HomeMy WebLinkAbout230517 WSMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Work Session
Eugene, Oregon 97401
May 17, 2023
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Matt Keating, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark,
Greg Evans, Lyndsie Leech and Randy Groves
Mayor Vinis opened the May 17, 2023, work session of the Eugene City Council in a hybrid
format at 101 W 10th Avenue, Eugene OR 97401.
1. WORK SESSION: Police Auditor and Civilian Review Board Annual Reports
Mayor Vinis introduced Interim Police Auditor Leia Pitcher, who was joined by the Civilian
Review Board chair, Carolyn Williams, and vice-chair Jose Cortez. The group presented the
Police Auditor and Civilian Review Board annual reports.
Councilor Discussion:
•
•
•
•
•
Mayor Vinis -appreciated that the Police Auditor and Civilian Review Board reports
were presented together; believes the combined reporting helped to capture the
diversity of cases and community concerns around police effectiveness and conduct.
Councilor Zelenka -asked for the Civilian Review Board's key takeaways from the
Eugene Police Department's School Safety Practices training; asked staff for
information from Eugene Police Department regarding recent bomb threats to
South Eugene High School; asked for clarification on the School-To-Prison Pipeline
training they received.
Councilor Groves -recognized the importance of the Civilian Review Board, the
work they do, and how it impacts the credibility of the Eugene Police Department;
noted that the most common complaint he receives about Eugene Police is that
officers are unable to respond to calls; asked if increased 911 call volume is affecting
response reliability and times; asked staff to provide more detailed information on
response times.
Councilor Semple -noted the importance of having a place for the community to
report complaints and concerns; asked if the Civilian Review Board's minutes are
publicly posted; noted the good variety of cases reviewed by the Civilian Review
Board; believes that the Civilian Review Board's recommendations on cases are an
important part of the process.
Councilor Keating -asked if body-worn cameras were adding to the difficulty of
classifying complaints; asked if both audio and video recordings are reviewed as
part of the complaint process; asked if the Police Auditor and Civilian Review Board
members have suggestions on improving the body-worn camera policy; asked if
camera muting is accidental or intentional; asked about the rollout of the public
reporting portal and potential improvements; asked about frequent reporters and
people who receive repeated complaints; commended the Eugene Police
Department that of the 300 complaints, only 14 generated allegations of misconduct
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Session
May 17, 2023 Page 1
with no deadly force incidents; asked how maintaining the anonymity of reporters
impacts the collection of relevant data.
• Councilor Yeh -asked if City staff will assist in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
assessment; asked how the Police Auditor will research the state's new rules for
deadly force investigations.
• Councilor Clark -asked how often complaints are based on a misunderstanding of
the services provided by Eugene Police Department.
2. WORK SESSION: Fire Marshal's Office and Unsafe Building Program
Assistant City Manager Kristie Hammitt introduced Fire Chief Mike Caven and Deputy Chief
Travis Worthington, who provided an update on the Fire Marshal's Office and the unsafe
building program.
Councilor Discussion:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mayor Vinis -appreciated the new placard system for unsafe buildings .
Councilor Clark -asked what preventative safety measures Council should consider
as housing density increases.
Councilor Zelenka -asked what determines when an abandoned or vacant building
is placarded; asked about the top three causes of fires; asked how the inspection
process addresses and corrects uncovered violations; asked how HAZMAT response
and permitting operates outside of the city limits; asked staff if Eugene Springfield
Fire would respond to a HAZMAT issue at the oil tank facility north of Eugene, and if
that facility has a permit with the City of Eugene.
Councilor Groves -asked if building placard information is stored in the pre-
emergency planning and 911 computer-aided dispatch system; noted that State
regulations apply to the Kinder Morgan oil tank farm north of Eugene; asked if the
growing population density will affect response times; stated that taller buildings
require more firefighting resources.
Councilor Yeh -asked if every fire is investigated; asked if the 250 investigations
mentioned in the Fire Marshal's report include Eugene Police Department
investigations or only Fire Marshal's Office investigations.
Councilor Keating -asked when the placard system was implemented; asked what
percentage of abandoned and vacant buildings have been placarded; asked if
placarding applied to both residential and commercial buildings; asked if the City
could implement a tax on unused or unoccupied properties; asked what percentage
of buildings in similarly sized communities are vacant, underutilized, or abandoned;
asked what percentage of inspected buildings in other communities fall into safe,
caution, and unsafe categories.
Councilor Semple -asked how to report unsafe buildings .
Councilor Clark -asked how the department is responding to the potential hazards
of lithium batteries in electric vehicles.
• Councilor Keating -provided national statistics for gas station fires.
Mayor Vinis adjourned the meeting at 1:36 p.m.
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Session
May 17, 2023 Page 2
Respectfully submitted,
Katie LaSala
City Recorder
(Recorded by Ellie Harwell)
Link to the web cast of this City Council meeting here.
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Session
May 17, 2023 Page 3