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Public commenters urge council to preserve services, debate proposed fire fee and homelessness responses
Summary
During the May 12 public comment period dozens of residents urged the Eugene City Council to preserve libraries, pools, homeless services and alternate crisis response programs; many opposed increasing police funding and debated a proposed fire service stabilization fee.
EUGENE, Ore. — Dozens of residents who signed up to speak at the City Council’s May 12 public comment period told councilors to preserve neighborhood services, libraries, pools and homelessness programs as the city faces an $11.5 million shortfall and considers a proposed fire service stabilization fee.
Speakers repeatedly urged the council to maintain emergency‑response alternatives such as Cahoots and Whitebird Clinic’s outreach programs, to expand trauma‑informed outreach teams and cleanup crews in high‑impact areas, and to preserve hours at the downtown library, Amazon Pool and neighborhood community centers. Dan Bryant, a member of the city revenue task force and chair of the political action committee Eugene Save Our Services, said the fee addresses a structural revenue problem and urged a sunset provision of six to eight years: “I urge the council on behalf of the 35 members of Eugene SOS to take action necessary to adopt the appropriate fee to restore the budget cuts and save our services that make Eugene the community that we love,” Bryant said.
Other speakers described a different path: several urged the council to reduce police spending rather than cut social services. Resident Juliara Baton said the proposed budget choices reflected a difference in values, arguing that public safety includes services beyond policing: “If the police are all that's left to fill in the gaps, we're turning our neighbors, who are just cold, into criminals,” she said.
Multiple speakers raised operational and emergency‑response concerns in Bethel and along Highway 99. Lynn Woodridge, co‑chair of the Active Bethel Community and a Bethel resident of more than 30 years, described alleged assaults on business owners and slow police response times and asked the city to allocate cleanup crews, 24/7 enforcement, trauma‑informed outreach and a police substation in Bethel.
Other public commenters asked the council to avoid criminalizing people who provide mutual aid. Jacob True and other speakers recounted arrests or threatened enforcement actions against community groups that distribute food or supplies. Patrick Driggett and others asked the council for clearer leadership and communication during recent service changes, including the cessation of Cahoots operations.
Councilors and staff briefly responded after public testimony. Councilor Yeh thanked speakers, reiterated that safety includes non‑police investments, and offered to follow up with a constituent who requested contact. Councilor Keating publicly thanked Green Hill advocates and noted that animal services remain part of public safety discussions.
The council slated additional budget committee meetings and a council session later in the week to continue deliberations.
