HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 07/25/12 Work SessionMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Council Chamber -City Hall
777 Pearl Street - Eugene,
Oregon
July 25, 2012
Noon
COUNCILORS PRESENT: George Brown, Pat Parr, Betty Taylor, Andrea Ortiz, George
Poling, Mike Clark, Chris Pryor, Alan Zelenka.
Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the July 25, 2012, work session of the Eugene City Council
to order and noted that it would be the last City Council meeting in the McNutt Room, since City
Hall was closing soon. Mayor Piercy began the meeting by moving to the second agenda item
while waiting for the Track Town 12 guests to arrive.
RESOLUTION # 5069 — REFER TO VOTERS: CORPORATE PERSONHOOD
The council considered and discussed the proposed ballot title, summary description and wording of the
resolution.
Mayor Piercy announced the University of Oregon guests had arrived and asked councilors to pause on this
item.
TRACK TOWN 12 APPRECIATION RESOLUTION
Mayor Piercy welcomed Vin Lananna and Greg Erwin from the University of Oregon. Assistant City
Manager, Sarah Medary introduced the item, expressing gratitude for the partnership between the
University of Oregon and the City of Eugene to bring Track Town 12 to the community. Mr. Lananna
noted that it was the collaboration of a lot of people and agencies that made the event possible. Councilors
voiced thanks and gratitude to both guests for their work, noting specifically their appreciation for the event
organizers' efforts around recycling and sustainability. University staff was also recognized for their
thoughtful and courteous efforts to minimize the impact of the event on residents in nearby neighborhoods.
Mayor Piercy read the text of the resolution.
Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to adopt Resolution 5071 in appreciation of
the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials — Track & Field, known as Track Town 12. The motion
passed 8:0.
RESOLUTION # 5069 — REFER TO VOTERS: CORPORATE PERSONHOOD (continued)
Councilors discussed several issues related to this item, including the cost of adding another ballot measure
to the November 6, 2012, General Election, the inclusion of unions in the proposed resolution, and the
concern that not all corporations are `bad' or `for profit.'
Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to adopt Resolution 5069 submitting an
advisory question on rights of corporations and to authorize the expenditure of funds from the
General Fund contingency account to cover expenses for the voters' pamphlet. The motion passed,
6:2, with Councilors Poling and Clark opposed.
Mayor Piercy asked for volunteers to serve on the proponent committee to write the argument in favor of
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this item. Councilors Taylor and Zelenka agreed to be on this committee.
Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to appoint Councilor Taylor and Council
Zelenka, to serve as members of the proponents' committee to prepare the argument and rebuttal in
favor of the measure. The motion passed 8:0.
DOWNTOWN PUBLIC SAFETY ZONE (DPSZ) DISCUSSION
Chief Kerns introduced Lt. Sam Kamkar, Community Service Officer Tonee Webber and Sgt. Larry
Crompton who were in attendance to respond to questions. He explained that the purpose of the session
was to ask the council for direction, as the ordinance is scheduled to sunset in November 2012.
Chief Kerns provided a brief history of the Downtown Public Safety Zone (DPSZ) and data to illustrate
how the exclusion zone was working.
Lt. Kamkar reviewed the exclusion process and described the changes that had been made to the program
in response to council concerns and suggestions.
Chief Kerns informed the council that EPD now publicizes data about exclusions on the City's website,
making access to public records easy and free. He also noted that his staff will send summaries and
quarterly reports to the council about the number of exclusion notices and the adjudication details from
Municipal Court indicating if the exclusions were granted or not. Chief Kerns outlined the council's
options:
1. Renew and extend DPSZ
2. Eliminate the 90 -day exclusion (this is the most common type of exclusion)
3. Allow DPSZ to sunset in November 2012
The Mayor and councilors asked questions and voiced concerns about the program, including:
• The effectiveness of the Advocacy Program.
• The difference between park exclusions and DPSZ exclusions.
• The perception by some that EPD officers target homeless people with trivial violations.
• Allegations that officers are issuing notices of exclusion to drive homeless people out of downtown.
• The availability of other tools for EPD to remove repeat offenders from downtown.
• The cost - effectiveness of DPSZ.
• The risk that people who have been excluded from downtown go into nearby areas /neighborhoods
instead.
TOAST TO CITY HALL:
Mayor Piercy spoke about the years that City Hall served the needs of the community and the many
meetings and business that were conducted in the building over the years. She expressed excitement
about the future and her commitment to moving forward expeditiously on a new City Hall..
Mayor Piercy adjourned the meeting at 1:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
k/UV
Michelle Mortensen
Deputy City Recorder
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