HomeMy WebLinkAbout180926 WSMINUTES – Eugene City Council September 26, 2018 Page 1
Work Session
M I N U T E S
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
September 26, 2018
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor
Councilors Absent: Alan Zelenka, Greg Evans
Mayor Vinis opened the September 26, 2018, Work Session of the Eugene City Council.
1. WORK SESSION: Community Safety System Update Assistant City Manager Kristie Hammitt, Police Chief Chris Skinner, Fire Chief Joe Zaludek, and Community Safety Project Manager Kevin Alltucker provided an overview and update of progress made since the last update, desired outcomes, and next steps. Chief Skinner and Chief Zaludek reported back about the 26 community events they attended over the summer. Council Discussion
• Happy and excited about this initiative and the progress being made; so much work has gone into the process.
• The bridge funding will give council an idea of how this is all going to work; council can then move forward to find more permanent funding.
• The complicated information in the presentation was provided in a very accessible way.
• Support the idea of using a dedicated bank account which will help make it an open, transparent, and accountable process to see where the dollars are actually going.
• After the school lock-down, North Eugene residents expressed their appreciation for the police response and knowing that their kids and the community were safe, that the situation was under control in short order, and that communication was timely and effective.
• With a new chief and a new plan in place, the community can look forward to new results.
• This plan is a reflection of the work that has been done to take in feedback from the community, synthesize it, and think creatively about the daunting challenges.
• Something has significantly changed in the approach the City is taking towards these matters. There has been much more collaboration between City departments and that is the only way progress can be made.
• Continue reaching out to Lane County as the provider of mental health services. They need to be engaged with the City on these issues.
• The community would greatly benefit from a centrally located day center.
• The report appropriately corrects the myth that if more shelters or services are offered, it will attract more people from other communities.
• Happy to see thoughtful, deliberate, and accountable action lined up to address potential barriers.
• Support for the bridge funding approach should be built on the expectation that the City has started a running clock running to find the ongoing money. There has to be follow-through.
• The city urgently needs a downtown homeless shelter if it’s going to enforce existing camping and sleeping laws.
• Need to start looking for new sources of revenue, such as a hotel tax.