HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem B: Downtown Public Safety Issues
ECC
UGENE ITY OUNCIL
AIS
GENDA TEM UMMARY
Work Session: Downtown Public Safety Issues
Meeting Date: November 23, 2009 Agenda Item Number: B
Department: Police Staff Contact: Police Chief Pete Kerns
Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Susan Muir
www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5102
ISSUE STATEMENT
This is a work session to discuss public safety policies and solutions in the downtown core.
BACKGROUND
Councilor Clark requested a work session to discuss current public safety policies and possible solutions
to issues occurring in downtown Eugene. Downtown issues have been raised frequently within the last
several decades. Many efforts have taken place and some of these include:
In February 2005, the City Council identified “Helping the Homeless in Eugene” as one of their annual
Council Goals. This goal was continued in 2006, and in 2007, Mayor Kitty Piercy, acting on City
Council direction, appointed a 21-member Blue Ribbon Committee to Finance Homelessness and
Housing Programs. The committee was charged with “examining the local impacts of homelessness,
identifying strategies and making recommendations to the City Council related to new funding and
finance options.” They produced a report and recommendations that were adopted on April 2, 2008.
The City Council has held recent discussions about downtown revitalization in the context of local
economic development plans and the council’s 2009 vision statement. A survey was conducted by the
Strategy Research Institute to provide the council with specific information on the level of community
support for particular policies and actions under consideration.
On October 21 the council discussed downtown strategies, and in December of this year they will
continue this discussion and suggest processes for linking desired downtown strategies to specific
projects and tools. This comprehensive approach includes strategies to create jobs and support
redevelopment, improve safety, ensure convenient parking while promoting alternative modes and
providing attractions and amenities to enliven downtown and enhance revitalization.
Police Chief Pete Kerns and Planning and Development Executive Director Susan Muir are co-chairing
a Downtown Safety Task Team that is meeting November through December to make recommendations
to the City’s executive team that, if implemented, would serve to reduce crime in the downtown core,
improve the feeling of safety, and establish an environment that would make the downtown a safe and
welcome place for everyone. This group includes downtown business owners, youth agency
representatives, members of the Human Rights Commission, arts resources representatives and other
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involved parties. City staff from all departments will provide support for the task team and will be
assisting with scoping of the strategies that come from the task team over the next four weeks. While
there doesn’t seem to be a quick-fix solution, most members agree that these problems can be viewed in
new ways. The task team hopes to develop lasting and humane strategies that will contribute to a vibrant
downtown district.
The Downtown Safety Task Team has identified four main themes that contribute to problems in the
downtown area:
Lack of accountability/consequences
1. – size of police staffing for downtown and hours of police
presence in the downtown area, community expectations and misconceptions about criminal
behaviors, youth behaviors, regional issue of lack of jail beds as a sanction for criminal activity.
Illegal and unpleasant behavior
2.– illegal, predatory, aggressive or simply unpleasant behaviors to
be around. Mental illness, alcohol and drug dependency and use, and misbehavior by young adults
and youth combined with too few people downtown who exhibit positive and lawful behaviors.
Lack of a cohesive/coordinated plan
3. – including resources such as staff, facilities, treatment and
funds to provide resources. Incomplete communication between agencies and unwillingness to step
outside immediate assignments plus the sharing of information, scheduling, and joint projects.
Aspects of the physical space/environment
4. – the size of downtown, empty store fronts, poor
lighting in some areas combined with dark doorways for hiding and illegal activities. The cluster of
services and resources for people who are homeless or wish to identify with a homeless- lawless
culture.
At their November 18, 2009, meeting, the task team received an overview of Portland’s successful
program that combines a security workforce of retired police officers with Portland Police Bureau
officers in a seamless downtown presence. More follow-up with Portland is planned to further explore
the viability of adapting some of their strategies to Eugene’s situation. Staff will be available at this
council work session to provide additional information on the status of downtown, the work of the task
team and some strategies the group is considering.
RELATED CITY POLICIES
The City Council’s Safe Community vision statements directly relates to this discussion: Safe
Community – a community where people feel safe, valued and welcome.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
No formal action is required.
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
This is a work session and no recommendation is required.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Linda Phelps, Police Planner
Telephone: 541-682-6308
Staff E-Mail: linda.m.phelps@ci.eugene.or.us
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