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Home My WebLink AboutItem A: Occupy Eugene Update ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Occupy Eugene Update Meeting Date: December 12, 2011 Agenda Item Number: A Department: Eugene Police Department Staff Contact: Chief Pete Kerns www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5102 ISSUE STATEMENT The City Council has granted an exemption to the City’s prohibition on overnight camping for Occupy thth Eugene in Washington-Jefferson Park, between 6 and 7 avenues. Without additional council action, the exemption expires on December 15, 2011. This work session provides an opportunity to discuss site conditions, community safety impacts, resource demands and costs, and community relations issues – and provide council potential options for next steps. BACKGROUND The Occupy Eugene movement began October 15 with a march of an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people, followed by overnight occupation of the downtown Parks Blocks by more than 150. The group relocated the encampment to Alton Baker Park, then on and near the University of Oregon campus, and finally to Washington-Jefferson Park. Across the country, “Occupy” groups have staged events, commented on and established encampments to draw attention to a variety of issues. In Eugene, the group and individuals affiliating with Occupy Eugene have spoken out on college tuition, homelessness, the financial crisis and numerous other items. Eugene Code restricts overnight camping, and the council has permitted the Occupy Eugene group to camp on public parks property under an exemption permitted in Eugene Code, 4.815 (Section 4): “Upon finding it to be in the public interest and consistent with council goals and policies, the council may, by motion, exempt a special event from the prohibitions of this section. The motion shall specify the period of time and location covered by the exemption.” On November 9, the council adopted the following motion, on a four-to-two vote: “I move to exempt Occupy Eugene from Section 4.815’s prohibition on camping for Washington-Jefferson Park between thth 6 and 7 avenues. Unless extended by council action, this exemption shall terminate on December 15, 2011. Prior to December 15, the City Manager shall update the council on the Occupy Eugene event, at which time the council can decide whether to extend the December 15 deadline. If, in the opinion of the City Manager, the presence of Occupy Eugene poses an immediate or ongoing risk to public health or safety, the City Manager is authorized to revoke the allowance granted by this motion.” Site Conditions – Washington-Jefferson Park Campers are facing difficulties found when camping in an urban setting. With no clear demarcation for where to place a tent or to walk, grass in some areas has turned to deep mud. Tarps and wood pallets keep some personal belongings dry, but almost everything is wet or damp. Campers continually work S:\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M111212\S111212A.doc on building and maintaining mulch pathways. Trash and empty alcohol containers are commonplace but many campers make the effort to haul away debris on a daily basis. Community Safety The encampment poses possible sanitation issues largely related to provisions for toilets and disposal of human waste, as well as public health concerns around food storage and preparation and potential for the spread of communicable diseases. There have been several occasions where the portable toilets have been out-of-order, over-full, and insufficient for the mounting number of people using the facilities during the day and overnight. Additionally, animal waste needs to be safely managed. Occupy Eugene organizers have been responsive in addressing sanitation concerns. Illegal open fires for warmth or cooking, individual mishaps and accidents, and potential consequences associated with drug and alcohol use at the campsite also have raised concerns. Occupy Eugene allies have made efforts to provide services to address all of these items. Since October 16, there have been 18 arrests at protests, and 55 arrests or citations at the Occupy sites. This includes seven liquor violations, nine camping and other violations at Alton Baker Park after the Occupy Eugene movement officially moved to the University of Oregon, six drug violations including four for heroin or methamphetamine, and five assault citations. On Dec. 2, City staff verified electrical and venting safety changes needed in the kitchen area. These were addressed. Resource Demands and Costs through November 28, 2011 Overtime for Police $ 72,731 Construction and repair of chain link fence $ 7,250 and parks maintenance Straight Time* $ 35,823 Total $ 115,804 *Straight time reflects the time spent by employees on Occupy Eugene issues during their regular work schedule. RELATED CITY POLICIES Eugene City Code provisions related to overnight camping (Eugene Code Chapter 4). Council goal for a safe community: A community where all people are safe, valued and welcome, including desired outcomes for decreased property crime, a greater sense of safety, visible and accessible police presence, and better police/community relations. TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE – SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC IMPACTS Environmental – The greatest impacts to the environment related to the encampment in Eugene are around sanitation and potential damages to parks grounds. If adequate sanitation is assured and parks grounds and amenities are intact, the encampment should have a neutral impact on the environment. If these cannot be assured, the encampment has a negative impact on the environment. S:\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M111212\S111212A.doc Economic – The net impact to responsible stewardship of public resources is negative, as this has been an unanticipated and unbudgeted expense for the City. Another consideration for the economic impact is to the local economy. In the short term, there may be positive impacts associated with an emphasis on shopping at local markets, as well as negative impacts to businesses directly affected by unanticipated use of facilities or protests. Social – Several groups appear to experience the social impacts of the Occupy Eugene encampment differently, including: Occupy Eugene participants – There are likely positive and negative impacts, with the overall impact difficult to assess. The positive impacts include a place to protest and legally camp. The negative impacts include exposure to potentially unsafe conditions and behaviors. People experiencing homelessness – There are likely positive and negative impacts, with the overall effect difficult to assess. The positive impacts include the benefits of community, food and shelter. The negative impacts include exposure to potentially unsafe conditions and behaviors. Minors in the camp – There are likely more negative impacts to children and youth in camp. They also are exposed to potentially unsafe conditions and behaviors. Neighbors of the camp and people wishing to use the park – There are likely more negative impacts to neighbors and people wishing to use the park. They may not be able to freely use the park for public purposes, and there are increased arrests and citations for criminal behavior in the neighborhood. COUNCIL OPTIONS The City Council may: 1.Extend the exemption to Section 4.815’s prohibition on camping to allow Occupy Eugene to continue use of Washington-Jefferson Park for an additional period of time of __ days and schedule another work session before that deadline to provide an update to the council so the council can decide whether to grant another extension. 2.Extend the exemption to Section 4.815’s prohibition on camping to allow Occupy Eugene to continue use of Washington-Jefferson Park for an additional __ days as a final extension. No additional work session would be scheduled. 3.Don’t extend the exemption to Section 4.815 and instead, direct the City Manager to work with Occupy Eugene to remove all tents and other structures as soon as practicable. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION No recommendation is forwarded at this time. SUGGESTED MOTIONS 1.I move to amend the City Council's November 9 motion exempting Occupy Eugene from the overnight camping prohibition under section 4.815 of the Eugene Code by changing the date from December 15 until ________. S:\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M111212\S111212A.doc 2.I move to amend the City Council's November 9 motion to extend the exemption under section 4.815 of the Eugene Code until ________, and to direct the City Manager to ensure that all campsites are removed from Washington-Jefferson Park as soon as practicable after that date. 3.I move to direct the City Manager to ensure that all campsites are removed from Washington- Jefferson Park as soon as practicable after December 15. ATTACHMENTS A. Timeline for Occupy Eugene FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Pete Kerns, Chief of Police Telephone: 541-682-5102 Staff E-Mail: pete.m.kerns@ci.eugene.or.us S:\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M111212\S111212A.doc Occupy Eugene Timeline October 15 – December 1, 2011 Oct 24 Oct 31 Nov 9 Nov13 City Council grants City Council City Council City permission for OE to rescinds votes to constructs permission for OE exempt OE chain link stay at Alton Baker to stay at Alton from fence camping Baker ordinance until Dec 15 Oct 15 Oct 21 Oct 27 Nov 5 Nov 17 Nov 24 1500-2000 OE moves OE moves to Quad OE moves to OE participates in OE protests at protesters to Alton at UO Washington national “March on stores on “black march across Jefferson Park Baker Park Banks” event Friday” Ferry Street By nightfall, most Bridge Nov 5 move to Millrace Bank Transfer Oct 15 Rally 150-200 occupy park blocks OE Arrests & Citations Week beginning 6 9 7 2 29 5 15 73 total 10/16/11 10/23/11 10/30/11 11/6/11 11/13/11 11/20/11 11/27/11 S:\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M111212\S111212A.doc