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Eugene City Council
Virtual Work Session
Eugene, Oregon 97401
July 20, 2020
5:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Betty Taylor, Emily Semple, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Claire
Syrett, Chris Pryor, Greg Evans
Mayor Vinis opened the July 20, 2020, work session of the Eugene City Council.
1. WORK SESSION: Public Safety Funding Review
City Manager Sarah Medary and Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner provided a review of public
safety funding including a timeline of accomplishments, 21st Century Policing, Community Safety
Initiative, calls for service, crime statistics, expense overviews, community safety FY21 budget, and
homeless services funding.
Council Discussion:
■ Mayor Vinis - thanked staff, spoke about the importance of feeling safe in the community and
the need to hear all voices.
■ Councilor Taylor - asked about police reform; spoke of systemic racism; expressed concern for
the wellness of the officers; asked about the inclusion of some voices previously unheard.
■ Councilor Evans - talked about improvements needed in the City's hiring process; spoke of
staffing and responding to certain calls for service differently; discussed homelessness issues.
■ Councilor Clark - thanked staff, asked about CAHOOTS calls for service response; asked about
the number of sworn officers; inquired about response time to priority incidents specifically in
schools; spoke of his service on the Police Commission and that body's involvement with policy
decision -making; discussed hearing from more voices and working towards more just outcomes.
■ Councilor Pryor - thanked staff; discussed point -of -contact with the police department and
policy changes; spoke about infrastructure of other needed services.
■ Councilor Syrett - thanked staff; spoke of the changes made so far with the dedicated bridge
funds, including dispatch staffing, traffic enforcement, and addressing chronic criminals; talked
about homeless outreach and other staff resources.
■ Councilor Semple - spoke about changing times as it relates to the community safety initiative
payroll tax and what the focus should be now; talked about homeless camping issues including
the need to let people sleep without harassment.
• Councilor Yeh - thanked staff and discussed supporting staff to make changes; talked about
community engagement.
• Councilor Zelenka - expressed appreciation to staff; spoke about the Police Chiefs engagement
with the Police Commission; discussed community policing and safety of responding staff;
talked about the opportunity to make positive change.
■ Councilor Semple - talked about plans for the downtown community center and the Chiefs
attendance at Human Rights Commission meetings.
MOTION: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, moved to direct the City
Manager to convene workshops with organizations representing communities of
color to specify changes or additions to the Community Safety Initiative that would
best respond to the needs of their communities and to return to Council in
MINUTES - Eugene City Council July 20, 2020 Page 1
Work Session
September with a report on which organizations have or will be included with
process and timeline.
• Councilor Zelenka -discussed outreach and the process for meeting the proposed timeline.
Councilor Clark - expressed support for the motion; spoke of the need for balanced community
input in the creation of policy changes.
Councilor Syrett - discussed the budget regarding payroll tax and marijuana tax revenue
resources; expressed support for the motion.
• Councilor Taylor - expressed concern about convening workshops; spoke about the fairness of
the payroll tax and marijuana tax revenue allocations.
Mayor Vinis - clarified the desire to bring more voices to the table regarding the community
safety system.
VOTE: 7:1, Councilor Taylor opposed.
The meeting adjourned at 6:58 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Adams
Deputy City Recorder
(Recorded by Carolyn Dimick-Kronberger)
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting here.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council July 20, 2020 Page 2
Work Session