HomeMy WebLinkAbout221010 WSMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Work Session
Eugene, Oregon 97401
October 10, 2022
5:30p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Matt Keating, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans,
Randy Groves
Councilors Absent: Alan Zelenka
Mayor Vinis opened the October 10, 2022, work session of the Eugene City Council in a
hybrid format at 101 W 10 th Avenue, Eugene OR 97401.
1. WORK SESSION: Alternative Response Study
City Manager, Sarah Medary introduced Assistant City Manager, Kristie Hammitt, Michele
Weinzetl from Berry Dunn Consulting and Community Safety Initiative Project Manager,
Jeremy Cleversey, who presented a progress update on the Alternative Response Study.
Council Discussion:
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Mayor Vinis -stated her excitement for the results of the alternative response study;
noted her interest in hearing about the gaps and interrelationships between services;
stated that the 70 interviews conducted about CAHOOTS is significant.
Councilor Groves -stated the report should help to improve the existing system of
community safety; asked if there was an analysis on where service calls for CAHOOTS
initiated from; noted the importance of getting better data; asked how CAHOOTS
resources could be used most effectively; stated the importance of making CAHOOTS as
efficient as possible.
Councilor Evans -noted that the contract for CAHOOTS is with a nonprofit organization
that struggles with funding; stated his concern over the pay and retention of CAHOOTS
workers; talked about efforts of CAHOOTS workers to unionize and how it will increase
the cost of services; spoke about the government's disinvestment from mental health
services; asked how the City can best provide services with the resources available.
Councilor Keating -stated concern over the 80 percent annual turnover of CAHOOTS
workers; spoke in favor of worker's unionizing; asked about the percentage of police
officers deployed when CAHOOTS workers are deployed; asked about a response model
similar to 911; asked if mental health professionals or EMTs could provide reports that
would be accepted by a court of law.
Councilor Yeh -noted the wide support in this community for CAHOOTS and alternative
responses; asked about the consultant's law enforcement background and their ability
to evaluate alternative responses in an equitable way; noted the importance of having
the community's trust in this process.
Mayor Vinis -noted that inefficiencies with the current system are causing inadequate
responses from CAHOOTS; stated the importance ofrecognizing CAHOOTS as one part
of a network of services; asked if there are opportunities for partnerships outside of the
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Session
October 10, 2022 Page 1
City to fill gaps in alternative responses; noted her concern about inadequate mental
health services; stated the importance of advocating to other entities to improve the
network of services.
■ Councilor Evans -asked if there are practices from other cities that would be useful to
improve the City's model.
■ Councilor Keating -stated support for a behavioral health stabilization center; noted
that Lane County is responsible for public health and delivering health and human
services; asked for clarification on the differences between Community Service Officers,
Neighborhood Service Officers, Resource Officers, and outreach teams.
Mayor Vinis adjourned the meeting at 6:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Katie LaSala
City Recorder
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{Recorded by Olivia Clark)
Webcast of meeting available here.
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Se ssion
October 10, 2022 Page 2