HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 04/24/13 Work SessionEugene City Council
Uarris Hall, 125 East 81h Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
Councilors Present: George Brown, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Chris Pryor,
Claire Syrett
Councilors Absent: George Poling
Mayor Piercy opened the April 24, 2013, work session of the Eugene City Council. Noting the importance of the
homeless camping issue, City Manager Jon Ruiz said Planning staff would reschedule the Metro Plan Boundary
Adjustment Proposal item.
I I I I I I
City Attorney Glenn Klein explained that the current MUPTE suspension expires in June 2013. To
avoid a gap in program activity, council action needs to be taken to either implement a new program or
extend the suspension date of the current program until changes can be made.
MOTION: Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to direct staff to extend the
MUPTE suspension until October 1, 2013.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION and VOTE: Councilor Syrett, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved to
substitute to extend the suspension until the end of July 2013. PASSED 5:2, councilors Brown
and Taylor opposed.
VOTE ON MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED: PASSED 5:2, councilors Brown and Taylor
opposed.
Councilor Brown asked when the council would receive the City Manager's recommendation on the
MUPTE application for "The Hub" student housing project. The City Manager indicated he would
have an answer soon.
Acting Parks and Open Space Director Mark Schoening gave a presentation that highlighted some of
the challenges his division has related to homeless camping in parks, wetlands or sensitive
environmental areas and in open spaces impacted by campers.
• Take incremental, deliberate steps in addressing homeless issues(s).
• Consider allowing dusk to dawn safe sleeping on vacant city-owned land that is not
environmentally sensitive.
• Allow a trial period to see if the proposed changes will help address issues for homeless
people.
• Explore potential for private property owners to help address this problem by allowing
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Work Session
camping on their property.
• Work collaboratively (network) with local businesses, faith communities, etc. to partner in
efforts to place more homeless people on private land or at authorized locations.
• Transition homeless people into new areas in a sensitive and humane way.
• Acknowledge that sanitation is a real problem.
• Important to strike a balance between impact and addressing needs.
MOTION and VOTE: Councilor Pryor, seconded by Councilor Evans, moved to extend the
meeting by 10 minutes. PASSED 7:0.
MOTION: Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to direct the City
Manager to bring back an ordinance that would allow people to sleep undisturbed and camp
overnight from 10 p.m. — 7 a.m. on vacant City of Eugene-owned lands, but not including
improved park land or sensitive environment open spaces, with staff to bring back a specific
list of allowable sites, and on religious institution or non-profit organization properties if they
allow it. This shall be a pilot program for 120 days and council shall then review the pilot
program and assess whether or not to continue the ordinance.
A friendly amendment to include commercial and industrial properties if they allow it was
accepted.
MOTION TO TABLE AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved
to table the discussion until the May 8 City Council meeting. FAILED: 2:5, councilors
Taylor and Clark in favor.
Councilor Clark requested the following information:
1. What kind of liability would the City have if it allowed public camping on City-owned property?
2. Where would the money come from to pay for the services needed to support a camping effort?
The meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle Mortensen
Deputy City Recorder
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