[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6602382,"mediaKeyId","3001397-83b134e3ac5dc43146ab30dd3c328a9c","parentId",3001397,"title","Eugene debate over proposed fire service fee intensifies as residents press council for alternatives","audioSeconds",2641,"startMs",10299000,"endMs",7658000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001397-83b134e3ac5dc43146ab30dd3c328a9c&start=10299&end=7658","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001397-83b134e3ac5dc43146ab30dd3c328a9c/thumbnail_10299000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6602382/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Eugene-debate-over-proposed-fire-service-fee-intensifies-as-residents-press-council-for-alternatives","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602382-3667c668f528385e818894066c1515bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143919&Signature=KoReeVqmrBn~0pxV3tbXACOnJ1wVVIosV9T8o48LrbHmT9d0XatjcAauzbZVe6JCy7dSzYGwbGQv6Ue~9QN9Z40gYqDdVNDcpWetCRQXKsB2z7zCItUzLFDJwC24USiti~g3DohmfX3PE67mvm~VQzUTF3ZVZoOQkg8tVhF6QUuAt4d0Do83EWPvcTvT82IyaZEFbDMu1O92gWYtBSmhmtr-EpQoa7k3BnUbAmFtE-JqA1--0iejxsC6S9bclu2e2IXNY4gW98307Oto97ygLCs1uJiR0Y0pkbXULEW9FyJt~J2FVMd8rMqhrpWUQ9XlvPSNuxlvJcUvl8ny3rruzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Eugene, OR","date","2025-04-15T19:30:24.137Z","article","Dozens of speakers at the April 14 Eugene City Council meeting addressed a proposed \"fire service fee\" (an ordinance the council had placed before the public) and the broader question of how to close a projected general‑fund gap. Business groups, nonprofit leaders and residents urged different approaches — some urged adoption of the fee to avoid cuts, others urged repeal and a longer‑term budget strategy with community input.

Many residents pointed to an active petition campaign. Brittany (Bridal) Quick Warner, CEO of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, told the council: \"Many Eugene residents, over 8,400 of them, signed a petition to bring this issue to a public vote.\" Speakers from multiple sectors framed the fee as a choice between immediate service preservation and a democratic review by voters.

Why it matters: Councilors said the city faces a structural mismatch between revenues and obligations. Councilor Groves argued that without the proposed fire fee the city would need to make deep cuts; during council remarks Groves said that without the fee the city was \"planning to cut animal welfare program gone. Close the library for one to two days. Reduce park maintenance. Reduce homelessness services, human services funding... close a fire station.\" Councilor Groves and others characterized the fee as needed to avoid roughly $11.5 million in cuts.

Speakers who opposed the fee called for a different approach. Tiffany Monroe of the Eugene Area Chamber urged repeal of the fee and recommended a renewed effort to align services with existing revenues and to pursue economic growth. Carrie Lieberman, executive director of Greenhill Humane Society, told the council that cuts to public services would be \"devastating, sometimes irreversible\" for vulnerable residents and urged the council to place the fee on the ballot if necessary with a clear plan and time bound use of funds.

Other testimony bridged both perspectives. Several speakers said they supported both local investments in services (including CAHOOTS) and a transparent long‑term budgeting process that would include outside experts and community stakeholders.

Council discussion included procedural and factual clarifications: Councilor Groves asked the public to appreciate that the city has trimmed general‑fund spending substantially in recent years — Groves said the council had cut about $67 million out of the general fund over several years — and that few easy savings remain. Councilor Clark pushed back on framing that the council had already decided which programs to cut, saying, \"We haven't even begun to talk about what we're going to cut or not going to cut.\" Clark stressed that the cause of CAHOOTS' loss was White Bird's operational decision, not an explicit city vote to defund the program.

What happens next: The petition process will route the fee to a public vote unless council repeals the ordinance; councilors and community leaders said they would continue budget conversations and outreach before the July budget process. Several speakers urged the city to work with business and nonprofit partners to find alternative revenue strategies and to prioritize investments in housing and economic development as structural solutions.

The debate is likely to follow into the city’s budget hearings and into any public referendum process, with advocates on both sides urging residents to attend upcoming council and budget committee meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting: April 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of speakers at the April 14 Eugene City Council meeting addressed the proposed fire service fee and the broader question of how the city should close a projected general‑fund gap.","taxTitle","Eugene , Lane County, Oregon","taxId",2848,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6602387,"Eugene confronts sudden loss of CAHOOTS response as residents urge emergency funding",3957,1765000,5722000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001397-83b134e3ac5dc43146ab30dd3c328a9c&start=1765&end=5722","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001397-83b134e3ac5dc43146ab30dd3c328a9c/thumbnail_1765000.jpg","/articles/6602387/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Eugene-confronts-sudden-loss-of-CAHOOTS-response-as-residents-urge-emergency-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602387-40df73a0b6cc8932be35692afe8f05ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143919&Signature=PCNGBERULjFgmLyReDRjIScTWwT8mTQ~PTAOH2oBEl3DQsL7xBJLujP4a1rMZa0Qc5alsv19nhyW6vFWub~q4BYHp13AMm5l~sxVb8EMiZ66Ii8rbrAK-9fNBa6aMxaQLLK~L0RVMK~PUMDdSg-OJIj936fy6khCWHkYUDnSwcFtduFI0odMNtbRgJW7YNUAGcHSrFpcjgH1LDrCagBRojrwq-B6LsDyu8LGgiEymgXIbZ~gNktsFJsbvY1MnGlMoiGe5Cjg9QD27mDt0MXKj-3FnlVCGqjqa6TJISxswWjoWXBjBSQMW2lsefjlEcHAXKLAOndMrncA3mCMcsojDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Knudson told the City Council on April 14 that the city had received notice from White Bird Clinic on March 25 that CAHOOTS would reduce services and lay off staff, and that White Bird and the city agreed to a mutual contract termination effective April 7, 2025. The mayor said the city is coordinating with Lane County Mobile Crisis Services and Eugene–Springfield Fire to maintain a mobile crisis response while the situation evolves.

The mayor told the meeting: \"The city of Eugene did not initiate the discontinuation of CAHOOTS service within Eugene,\" and laid out a timeline showing the contract aligned with White Bird's notification. That announcement drew more than 80 speakers during a public-comment period that focused overwhelmingly on restoring CAHOOTS or funding an equivalent community crisis response.

Why it matters: CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets), operated by White Bird Clinic, has provided non‑police, trauma‑informed mobile crisis response in Eugene for decades. Multiple presenters and representatives of emergency services told the council that the program diverts people from emergency rooms and jails, provides transport and housing navigation, and is viewed by many first responders as a core part of local public safety.

Public testimony at the meeting described multiple recent examples in which CAHOOTS staff provided de‑escalation, transport and continuity of care. Rebecca Hill, an adult mental‑health peer support specialist, said CAHOOTS had \"saved my life in 2003\" and called the program \"a national model.\" Ariel Myler, who manages a residential treatment program, said CAHOOTS staff \"have gained rapport with most of our clients and we rely on their services.\" Laurel Lasuskas, a CAHOOTS worker of 10 years, said, \"Last week, CAHOOTS saw almost 80% of its staff laid off by White Bird,\" noting the layoffs followed the contract notice.

Speakers cited data presented at recent CAHOOTS town‑hall meetings. Chris Rompalla, a nurse at Riverbend Hospital speaking on behalf of the Oregon Nurses Association, said, \"In 2024 alone, CAHOOTS responded nearly 17,000 calls with an average of 46 calls per day.\" City council discussion included budget context: Councilor Groves said the city currently spends about $2 million a year on CAHOOTS support, citing $1.5 million from the general fund, $250,000 from the Community Safety Initiative (CSI) payroll tax and about $165,000 for vehicles.

Several public speakers and union representatives urged emergency bridge funding and asked the city to prioritize CAHOOTS in the upcoming budget cycle in July. Jack Baer, who spoke during public comment, urged residents to attend the budget meetings: \"Please keep showing up to these city council meetings. Please keep advocating for city funding to go to CAHOOTS. There are five more city council meetings before July, which is when the city budget goes through.\"

Council response and next steps: Council members and staff said they would continue to gather facts and pursue options. Councilor Yeh said she would \"continue to work to understand the situation and what the options are that the city has.\" Staff told the council that Lane County's Mobile Crisis Services (MCSLC) will be a point of continuity during the transition, and Eugene–Springfield Fire will coordinate with the county on service needs.

What the meeting did not decide: The council did not take a formal vote to reinstate CAHOOTS or to allocate emergency funding that night. Several councilors emphasized the distinction between the city contracting relationship and White Bird Clinic's operational decisions: Councilor Clark said, \"We didn't fire White Bird. They quit. There's a fundamental difference. We contracted with them. We made a deal. Here's the service we really wanna buy. We want you guys to do it. You're great at it. And so we budgeted it. Everybody up here agreed. Here's the money to do it. And they couldn't fulfill the contract. White Bird said, sorry. We can't fulfill the contract.\"

Community impact and appeals: Testimony came from service providers, medical personnel, business owners and family members who said CAHOOTS' absence will increase pressure on emergency medical services, police and hospital emergency departments and could put highly vulnerable people at greater risk. Speakers asked the council to explore emergency bridge funding, to negotiate with White Bird Clinic and to consider direct city funding in the July budget process.

The council did vote on unrelated items that night (see separate articles). For CAHOOTS, the next concrete fiscal steps will play out in the coming weeks as staff, county partners and councilors assess options and the July budget process approaches.","Mayor Knudson told the City Council on April 14 that the city had received notice from White Bird Clinic on March 25 that CAHOOTS would reduce services and lay off staff, and that White Bird and the city agreed to a mutual contract termination effective April 7, 2025.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6602377,"Council approves neighborhood association charters after discussing membership, virtual access and communications",125,1121000,1246000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001397-83b134e3ac5dc43146ab30dd3c328a9c&start=1121&end=1246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001397-83b134e3ac5dc43146ab30dd3c328a9c/thumbnail_1121000.jpg","/articles/6602377/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Council-approves-neighborhood-association-charters-after-discussing-membership-virtual-access-and-communications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602377-7eb6517e0729dc8ad08d25b8c6a8c82a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143919&Signature=gAR3-o8VOghJv-qbS0EsPo0prrw-Ac4ToawM5FYPcGHaRFBGYBYevaJGn8RyplfuxcJCBm7xl5GZD8-Rn9SAHc7knASIImfJHkB1IHdD5EUnXo2G1kHUHloJSfB-eHtTSJpgKcpQuqPjBBdmpCTsiKoVfY0lk-KxenSNDAmAgwD6cPe9i0uXq6yR1vvjNmHVg635qV9Rqep~c5z1~jVmT-FpoFAwLBIPd1D~yxraqEhB07r7Y3xhZvFp9HIuLap5T45XHm7QfKmL1CGKnBA5CW3vKT8Mkw6FP5vCQKyd6LqoDBLP~ZzWwkk6JX01j-f8pBaQyD9N6oGUCj-8W6Ej6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Eugene City Council approved updated Neighborhood Association Charters (Item C) on April 14 by an 8–0 vote after a brief discussion on membership, virtual participation and communications.

Councilor Jennifer Yeh asked staff about differences across charters in membership eligibility and voting rules, noting some associations set minimum ages at 18 while others included provisions for minors or organizational members. Yeh said she noticed \"a lot of similarity, but a little bit of variety, especially around membership issues.\"

Staff member Cynthia (Neighborhood Services) explained the charters set minimum requirements: neighborhood associations must at minimum include residents and property owners aged 18 or older, but associations may elect to include businesses, nonprofit representatives or employees at their discretion. Cynthia told the council that the city provides equipment, training and support to associations that choose to offer virtual access and that many associations already accept virtual attendees and use sign‑in lists for voting eligibility.

Councilor Keating asked whether neighborhood association electronic communications (email newsletters, Mailchimp, social media) were subject to public‑meeting or public‑records rules. Staff deferred to legal and a subsequent clarification in the meeting noted neighborhood associations are \"an integral part of our public engagement process\" but are not city arms and therefore are not strictly subject to public‑meetings or public‑records requirements. The council discussed distributing resources equitably to neighborhood associations for outreach, and staff said e‑newsletter costs can be eligible items in neighborhood program funds.

After the vote, councilors indicated staff will post the approved charters and continue to provide training and technical support for virtual and electronic outreach.

The council earlier approved the remainder of the consent calendar (without item C) by an 8–0 vote before pulling item C for discussion.","Eugene City Council voted 8–0 April 14 to approve updated neighborhood association charters. Councilors discussed variations in membership eligibility, whether virtual attendees count as members for voting, and allowed communications platforms; staff said charters set city minimums while associations may adopt additional rules.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Eugene debate over proposed fire service fee intensifies as residents press council for alternatives

Eugene confronts sudden loss of CAHOOTS response as residents urge emergency funding

Council approves neighborhood association charters after discussing membership, virtual access and communications