding the work of his organization and suggestions for long-term solutions to homelessness problems. Charles Gray, 256 North Grand, stated that he believed the proposed ordinance partially filled the needs of homeless persons. He said additional provisions were needed for homeless persons who did not own large vehicles, and that the City should lead by example to businesses and nonprofit organizations in providing places for persons to sleep in automobile-sized vehicles. Helen V. Liguori, 181 Westbrook Way, said that she supported the recommended ordinance. She acknowledged that many citizens would not approve of provisions of the ordinance, but that others would. She recommended that the City provide assistance for those involved in homelessness to listen to the good in everyone. Gary Malone, 5330 Cody Avenue, stated that he believed he was an average citizen and that he supported eliminating permission for sleeping in vehicles on streets in industrially zoned areas. He said he believed society was doing enough to feed and train homeless persons for work and that those homeless who did not take care of their families acted irresponsibly. Shelia Cameron, No Address Provided, stated that she was married to a Eugene Police Officer, that she was a former dispatcher, and that she felt she was an informal spokesperson for other families involved in public safety work. She said she believed it was unfair that police would be required to enforce the proposed ordinance because it unfairly subjected them to harassment. She suggested that councilors be held responsible for ordinances they enact. Clayton Walker, Post Office Box 1338, stated that he represented the West Eugene Community Organization. He said he believed key issues which needed to be considered in relation to the proposed ordinance included (1) the safety of homeless persons and employees of businesses in industrially zoned areas; (2) aesthetics; (3) holding businesses to different standards than the rest of the community; (4) prohibition of camping by the City Code and Metro Plan; and (5) the desirability of providing a central location for the management of the needs of homeless persons. Danielle Smith, Post Office Box 11661, stated that she believed the ordinance was being proposed because homeless persons were considered to have failed to meet expectations when sleeping in vehicles in industrially zoned areas was permitted. She said homeless persons were treated unfairly because of the lack of affordable housing and falsely accused of unlawful acts because of their lifestyle and discrimination. She said she believed the proposed ordinance was regressive and could lead to confrontations between citizens and police. She said that additional time should be allowed for a transition from the current situation and that to be established by the new ordinance. Dominic Peralez, 341 East 12th Avenue, stated that he was not homeless, but lived in a vehicle. He recommended that the council consider establishing a car camp. He described the MINUTES-Eugene City Council August 3, 1998 Page 3 7:30 p.m. cleanliness and working habits of his living style. He suggested that homeless persons be involved in seeking solutions to the problems of homelessness. Misha Seymour, 1313 Lincoln Street #306, stated that all persons had a right to a place to live. He made additional comments regard the Valley River Inn, national identification cards, police prejudice, Hyundai of America, mean spiritedness, murdering of homeless persons, and the lack of soap in public rest rooms. Lourdes Marte, 1313 Lincoln Street #306, stated that she believed the business community and those involved in government should get together to provide places for people to live in peace. Carl R. Mathiason, Post Office Box 2097, Jasper, stated that he believed homeless persons should be given additional time to find places to live. He described his experiences as a previously homeless person who was currently working. He said he was concerned about the use of judgmental language about homeless persons and said he believed no one should judge another. Larry Bute, Post Office Box 24031, stated that he believed the cost of housing was falsely inflated in relation to wages. He suggested that it would be more helpful to concentrate on the rights of homeless persons to cook, sleep, and use a bathroom, rather than on their right to camp. Dennis Casady, Post Office Box 5028, stated that he owned industrial property in west Eugene and was opposed to persons sleeping in vehicles on streets in that area because of the trash such persons left behind. He said he believed allowing property owners to permit persons to camp on their property could create tenant/landlord relationships which could become unsuspectedly burdensome. "Zon," No Address Provided, stated that he had recently moved to Eugene seeking employment. He said that he would be required to sleep in his vehicle until he was paid from the job he found fighting fires. He said he did not believe it was fair that he was not permitted to sleep in his vehicle on streets when he would be protecting City residents from danger. Peggy Thomas, 2555 Roosevelt Street #34, stated that she believed the council faced a difficult decision regarding the proposed ordinance. She said she hoped councilors understood that there were good persons on both sides of the homeless issue. She said she was aware of some homeless persons who had lost respect for law and government and were full of rage. She said she believed better services for homeless persons were provided in Portland and Tacoma. She commended the council for dealing with issues of homelessness. Mayor Torrey determined there was no one else present wishing to testify and closed the public hearing. He announced that the council would deliberate and make a decision regarding the proposed ordinance at its meeting to be held August 5. Mr. Lee stated that he appreciated the testimony provided. He said the issues facing a community went beyond those who owned property. He said he believed many statements made in the public hearing misrepresented the work of the council and were irrelevant to the proposed ordinance under consideration. He said he believed a permanent solution to issues of homelessness would be possible only when changes were made to land use law, when planning for all property was required, and when land could be designated for use by homeless persons. MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 3, 1998 Page 4 7:30 p.m. Ms. Nathanson said that she agreed with some of the comments of Mr. Lee and encouraged persons who testified in the public hearing to join the council in seeking to provide solutions to the problems faced by homeless persons. She requested that a report be made to the council about how many times testimony similar to that received in the public hearing was made to the Lane Board of County Commissioners and Springfield City Council. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, James R. Johnson City Manager (Recorded by Dan Lindstrom) MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 3, 1998 Page 5 7:30 p.m.