HomeMy WebLinkAbout240626 WSMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Work Session
Eugene, Oregon 97401
June 26, 2024
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 June 26, 2024, Eugene City Council Work Session in a virtual format.
1. WORK SESSION: Emergency Management and Preparedness
City Manager, Sarah Medary, introduced Employee Resource Center Co-Director AIC,
Jennifer Lleras Van Der Haeghen, and Fire Chief Michael Caven who provided information
about Council's and Mayor's role and responsibilities as elected officials in emergency
situations.
Councilor Discussion:
• Mayor Vinis -noted the City navigated and learned from the Coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic, ice storm, and wildfires; noted Eugene is better equipped
to handle emergencies than it was during the 2019 Summit for Mayors in Lane
County.
• Councilor Keating -stated interest in participating in emergency preparedness
trainings; requested an in-person walkthrough of the new City Hall for staff and
elected officials for emergencies; asked what percentage of the community is
signed up for the Lane Alert system; stated interest an automatic opt-in option
through the local utility for Lane Alert to reach community members facing
technological hurdles or for those who are unaware of Lane Alert system's
importance.
• Councilor Groves -asked when the emergency plan was last updated; noted
interest in accessing additional resources during an emergency; asked how to
access resources through the Stafford Act; asked about the process for declaring
a fire emergency versus preparing a general declaration of emergency; asked if
there is a role for elected officials when declaring a disaster; stated the
importance of having clear processes during an emergency.
• Councilor Leech -asked if Council has a communication channel to use in
emergencies to communicate with constituents; noted interest in Emergency
Preparedness trainings; interested in Eugene running emergency simulations
similar to those held at the Belize US Embassy where she interned; asked if
running simulations would be possible; noted interest in having a conversation
about the Egan Warming Center staffing during an emergency.
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Session
June 26, 2024 Page 1
• Mayor Vinis -noted interest in having more information on the Egan Warming
Center plans before cold weather.
• Councilor Semple -noted interest in the Emergency Preparedness trainings and
potential simulations; interested in expanding the use of City buildings for Egan
Warming Centers and times of heat and smoke; noted the City has many
resources it does not use due to staffing; interested in the City considering
emergency responses for rain; interested in helping increase staff for the Egan
Warming Centers; hopes to expand the Community Emergency Response Team
(CERT) as it enables neighbors to meet each other.
■ Councilor Clark -asked what degree the school districts are involved in the
emergency planning process; asked staff to discuss integrating school district
facilities into emergency response plans.
• Councilor Groves -noted the Emergency Management Institute, partnered with
the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program, has a federally
funded week-long course for managing major emergencies with a multi-million
dollar simulator; noted the course could be useful in developing a core level of
skill and understanding at a departmental head level that could serve the City in
an emergency event.
■ Councilor Keating -noted he is unaware of a platform for Council to
communicate with constituents during non-emergencies; asked if the County has
a platform to communicate to constituents for emergencies or non-emergencies.
• Mayor Vinis -noted interest in using neighborhood schools as food pantries to
help support those living close to the poverty level who cannot store lots of food;
noted interest in utilizing simulations.
Mayor Vinis adjourned the meeting at 12:57 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Katie LaSala
City Recorder
(Recorded by Natalie Venhuda)
Link to the web cast of this City Council meeting here.
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Session
June 26, 2024 Page 2