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Home My WebLink AboutCC Minutes - 09/17/2012 Public HearingMINUTES Eugene City Council Bascom /Tykeson Room, Eugene Public Library 100 W. IW Avenue — Eugene, Oregon September 17, 2012 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: George Brown, Betty Taylor, Mike Clark, Chris Pryor, Alan Zelenka. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Andrea Ortiz, George Poling, Pat Farr Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the September 17, 2012, Public Hearing of the Eugene City Council to order and explained the process and rules for speaking at public hearings. 1. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Concerning Exempting Certain Law Enforcement Personnel from Bicycle Operating Rules and Amending Section 5.400 of the Eugene Code, 1971. • Peter Grotticelli, said that he is opposed to police officers riding on bikes in the downtown core. • Alley Valkyrie, expressed opposition, saying it is unfair to allow it for some but not all. • Deb Frisch, stated her strong support for allowing EPD to ride bikes on sidewalks. • L.M. Reese: said that allowing bike riders on sidewalks is dangerous. • Joe Tyndall: said the entire ordinance regulating the use of sidewalks needs to be revisited. • Kimberly Gladen, supported allowing EPD personnel on sidewalks as long as it's safe. • Michael Gannon, said the streets should be safer for all bicyclists. 2. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Extending the Sunset Date for the Downtown Public Safety Zone; Amending Sections 4.874, 4.876 and 4.878 of the Eugene Code, 1971; and Repealing Section 4.875 of that Code. • John Brown, Ward 5, supported the DPSZ, saying it is necessary for safety and economic health. • Sheryl Balthrop, Ward 5, supported extending the DPSZ for another two years. • Sean Kern - Craft, supported extension of the DPSZ, acknowledging it's not a perfect solution. • Dave Hauser, DEI and Chamber of Commerce, supported the DPSZ. • Michael Carrigan, CALC, opposed the DPSZ because it infringes on human rights of all. • Helen Liguori, opposed the DPSZ because it targets homeless people and circumvents due process. • Dave Fidanque, ACLU, opposed the DPSZ and requested that the City Council sunset it. • Heather Marek, opposed the ordinance and cited a variety of reasons it should sunset. • Janet Brown, Ward 4, supported extending the DPSZ, saying it provides accountability. • Carol Berg - Caldwell, opposed the DPSZ and encouraged the council to be part of the solution. • Larry Reed, supported extension of the DPSZ, noting downtown is safer • Tom Slocum, urged the council to extend DPSZ and be socially responsible. • Bill Whalen, Ward 5, commended the City and EPD for efforts to improve safety downtown. • Jim Davidson, Ward 7, opposed the DPSZ and asked council to return to former system • Ambrose Holtham- Keathley, said that downtown is not safer and opposed the DPSZ. • Barry Dillon, said that homelessness is often regarded as criminal behavior and opposed the DPSZ. • Jennifer Turner, opposed the DPSZ and advocated making Eugene an inclusive place. • John Michael Leach, opposed the DPSZ, saying it represented unequal enforcement of laws. MINUTES – Eugene City Council September 17, 2012 Page 1 Public Hearing • Peter Grottichelli, opposed the DPSZ, saying it is class -based discrimination. • Alley Valkyrie, opposed the DPSZ, saying that City is issuing punishment before conviction. • Eric Riechers. strongly supported the extension of DPZS.. • Joyce Godels, opposed the DPSZ. • Betty Snowden spoke in favor of the DPSZ, noting it is about behavior and criminal activity. • Jean Stacey opposed the DPSZ and voiced concern that data on this ordinance is hidden by EPD. • Wayne Ford opposed the DPSZ and said it amounts to harassment. • J. Ingrid Kessler supported extending the DPSZ because it promotes safety. • Deb Frisch opposed the DPSZ, saying it tramples on people's human rights. • Sue Sierralupe, Ward 1, said she worked with Occupy Medical and opposes the DPSZ. • Jan Wostmann opposed the DPSZ, noting the root causes of problems are not been addressed. • Joseph Newton, Ward 7, opposed the DPSZ asking for it to sunset. • Larry Banks, Ward 1, urged support for and extension of the DPSZ. • Todd Edman, Ward 4, supported extension of the DPSZ, noting downtown is safer now. • Celeste Edman, Ward 4, supported extending the DPSZ. • Lisa Lindquist supports the extension of the DPSZ. • Wendy Baker asked the council to extend the DPSZ, noting it addresses dangerous crimes. • Phyllis Hockley opposed the DPSZ, feeling it puts youth at risk. • Sarah Bennett, Chair of Downtown Neighbors Association, supported extending the DPSZ. • Tobey Ritchie, Ward 5, supported the DPSZ, urging City Council to extend it. • Kelly Bosch supported the DPSZ, saying downtown is now safer. • Kim Darden supported the DPSZ because it makes downtown safer. • Mark Johnson, Ward 5, said downtown safety is important to LTD and asked to extend the DPSZ. • John Monroe, Ward 1, opposed the DPSZ. • Moshe Immerman, opposed the DPSZ, citing due process concerns. • Nikki Edmonson spoke in favor of the DPSZ, saying downtown has become much safer. • Jay Moseley noted the DPSZ raises too many problems with civil liberties. • Ralph Parshall spoke in favor of DPSZ, noting that safety has improved, but it's still an issue. • Joe Tyndall opposed the DPSZ extension, saying it is a failed policy. • Kimberly Gladen noted that the DPSZ has helped make things safer downtown. • J. Sylvester said conditions have improved downtown, but crime and problems are still prevalent. • Michael Gannon supported the sunset of the DPSZ. • Tom Kamis supported the DPSZ, stating that EPD isn't harassing homeless people. • Alex Brice favored the extension of DPSZ. • Misha Seymour opposed the DPSZ, talking about crime in other cities and homelessness. • Lourdes Martez asked the City Council to sunset the ordinance. • Ty Pearsall opposed the DPSZ saying he'd like to see the violent offenders behind bars. 3. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Encouraging the Use of Reusable Bags Banning Single -Use Plastic Carryout Bags and Adding Sections 6850, 6855, 6860 and 6865 to the Eugene Code 1971 • Cynthia Kokis talked about health concerns of plastic bags. • J. Ingrid Kessler strongly supported the use of permanent bags for a variety of reasons. • Danielle (no last name provided) said `single use bags' have many uses and opposed the ordinance. • Mark Callahan advocated against the bag ban, saying people should have a choice. • Sabre Marcroft, Ward 7, supported the bag ban and asked everyone to break habits of convenience. • L.M. Reese opposed the plastic bag ban because it takes choice away from shoppers. • Charles Biggs, Ward 4, opposed the plastic bag ban, citing health issues and concerns. • Eileen Fonseca, Ward 8, supported the bag ban, noting the many environmental issues • Ashley Miller, Ward 5, supported the bag ban, and presented more than 2,000 cards from community members and grocers supporting bag ban. Eugene City Council Minutes, September 17, 2012 S: \CMO\Minutes\2012 \ccl20917 PH.docx • Sarah Higgenbotham supported the bag ban, citing the many negative impacts of plastic bags. • Joe Tyndall, asked one question: Haven't we generated enough trash yet? • Karen Booth supported the bag ban saying she stopped using them years ago. • Wesley Sweitzer asked the council to ban the bags. • Lon Otterby supported the plastic bag ban, noting it will help protect our environment. • Michael Gannon supported the bag ban for health and environmental reasons. • Charlie Plybon supported the effort to ban plastic bags. • Shawn Miller, Northwest Grocery Assn., supported the proposed bag ban. • Laura Marti spoke about convenience vs. benefit and supported the plastic bag ban. • Arnold Wymore supported the use of plastic bags for pet waste, rainy days and groceries. • Lara Daskivich, Ward 3, supported the plastic bag ban, citing environmental impacts. • Lisa Mowry supported the plastic bag ban citing health issues. ADJOURN: The meeting adjourned at 10:16 pm Respectfully Submitted, JU0 { ,J& ��. Michelle Mortensen Deputy City Recorder Eugene City Council Minutes, September 17, 2012 S: \CMO\Minutes\2012 \ccl20917 PH.docx