HomeMy WebLinkAbout231009 WSMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Work Session
Eugene, Oregon 97401
October 9, 2023
5:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Matt Keating, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Lyndsie
Leech, and Randy Groves
Councilors Absent: Emily Semple
Mayor Vinis opened the October 9, 2023, work session of the Eugene City Council in a hybrid
format at 101 W 10th Avenue, Eugene OR 97401.
1. WORK SESSION: Community Safety System and Payroll Tax Update
City Manager Medary introduced Kristie Hammitt, Assistant City Manager, Joshua Bates,
Executive Director of Library, Recreation, and Cultural Services (LRCS), Chris Skinner, Eugene
Police Chief, and Mike Caven, Eugene Springfield Fire Chief, who provided an update on the
Community Safety System and Payroll Tax.
Councilor Discussion:
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Councilor Keating -described an experience with a fentanyl overdose call during a recent
ride along he did with the Eugene Police Department (EPD); asked what is needed to
combat the fentanyl crisis across the nation; noted some community safety programs and
positions were created with one-time funding; asked how the fire department would use
additional funding if it was available.
Councilor Zelenka -noted he did not vote for Measure 110; noted the measure is not
working as intended; stated the importance of measuring the impacts of the Community
Safety Initiative (CS!); asked about current metrics regarding the public's perception of
safety; asked about the timeline for the next community-wide survey; noted that EPD has
been understaffed 16 of the 17 years he has been on the city council; asked about the
survey data collected from MyPDConnect; stated the value of the online reporting system;
asked how the CSI impacts EPD responsiveness to non-emergency calls.
Councilor Groves -noted the difficulty for city government to remain in communication
with its citizens; stated Neighborhood Service Officers have made a huge difference in
quality-of-life problems; asked if Street Crimes Unit (SCU) funding comes from CSI dollars;
noted the SCU has made several large drug arrests; asked if staff have explored an Occupy
Medical type solution with on-the-ground medical care to reduce the stress on the 911
system post closure of the PeaceHealth University District hospital; noted that both
housed and unhoused citizens use the emergency department for basic health care; asked
if staff had been in contact with 15th Night.
Councilor Keating -asked how LRCS communicates with parents and families; asked if the
Youth Family Recreation Section of LRCS is looking to grow; noted MyPDConnect offers
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Session
October 9, 2023 Page 1
several language options; noted his own experiences using the tool; noted MyPDConnect
offers only five options for race which does not include a Latinx option; asked if it was
possible to collect unhoused data through the application; asked about the challenges
ahead for animal services.
• Mayor Vinis -noted her appreciation for the presentation and the reminder about how
much is going on within the city; noted Joshua Bates had attended a meeting of the Youth
Advisory Council; noted that the downtown feels better; noted the huge changes to the
local emergency response system over the last five years.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:41 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Katie LaSala
City Recorder
(Recorded by Cherish Bradshaw)
Link to the web cast of this City Council meeting here .
MINUTES -Eugen e City Council
Work Session
Octob e r 9, 2023 Page 2