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Home My WebLink About210421 WSMINUTES Eugene City Council Virtual Work Session Eugene, Oregon 97401 April 21, 2021 12:00 p.m. Councilors Present: Alan Zelenka, Emily Semple, Jennifer Yeh, Matt Keating, Randy Groves, Claire Syrett, Greg Evans, Mike Clark Mayor Vinis opened the April 21, 2021, work session of the Eugene City Council. 1. WORK SESSION: Parks and Recreation Bond and Levy Update Parks and Open Space Director Craig Carnagey, Public Works Operations Manager Carolyn Burke, Recreation Services Director Craig Smith, and Facility Management Division Manager Jeff Perry gave an update on the use of bond and levy funds. Council Discussion: • Councilor Syrett - shared her excitement about the tangible projects on the ground and results of the improvements and her increased awareness of how popular the Amazon running trail is; appreciated the lighting installed on the West Bank bike path; commented on the photos at Campbell Community Center; expressed excitement about the accessibility ramps at the pools, asked about park ambassador staffing numbers and the status of development of Santa Clara Park. • Councilor Groves - said he was pleased to see how the money has been spent; shared the importance of safety in parks and urban bike paths; praised the new lighting installation; asked if there's a breakdown in cost that identifies park clean-ups around camping; shared his eagerness to restore parks for their intended use; asked if wire theft from lights is still an issue; echoed appreciation for underground powerlines and hoped that would be the standard whenever possible. • Councilor Zelenka - said he was happy to see a measure of justice in the trial for the murder of George Floyd; said the pictures are worth a thousand words to publicize the projects being done across the city; liked the lighting on Amazon trail and other improvements such as the Campbell Center and Echo Hollow Pool; commented that adding another pool in the City is needed and said the updates of the facilities at Echo Hollo are excellent; asked how many City resources are being used for homeless camp clean-up. • Councilor Yeh - said the pictures of the projects are amazing and she is excited to see the upgrades at Sheldon Pool; commented that the swim system makes sense and was the right way to go; excited to see the plans to upgrade the Churchill tennis courts; encouraged bringing back movie nights at Sheldon Pool. • Councilor Semple - said it was nice to have a work session on a topic that was successful and beautiful and happy; said the reports were easy to read and praised the agility and impressiveness of Parks staff in the COVID environment; commented on the need for lights in parks, the importance of reopened bathrooms and noted there is less trash since the levy was implemented; discussed the impacts of illegal camping on lower -income areas of the city and asked for statistics on crime rates at different parks; shared her concern about the equity of a raffle that rewarded people who responded in English with an REI gift card and people who responded in Spanish with a Safeway gift card. • Councilor Keating - thanked Councilor Semple for her observation about the raffle; gave kudos to south Eugene residents who took the survey and use the parks in southeast Eugene; asked for clarification of the numbers in the presentation and suggested including a key in future presentations; asked about the deployment of staff monitoring illicit activity; asked how many parks have a sanitary needle exchange program; asked how many 24-hour public restrooms are in MINUTES - Eugene City Council April 21, 2021 Page 1 Work Session the city; observed that there may be an opportunity for a non-traditional revenue generating with at Echo Hollow pool. • Councilor Clark - thanked Parks staff for all their hard work, especially related to improvements in north Eugene and said he was glad to hear updates about the Santa Clara Park; asked if the transformation of the heating systems at Echo Hollow and Sheldon Pools will result in a lower operational cost to heat with electricity than with gas; said he feels it is important to understand the cost trade-offs. • Councilor Zelenka - asked about the status of moving the electric tower out of Riverfront Park; commented that half -a -million dollars to do the project with EWEB footing most the bill is a steal and will make the park so much different. • Mayor Vinis - shared that when Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff was in town, he asked where a good place to go running was and was told to go to Amazon trail. 2. WORK SESSION and Possible Action: An Ordinance Concerning Chapter 4 Offenses; Adding Section 4.040 to Eugene Code, 1971; Amending Sections 4.330, 4.340, 4.731, 4.755, 4.906, and 4.922 of the code; and Amending Section 2.773 of the Eugene Code, 1971 to Make a Correction City Prosecutor Travis Smith introduced the topic and presented background information and a summary of Chapter 4 City Code changes. Council Discussion: • Councilor Syrett - thanked City Prosecutor for the taking the public's input into account; supported the amendments but wants to ensure that City still has authority to take appropriate action for animal neglect without adding the proposed language in the prior version; shared that she's happy to see the unhoused status being added to list of bias crimes; supported the City Manager's recommendation to adopt the revised version of the City Ordinance. Councilor Zelenka - asked about any potential impacts of removing the problematic language from 4.330; asked if the code is sufficient to prosecute an animal neglect case; asked if adding unhoused to the bias crime list is consistent with the State and if that is true for the gender identity portion; felt these are both good adds. • Councilor Groves - asked about bias crimes in the second degree and impacts on the unhoused; asked if there's anything that precludes City from enforcing codes and ordinances (i.e., clearing out campsites near rivers, moving people at illegal camping zones to authorized camping sites). Councilor Clark - commented that there will be a work session on bias and intimidation crimes and asked what the City can do to enhance penalties for these crimes; asked if code language is adequate to charge someone with intimidation or bias crime; asked if graffiti is sufficient as evidence of intimidation or bias crime; asked for comparisons in the penalties that might be sought; said council should to ask Municipal Court Judge for advice on this issue; stated this behavior is not acceptable in our community and City will punish to the maximum. Councilor Keating - shared that adding unhoused status to bias crime and intimidation code is a historic moment and a big deal; commented that gender identity is also a big deal and asked about the guardrails in place to protect someone who is identifying differently than what appears on a citation or a warrant when interacting with law enforcement officials. • Councilor Semple - shared she is proud to vote for this ordinance, noting that Council listened and responded. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Yeh, seconded by Councilor Syrett, move to adopt Attachment A to the AIS, a revised ordinance concerning Chapter 4 Offenses, Adding Section 4.040 to the Eugene Code, 1971; Amending Section 4.330, 4.340, 4.731, 4.755, 4.906, and 4.922 of the Code; and Amending Section 2.773 of the Eugene Code, 1971 to Make a Correction. PASSED: 8:0 MINUTES - Eugene City Council April 21, 2021 Page 2 Work Session The meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, !6 tl.t") Beth Forrest City Recorder (Recorded by Niyah Ross) Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting here. MINUTES - Eugene City Council April 21, 2021 Page 3 Work Session